Like the
Glessner house, the Swift mansion at 4500 South Michigan Avenue is a reminder
of the period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
when the South Side was home to many of Chicago’s business and social
leaders. A rare survivor of that era,
now set amidst apartment buildings, business blocks, and vacant lots, the mansion’s
history reflects the changes that the community has undergone since it was
constructed more than a century ago.
On October 2,
1890, Chicago newspapers carried a detailed account of the marriage of Helen
Swift and Edward Morris, which had taken place the previous evening at the home
of the bride’s parents, 4502 S. Emerald Avenue.
The event was not merely another society wedding – it represented the
union of two of the most powerful families in Chicago. At the time, Chicago was a meatpacking city,
and the three largest businesses were operated by the Swift, Morris, and Armour
families. Helen was the daughter of
Gustavus Swift and Edward was the son of Nelson Morris. Swift presented his daughter with a check for
$5,000 “with a goodly sum in gold coin to act as a weight for the paper” and
the happy couple set off for an extended honeymoon in Europe.
Swift planned
another gift for his daughter and new son-in-law as well – a new house. In 1892, plans were announced for a
substantial marble-clad residence at the southwest corner of Michigan Avenue
and 45th Street. At the time,
this portion of Michigan Avenue was lined with large mansions, set along what
was considered one of the most beautiful streets in the entire city.
The exterior exhibits elements of both the
Romanesque and Queen Anne styles and features columns with elaborately carved
capitals, dormers, a three-storey turret, and a large porte cochere along 45th
Street. Inside the rooms were richly
finished with wood paneling, beamed ceilings, a beautiful carved staircase, and
numerous fireplaces.
The architect of
the house has not been confirmed, but the nomination form submitted when the
building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 indicated
that the house may well have been the design of Willett & Pashley. The partnership of James R. Willett and
Alfred F. Pashley produced a number of distinctive residences in the city during
that period. Several of their published
designs are very similar in scale and detail to the Swift mansion. They are remembered today chiefly for their
work with the Catholic Church in Chicago.
Willett befriended Patrick Feehan during the Civil War, and Feehan went
on to become the first Archbishop of Chicago, serving from 1880 until 1902,
during which time Chicago was elevated to an Archdiocese. The firm designed his summer residence and
St. Mary’s Training School for Boys, both located at “Feehanville” in present
day Mount Prospect. However, their most
significant commission was the Archbishop’s elaborate Queen Anne style residence
at 1555 N. State Street which still stands today.
Helen and Edward
Morris moved into their home just as Chicago was preparing to host the World’s
Columbian Exposition in 1893. Newspapers
note that Mrs. Morris gave dances and other parties in her beautiful new
home. Four children were born to the
couple, two sons – Nelson II and Edward Jr., and two daughters – Ruth and Muriel. In 1904, Edward Morris purchased a large lot,
measuring 198 by 212 feet at the southwest corner of Drexel Boulevard and 48th
Street, and spent nearly $100,000 building a new home, designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw. It was here that he died on November 3, 1913
at the age of 47, leaving an estate estimated at $20,000,000. Helen later married Francis Neilson, an
English actor, and died in 1945.
After Helen and
Edward Morris moved from their Michigan Avenue home, it was given to her
brother Herbert and his wife, who died in 1911 and 1912 respectively. The house was then acquired by John W.
White.
When he died in
1916, the Chicago Tribune gave an
extensive account of the contents of the house when it was opened by the public
administrator.
A “tomb” of art curios in musty
surroundings was revealed yesterday when the house of the late John W. White,
recluse and connoisseur, was opened by the public administrator, James. F.
Bishop.
In the old house, 4500 Michigan avenue,
there hung what is pronounced a Gainsborough.
A cathedral clock was standing among Roman bronzes and Italian
marbles. Violins of a bygone age reposed
on teakwood carvings.
Mr. White died recently at the age of
75. He had been ailing for more than a
year. So far as is known he had but one
relative. She is his daughter, the wife
of Dr. Charles Chesman of Seattle, Wash., and she is coming to Chicago to close
up the estate.
P. H. O’Donnell who for years was the
legal adviser to Mr. White, described the art objects that adorn the lonely
house which Administrator Bishop now has in charge.
“Mr. White was a man of genius,” said Mr.
O’Donnell. “He was a native of Kansas
and at the time of his death had interests in Lyon, Kas. He had held offices of trust and was a lawyer
of ability. He came to Chicago about
fifteen years ago and established the Bankers’ Record Publishing house. It netted Mr. White and his associates large
returns.
“He was intent upon making money only
that he might gratify his desires to possess objects of art. He bought the old Herbert Swift mansion at
4500 Michigan avenue that he might have a model home on his own ideas. He lived alone.
“So far as I know, no one but myself ever
entered his home as a guest. He employed
an old man as a bodyguard and who came in once a day and attended to the
housework. The entire lower floor was
given over to his art collection. This
extended to every form of rare object.
He was fond of violas and cellos.
Of these he had about a half dozen of rare make.
“There is a piano which he bought in
Germany for $10,000. It is capable of
reproducing the tones of almost every instrument ever made. Mr. White brought it to American that American
piano makers might study it.
“There is a collection of cathedral clocks. They are all huge, hand carved and
wrought. When Mr. White had them all
running they would reproduce for him the chimes heard in the cathedrals of
Europe. One of these clocks alone had
twenty-eight chimes. The clock collection
cost more than $100,000.
“He was fond of Irish ware and of this
there is a rare collection. One big rose
jar is said to be valued at $15,000.
There is a tea set that cost $2,500.
“Along the walls are pieces of Roman statuary. One of these is an interlacing of marble and
bronze of surpassing handiwork. He had
no American paintings. All the ten or
fifteen paintings are old works, none more modern than a Gainsborough. There is a room full of paintings, Japanese
teakwood carvings, and Japanese vases of great value.
“The rosewood bedroom set used by Mr.
White was hand carved and made for the late John Alexander Dowie, overseer of
Zion. Mr. White bought it after the
death of the prophet.
“In the great room of the first floor is
the cabinet of Otto, the ‘mad king’ of Bavaria.
It was brought to America by Mr. White years ago. It is hand carved and opens in a peculiar
fashion.
“All doors to the house are of oak and
heavily barred. The windows are all
double barred. Mr. White liked to be
alone with his collection. His companion
was a little dog that always was with him.
“At the same time he was extremely fond
of children and he bought a large sweep of lawn to the south of the mansion
which he planned to make into a playground.
He already had expended $10,000 in preliminary work on it.
“It would be too bad to permit this
collection of art to be thrown broadcast in an auction sale. It should become the property of the city of
Chicago. There should be a corner for
the collection in the Art Institute.”
Mr. White died alone, save the little dog
that was always with him.
Public Administrator Bishop, under the
law, where one dies intestate, forced an entry to the house to prepare for the
disposal of the property. This, however,
will not be done, as Mr. White’s daughter will soon be in Chicago.
A suit of armor inside the front door greets visitors.
Is this a survivor from the White collection?
Is this a survivor from the White collection?
After White’s
collection was cleared from the house, it was sold and occupied by various
individuals including John Powers, who served for nearly 40 years as an
Alderman in the City of Chicago. The
house was later used as a funeral home.
For decades
following, the mansion served as the headquarters of the Chicago Urban
League. In 1995, it was acquired by the
Inner City Youth and Adult Foundation, which occupies the building today.
The Foundation, which provides many services
to the community including transitional housing to formerly incarcerated men,
graciously opened its doors for curious visitors during Open House Chicago,
sponsored by the Chicago Architecture Foundation over the weekend of October 17th
and 18th. Tours were provided
by the residents, who proudly shared their home with the throngs of visitors
who came to view this relic of Chicago’s early South Side Gold Coast.
The mansion looks really stunning with rather intricate carvings and handiworks that we do not get to see often in today’s modern interior. Most houses today are rather simple which get complemented by bold furniture and accessories.
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI remember this home when it was a funeral home.
ReplyDelete