 The area known as Pullman encompasses a much wider area than the two historic areas (the older historic area is often referred to as just " Pullman", a Chicago Landmark district and the northern annex historic area is usually referred to as "North Pullman"). This article deals with all areas, although the area built by the Pullman company is bounded by 103rd Street on the North, 115th Street on the South, Cottage Grove on the west, and the railroad tracks on the east.
. Pullman is home to many historic and architecturally significant buildings, among these are the Hotel Florence, the Arcade Building which was destroyed in the 1920s, the Clock Tower and Factory, the complex surrounding Market Square and Greenstone Church. Pullman is also home to one of Chicago's many beautiful 'Polish Cathedrals', the former church of St. Salomea, which is now used by Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. Pullman was one of seven sites that were nominated for the Illinois Seven Wonders sites in a contest sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Pullman is served by two Metra Electric Line stations: Kensington (115th Street) and Pullman (111th Street). Most Metra suburban express trains passing through the area stop at the 115th Street station, and only local trains stop at the 111th Street station.
Historic Pullman was built in the 1880s by George Pullman for the workers of his railroad car company, the Pullman Palace Car Company. Pullman's architect Solon Spencer Beman was said to be so proud of his creation that all of the workers' needs were met within the neighborhood. The houses were comfortable by standards of the day, and contained such amenities as indoor plumbing, gas, and sewers. [3] Pullman in the late 19th century Pullman's misfortune came during the depression which followed the Panic of 1893. When demand for Pullman cars slackened, the Pullman company laid off hundreds of workers and switched many more to pay-per-piece work. This work, while paying more per hour, reduced total worker income. Despite these cutbacks, the Company did not reduce rents for those that lived in the town of Pullman. The Pullman Strike began in 1894, and lasted for 2 months, eventually leading to intervention by the US government and military. [4] The Strike Commission set up in 1894 ruled that the aesthetic features admired by visitors had little monetary value for employees.
George Pullman died in 1897. The Illinois Supreme Court required the company to sell the town because the running of the town was outside the company's charter. It was then annexed by the city of Chicago. Within ten years, the houses were sold to their occupants. Along with the whole South Side, the town of Pullman was annexed to the City of Chicago in 1889. After the strike, Pullman gradually became a regular Chicago neighborhood, only with distinguishing Victorian architecture. But the fortunes of the neighborhood continued to rise and fall with the Pullman Company for many years.
The neighborhood's decline that began in the 1950s continued, but that economic decline at least spared the district's architecture. In 1960 the original Town of Pullman, approximately between 103rd and 115th Streets, was threatened with total demolition for an industrial park. [7] The residents there formed the Pullman Civic Organization and saved their community. By 1972 the Pullman Historic District had obtained National, State, and City landmark status to protect the original 900 rowhouses and public buildings built by George Pullman (it gained National Landmark Historic District status in 1969 and was listed on on the National Register of Historic Places; then in 1970 is was made a State landmark by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency; and finally South Pullman was declared as a City of Chicago Landmark in 1972).
Join CNU Illinois on a guided walking tour of Historic Pullman, Illinois |
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