Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 1600-1700 Blocks

Lost Houses of Prairie Avenue: 1600-1700 Blocks. . "The value of land along streets made exclusive through their occupancy by the leaders of society is a direct reflection of the rise of a newly rich class during and after the Civil War... who had an ambition to live in mansions amid fashionable surroundings." Homer Hoyt, 1933 , , 1612 S. Prairie Avenue , Joseph Goodman Residence. Built 1869; architect unknown , From 1880 to 1900, this was the residence of a member of the Studebaker family, whose company was the only one in the United States to successfully make the transformation from carriage makers to automakers. In 1905, it became the official residence of Charles P. Anderson, Episcopal Bishop of Chicago. Razed circa 1960. , , 1638 S. Prairie Avenue , John G. Shortall-Robert B. Gregory Residence. Built 1868; John W. Roberts, architect , Original built for abstract firm owner John G. Shortall, whose family lived on the street for four generations. For over 60 years, this was the residence of Addie (Hibbard) Gregory, who chronicled her life on the street in A Great-Grandmother Remembers in 1940. Her husband served as President of Lyon and Healy. Razed 1944. , , 1701 S. Prairie Avenue , William G. Hibbard Residence. Built 1869; William Le Baron Jenney, architect , Hibbard was President of a large wholesale hardware firm, Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett and Co. In 1921, the house was purchased by the American Terra Cotta and Ceramic Co., which provided free office space to architect Louis Sullivan until his death in 1924. Razed 1932. , , 1721 S. Prairie Avenue , Wirt Dexter Residence. Built 1863; architect unknown , This large frame home with cupola was among the earliest on the street, and received a Federal style addition to the front in 1889, designed by Boston architect Arthur Little. Razed 1927. , , 1729 S. Prairie Avenue , George M. Pullman Residence. Built 1870-1876; Henry S. Jaffay, architect , One of the grandest homes on the street, the residence featured a 200-seat theatre, pipe organ, and bowling alley. Later additions by architect Solon S. Beman (who designed the town of Pullman) included a palm room and a large conservatory and park across 18th Street along Calumet. Razed 1922.