Chicago - Architecture & Cityscape

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

City Hall-County Bldg. [ "In Memoriam" plaque]

A bronze plaque honors those who lost their lives in World War I and World War II. The plaque reads..
In Memoriam. Erected by the City of Chicago in honor and in grateful recognition of the gallant and meritorious services of the Soldiers, Sailors, & Marines. Citizens of Chicago who sacrificed their lives in World Wars I - II. 1917-1918. 1941-1945..

The base of the plaque depicts soldiers marching with the flag on either side of a battle scene while an angel rests on top.

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..

City Hall-County Bldg. [The American's Creed plaque]

The American's Creed..
I believe in the United States of America as a government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed, a democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.

I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it, to support its Constitution, to obey its laws, to respect its flag, and to defend it against all enemies.
- William Tyler Page..

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

City Hall-County Building..

City Hall-County Building..
Address: 121 N. LaSalle St./118 N. Clark St.
Year Built: 1905-08 and 1909-11
Architect: Holabird & Roche
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: January 21, 1982..

City Hall and County Building is actually one building which serves two purposes and has two addresses. The City Hall occupies the west half of the building with entrance at 121 N LaSalle Street. The County Building occupies the east half is the building with entrance at 118 N Clark Street. This beautiful Classical Revival-style building has beautiful exterior as well as interior..

In 2001 the roof gardens were completed, designed by noted "green" architect William McDonough. However the green roof is not open to the public.

One of the most beautiful interiors that I've seen. Beautiful corridors with elaborate marble stairways and bronze tablets honoring the past city halls of Chicago from 1837 to the present..
For more on City Hall-County Bldg. Interiors, click here..

The American's Cred..

COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUES:
The building has many beautiful bronze commemorative tablets..

The iroquois Memorial Tablet..
In Memoriam..
The American Creed..

Sculptural Reliefs..

City Hall entrance features four relief panels sculpted in granite by John Flanagan. Each of the panels represents one of four principal concerns of city government: playgrounds, schools, parks, and water supply..
For more.. click here..

County Building entrance also has four relief panels.. Two by Carl Beil and Leon Hermant.. and two by Hermon Atkins MacNeil..
For more.. click here..

Fasces, symbolizing, power and jurisdiction and "strength through unity"..
For more, click here..

Y-symbol [rather inverted Y-symbol]
at the City-Hall-County Building..
One of many sculptural ornamentation on the City Hall-County Building is the seal of Chicago by Hermon Atkins MacNeil.. It's on the east entrance or the County Building entrance, and it features the inverted Y-symbol.. Although the actual seal of Cook County does not have Y-symbol.
# For more.. click here..

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..
# City Hall - Sculptural reliefs..
# County Building - Sculptural Reliefs..
# City Hall-County Building - interiors..
# Y-symbol in City Hall-County Building..

County Building - Sculptural reliefs

City Hall-County Building is actually one building which serves two purposes. The City Hall occupies the west half of the building with and County Building occupies the east half is the building. Correspondingly there are two entrances..

East entrance or County Building Entrance..
This post is about the relief sculptures on the County Building entrance.. There are four relief panels..Of these two are by Carl Beil and Leon Hermant.. and.. two are seals of Cook County by Hermon Atkins MacNeil..

Sculptural ornamention by Carl Beil and Leon Hermant..

The seal of Cook County by Hermon Atkins MacNeil..

Wonder why the seal on the facade differs from the real cook county seal as shown on the carpet inside.. For details.. click here..

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..

City Hall - Sculptural Reliefs..

City Hall-County Bldg.
City Hall-County Building is actually one building which serves two purposes. The City Hall occupies the west half of the building and the County Building occupies the east half is the building. Correspondingly there are two entrances..

West Entrance or City Hall Entrance..
This post is about the relief sculptures on the City Hall entrance. There are four relief panels sculpted in granite by John Flanagan.. Each of the panels represents one of four principal concerns of city government: city playgrounds, public schools, the park system, and water supply system...

City Hall-County Bldg. [Sculptural reliefs: Fasces]

City Hall-County Building: Fasces..

Fasces on City hall entrance..

Fasces on Cook County entrance..

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..

Y-symbol at City Hall-County Building

Y-symbol or rather Inverted Y-symbol..
City Hall-County Building..
Sculptural ornamentation on the east entrance or the County Building entrance..
Seal of Cook County..
By Hermon Atkins MacNeil..

However, the actual seal of Cook County does not have the Y-symbol, as seen on the carpet at the entrance of the building.. I have no idea as to why the sculptural seal on the Cook County building facade is different from the actual seal of the Cook County.. Artistic license? Maybe!

RELATED LINKS..
# City Hall-County Building ..
# Y-symbol....