Shooting a Piece of Forgotten Chicago

So I make a habit out of reading about architectural gossip and news on Forgotten Chicago and to my surprise, the iconic Michael Reese Hospital is slated to be torn down to make way for the Olympic games housing. As hum drum as hospitals usually appear (and are), this one is just...different. Here's a brief history lesson (as I push up the glasses on my face):

"After the Hebrew Relief Association’s hospital was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1871, a void was created for a Jewish hospital in the city. Fortuitously, Michael Reese, a wealthy real estate developer who died in 1877, left funds in his will to build a new hospital, which was completed in 1880. It was open to everyone regardless of nationality or race, the request of Reese’s heirs. Many medical innovations took place at Michael Reese during it’s operation, such as the first incubator station for premature babies. It has been known as one of Chicago’s prominent hospitals, with people coming from all over the city and beyond to receive treatment.

"The main Michael Reese hospital building was designed by Schmidt, Garden and Martin. It is a bona fide Chicago School masterpiece which has been left remarkably intact over the years."

"A humble monument (on current hospital grounds) marks the spot where the game of softball was invented in 1887. This occured in the gymnasium at the Farragut Boat Club, which stood at 3018 S. Lake Park, on the current hospital grounds. Charles Cushman photographed the Farragut Club in 1949, shortly before it was demolished."

- from Forgotten Chicago

Not only is it a legit piece of history and important architecture, new buildings on its campus were constructed all the way through to the 1970s - giving the complex a really cool progression of style. Here are some pics:




"This Gothic Revival bridge over 29th Street connects Main Reese to the Meyer House, a wing built in the 1920s to house wealthy patients in luxury accommodations." - From Forgotten Chicago

The Meyer House - where the baller patients would stay...lake view and all.

The building where softball was invented (now demolished)

A small monument recognizing where the game was invented still stands here today.

Isn't that crazy?? Anyway, before all this is officially torn down and shuffled into the history books, I really want to do a shoot of some sort here. You can check out the full article and history from Forgotten Chicago here. If not anything official, then at least a fun walk-around with friends, cameras, sketchbooks...anything! We never know when demolition will start/halt/held so.......who's interested??