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[gregador]

urbanwork replied to your post “urbanwork replied to your photo “The closed Adams Art Gallery building...”

Here in Chicago, I've seen cast block used both for high end and low end buildings from early 1900s. They are often built to look like Chicago Greystones. Sometimes it's obvious they are cast block, sometimes harder to tell. Can raise repair issues.

I've seen homes built locally with these blocks, but they're fairly unattractive. At least this gallery and the greystones are interesting.

[gregador]

urbanwork replied to your post “urbanwork replied to your photo “The closed Adams Art Gallery building...”

It's interesting question that would probably require some digging into the history...but I would bet that the cast block was more affordable than hauling in stone but also because it was viewed as innovative in early 1900s. Thus pairing w/ ornament.

Innovative...that's wild.

[gregador]

urbanwork replied to your photo “The closed Adams Art Gallery building in Dunkirk, NY.  I’m not sure...”

How old? There was an uptick in the use of early forms of cast cement -- both blocks and solid pieces -- as an alternative (more affordable, manufacturable onsite) to stone. Recently posted an example here from Chicago I found over weekend.

I don't know the age of the building or how long the gallery occupied the space, but I did notice another building in the area with similar construction. I assumed it was a cost saving measure, but it still seems odd to me considering the amount of ornamental work...unless that was done on the cheap, too.

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