The Quixotic Mr. Nickel by CoreyBlack
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Description
"Buildings only have two natural enemies, water and stupid men."
--Richard Nickel
***
Richard Nickel (1928 - 1972) remains a largely unsung Chicago hero. He was a photographer, historian, and ardent champion of the city's architectural history. Although he was particularly interested in preserving the works of Louis Sullivan and others of the Prairie School of Design, any grand old building facing the wrecking ball would arouse his passion and activism.
For nearly 20 years he fought a losing (and eventually bitter) battle with the first Daley Administration over the preservation of the city's historically relevant edifices against a backdrop of constant and remorseless gentrification. If he couldn't save his beloved buildings, at least he could celebrate their tenuous existence and inevitable destruction through photographs: thousands of them. Many of these archival photos can be seen in two published volumes of his work: Richard Nickle's Chicago and They All Fall Down. In addition to the photographs, he would also salvage artistically-relevant stonework and distinctive ornamentation from the buildings themselves. These would be added to his own collection, or sold to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He was on one such salvage mission, at the old Chicago Stock Exchange Building on April 13th, 1972 when a stairwell collapsed and buried him under the rubble.
In the nearly 40 years since his death, Chicago remains a fairly ruthless place when it comes to wrecking its past in service to the future. But all is not lost. There are now numerous preservation groups in the city, and to those in the know, the ghost of Richard Nickel hovers like a shadow over the demolition of any historical building.
I felt very much like Mr. Nickel as I held a photographic death-vigil for the unnamed old building in the 3300th block of West Lawrence Avenue (glimpsed in my previous post "Work of Art") when it was demolished two years ago to make room for a vacant lot and a presently-unoccupied condominium complex.
This picture was made in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago on February 27th, 2008.
Comments (6)
Madbat
I so agree with you, they really don't make buildings like those anymore. Even the best of what I see being built now has no character at all. And like most McBuildings, they'll be gone and replaced by something blander in 30 years.
auntietk
I remember talking about Mr. Nickel over Persian food. This is a wonderful image of a building with some VERY nice architectural details. Thanks for the brain nudge!
beachzz
They paved Paradise to put up a parking lot. I didn't hear the talk about Mr. Nickel; I'm sure there's a good reason for that. But I'm glad to hear about him and that he had such passion for his city.
Chipka
The artist Harry Bouras once said that human nature will allow us to completely destroy the Amazon Rainforest so that we could build a parking lot and then we'd paint it green for sentimental reasons. That seems to be the way of Chicago, not just now, but throughout its history. It's so easy for the powers that be to destroy something priceless and irreplaceable, simply to make money, keep the flow of money going in a specific direction, or to even just "do something new" which translates to "Keep up with the latest flash-in-the-pan fad." At any rate, Chicago loves to destroy its past. On the flipside of that, there are such architectural gems here and there are people who recognize them. You're one of them, and you've caught this image perfectly. I know exactly where you were standing when this picture was taken, and it's spitting distance from another gem of architecture and home to two gryphons. This is a wonderful and poignant shot and it's definitely one worth multiple views. There's a lot to contemplate in what you've seen and in what you've written. This is gorgeous.
durleybeachbum
So good to hear that there are people who care in your city. I have been reduced almost to tears in my own town by architectural vandalism.
myrrhluz
I looked up 3300 West Laurence on Google maps and found the street image to be of before destruction began. The side on the other street and the two smaller decorative arch like structures were still there. It is all very curious and sad. Was none of the decorative work saved? I suppose it all fell under the wrecking ball. I wonder how many google street scenes show what was rather than what is. Excellent picture of a sad event. I think Mr Nickel would have approved of your image's documentation of it. Very interesting information on him. I'm sorry his life and work were cut short, but am glad other continue it. I remember when I found out that the Parthenon in Athens was largely intact for 2000 years until it was used as a powder magazine in 1687 and was exploded by a Venetian shell. A two thousand year old building used as a powder magazine! That's when I realised the extent to which buildings which should be carefully preserved are willfully thrown away. This is an excellent image and narrative!