The practice walking tour of the loop for my class was conducted by Carl Condit. The members? Almost everyone in the classes was under the age of 35 with most of us in our 20s. This young energetic group was interested in history and architecture as well as having a good time so there were many, many parties. One of my fellow classmates and his partner purchased Louis Sullivan’s Charnley House in 1980. At the time the house was on LPCI’s most endangered list (it was a mess). For the next few years Lowell and Larry had all the docents over to view the progress as they meticulously restored the house. They should be credited with saving it. Lowell eventually sold it to the SOM Foundation, who returned it to the original footprint as you see it today as the home of the Society of Architectural Historians.
The first El tour: This El tour lasted all day and required that CAF lease a special four-car train. At the time it was the largest grossing tour and was only offered once a year.
An opportunity for sleuthing: In the 1980s, C.D. Peacock presented the CAF docents with an etched black glass vase which commemorated the docents’ contributions to the City of Chicago. (You may find specific details about this in the Docent News). At the time, Docent Council recommended creating a column that would be topped with a display case for the vase. The base of the column was to be used to display plaques of the Docent of the Year names. CAF staff was not opposed to this recommendation, however there were no funds to build it and a permanent location for the display case was never identified. Because of this, Mary Lou Cardwell took the vase home for safe keeping. I have not heard if it was returned to CAF or if it has found a permanent home in CAC’s new headquarters.
Great stories! Love It!