A Dairy, A Candy Bar, and A Greeting Card
The elaborate Beaux-Arts detailing surrounding these windows belong to a fairly
non-descript building in an unremarkable commercial strip.
I discovered this little building years ago, and it caught my eye almost every time I walked
by. I liked the proportions, and the splash of Greco-Roman detail that made the relatively simple facade interesting.
I wondered if the building had originally been a bank or something, it just didn't fit into the
utilitarian nature of the street.
Curiosity finally got the better of me and I spent a few hours digging around for an
answer. Turns out this charmer was built in the early 1900s to house the offices of the Wieland Dairy Company at the front, with milk warehousing and horse-drawn delivery wagons filling out the back. In 1927, as the Wieland brothers' business grew, they built the much more industrial looking building next door, with some nice detailing in terra-cotta. One surprising tid-bit of information I came across was that the dairy delivered milk by horse and wagon until 1937, well after the introduction of the internal combustion engine driven truck.
In 1928, Wielands became a part of the gigantic Borden Dairy conglomerate. In the 1960s
the buildings housed Standard Brands' Curtiss Candy company, home of the Baby Ruth and Butterfinger candy bars. By the 80s, the Recycled Paper greeting card company moved in, and now after 100+ years of continuous occupancy, the buildings stand vacant and are for sale.
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Posted by designslinger at 10/22/2009 2:05 AM 
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Borden Dairy Curtiss Candy Co. Wieland Dairy Co. Recycled Paper Products
Categories: Architecture, History
Tags: Borden Dairy Curtiss Candy Co. Wieland Dairy Co. Recycled Paper Products
Yes interesting indeed as if it was a decor added on top of a building...
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I can tell you all about the inside if you are so inclined. Worked in the building for 10 years! I hope something good comes of it.
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We'd love to hear from you - just send us an email. Thanks.
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great pictures.
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Thanks.
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I just love walking around Chicago for those Beaux-Arts gems. If only for its architecture, Chicago is definitely one of my favourite cities to stroll and look at buildings. It's too bad that the building is vacant... a renewal to the street might turn it into a hip night club, or a fancy restaurant!
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Here's a great idea for all you entrepreneurs out there!
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I agree if the building had originally been a bank or something, it just didn't fit into the utilitarian nature of the street. Anyway thanks for this post.
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And thanks for the visit and the comment!
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Great piece of historical info. I looked up info on the Weiland Dairy Co. because I have come across a glass bottle at a construction site that had the Weiland name embossed on it. It will make a nice conversation piece. Thanks!
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You're welcome!!
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