What Happened to George Pullman's Mansion in Chicago?

[@lindafusek3794]

It’s great that their guests were treated so well; I wonder how well they treated the help

[@smorgasbroad1132]

Badly. He charged them almost the amount of rent to live in his little employee neighborhood, as he paid them in wages. He was so despised his family buried him under a large cement slab for fear his corpse would be dug up and bastardized by the employees he had no respect for. I believe he's buried in Graceland Cemetery Chgo.

[@richardgraham5598]

what was once and is no more, breaks my heart. the architecture the opulence the history.

[@annsmith185]

Years ago I worked for Pullman Bank. They had an extensive collection of Pullman History. The old Pullman Bank is long gone, I think they are owned by Wintrust Bank. I have no idea if the documents would be with Wintrust Bank, or if they donated them to the Library. It was a huge collection.

[@imanonattorneyspokesperson]

My parents used to bank at Pullman bank at 111th and King Drive. My dad worked at General Motors EMD at 103rd and Doty in the 1950s. Most GM employees there had accounts at Pullman, Pretty sure Pullman and GM had joint incentives for patrons

[@greggvann4107]

Thanks for all your efforts researching the history of these beautiful mansions. Really appreciate your attention to detail.

[@ndog2005]

Just Subscribed, Just a Huge Thank You for pictures of back in time of Pu;;man House.. Having strong interest, see pictures of abandoned houses & curious on how they look before. Here, sadly house demolished & looked absolutely gorgeous..

[@friendlyneighbor8339]

Thank you for making these videos. The beautiful pictures and excellent narration are so entertaining for someone obsessed with historic real estate, like me.

[@janedee6488]

Love this house. Can’t believe they just tear everything down. So sad. Thanks Ken.

[@jacqueresch6534]

The wife of George Pullman made the decision. The children didn't want it.

[@christopherkraft1327]

What a fascinating mansion!!! Thanks for sharing the interesting history of the Pullman opulent home!!! I love the stories that you share about these amazing homes!!! 👍🙂

[@harryasstruman3101]

Unbelievable woodwork. You can't imagine the labor that went into something like that. This is before they had power tools everything was done by hand

[@mitchgawlik1175]

For quite a while now that short section of Prairie Avenue has been restored and revamped. It is an attractive block to walk along and photograph. As Prairie Avenue sits now it's just about impossible to imagine Pullman's mansion sitting there. Also, for those who are interested in the decimation of the classic Chicago homes, a must read is "Lost Chicago" by David Lowe

[@jmcg6189]

I was originally from Evanston and I just recently got this book. Maybe I should get to this book sooner rather than later.

[@mitchgawlik1175]

@@jmcg6189 Read that book, J.M. It's been around for quite a while and I dip back into it on occasion. David Lowe is also the author of "Chicago Interiors".

[@lindawegner9425]

What a shame the home was not kept by the family or kept as a historical site for the future

[@jacqueresch6534]

The wife of George wanted it razed because the children didn't want it.

[@pab1381]

It’s not the same but it looks very similar to my childhood best friends house. It was featured in the film “Backdraft”. If you watch the scene where DeNiro and Baldwin go to the guys house and fight off the attacker and there’s a fire/explosion that lands DeNiro on a fence post or whatever, that’s my friends house. Had spend many nights there. It’s in Hinsdale, Illinois.

[@markwagner4909]

I love these videos but it’s really sad to see history being torn down

[@markwagner4909]

@Life Is Poetic be Stoic how so? Explain your position

[@markwagner4909]

@Life Is Poetic be Stoic ummm ok But isn’t your view racist?

[@markwagner4909]

The historical architecture The beautiful wood carvings on the stairs and paneling satin wall coverings etc. It’s a lost art It’s lost history

[@sergpie]

In Italy, we still call regular busses “Pullman” because of the impact their sleeping cars had in Europe.

[@ThisHouse]

I did not know that, how fascinating!

[@rhuephus]

well .. I have visited Italy several times, and never saw any buses with sleeping quarters, most were standing room only

[@CliftonBowers-pc2xu]

Si Estos en Itiano no Alto busca en Cuba Jaja...

[@luigiperrone8169]

All over the world...

[@CliftonBowers-pc2xu]

@@luigiperrone8169 El Mundo todos

[@claudiocavaliere856]

Absolutely fabulous! Very !

[@jillgross3968]

Love the beauty of it all. Being from outside Chicago in a small town. Chicago architecture amazed me. I hate it that all these classic old homes are destroyed! It makes me weep! I love classic architecture. My first home was a rambling Victorian that we lovingly restored just in time. We painted it the classic colors of blue, red and green. Resoddered the twin stain glasses windows. We looked till we found the perfect replicas of old refridgerators and stove. (Not Victorian, but beautiful). The turrets were my favorite places. One was in my sitting room, and above it was my bedroom. It took 18 months to restore. Some maniac had painted the stairs in several coats of white paint!!! Ugh, it took forever to remove it all from the intricate design and we had a gentleman recreate the top Newell post which was missing. It had 4 prominent fireplaces. One in the kitchen which we did make double sided so it opened to the dining room as well. There was one in the parlor area and one in the master bedroom and the last was in our nursery. We restored the floors and for the most part the oak floors were complete although we had to steal some of the atic floor, lol, to replace some damaged areas. It was a labor of love. The divorce of my first marriage caused us to have to liquidate, so my husband could pay me in full. It did make it possible to buy and refurbish my Iowa farm house! However, that Victorian was my favorite home I ever lived in!

[@pab1381]

I love it. So proud to be from this city.

[@FreeSpirit47]

Thank you for this video. I enjoyed it very much. All that Mr Pullman worked to build...just.........crumbled. A bit sad, yet, it's a theme in life.

[@bethbartlett5692]

Appreciate any Chicago Homes of History. Hope to see more. My city of Orgin Excellent Presentations here. Beth Tennessee, USA

[@annerohrbacker6097]

Great video! I really like the way the black and white photos transition to colorized. 😃

[@ThisHouse]

I’m glad you enjoy that, Dalton has been working really hard to colorize some old photos. Cheers!

[@guidedmeditation2396]

Reminds me of the Pullman Mansion in Hillsborough CA. Near SF. I used to go by it all the time as it was being refurbished.

[@colourwheel5703]

I enjoy your videos of historic homes. Greetings from 🇨🇦

[@jhaila]

I used to live one block away from there. This makes me happy

[@andrewbrendan1579]

I noticed that the portrait on a stand that appears at 2:10 appears again later in the new library at 3:05 in the new library. I wonder who the man in the portrait is: maybe an ancestor, maybe an admired author? Speaking of authors, Ken, you and your viewers might be interested in the 1949 historical novel "Prairie Avenue" by Arthur Meeker. It's told by a man who is orphaned in childhood and is sent to live with wealthy relatives in Chicago. There is an aunt who is rather mysterious and who might be considered the main character and around whom much of the story revolves. The story goes from the 1880's to 1918, a great read. The fictional characters in the Meeker novel would have known the Pullmans. One of my ancestors was one of the founders of the still functioning Church of the Immaculate Conception on the south side in the 1880's but, my family would likely have been entering the Pullman house from the servants' entrance!

[@lourdesmilchorena7007]

Beautiful house

[@jonrussell1690]

Beautiful home. Didn’t know about this guy and the Pullman car (knew about the Pullman as in how nice they were, but not how this guy created them).

[@Joe_Peroni]

Sad to see how yet another incredible structure had to bite the dust.

[@kellingtonlink956]

Thanks for another entertaining history lesson. Cheers!

[@ThisHouse]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TheDutchDutchess373]

Such a shame..Such a beautiful house♡

[@sixeses]

The fire in 1871 started on DeKoven St and the wind carried it north and east, burning down the entire downtown and the north side as far as Fullerton, yet very little remains of anything on the south side, which was not affected by the great fire at all.

[@purplebutterfly7257]

I like the information you gave us.

[@PTChitown]

This is a lovely street and beautiful neighborhood. I can see why it was the most expensive street in Chicago!

[@lucyroberts2800]

Gorgeous house 😻

[@crisdaniel7402]

Thanks for the information.

[@maxbear215]

Amazing, thanks for sharing this information.

[@clairwaucaush7225]

Sadly these kind of stories almost always end the same way, "...the house was demolished...."

[@mikenixon2401]

Hey Ken, I just thought of something for you to research. Why is it that Americans are so keen on demolition of historic structures while others clutures have buildings that are hundreds of years old? Many of which amazingly survived two world wars. I don't know if that fits your theme. If not that's ok. Another fine report.

[@ThisHouse]

Thanks for the suggestion! While there are certainly many different reasons why mansions are torn down, the most common theme seems to be affordability. People couldn't afford the taxes, maintenance, staff, etc.

[@okjoe5561]

There are thousands (millions?) of old homes still in the U.S. The problem is either the land is worth more than the building or nobody wants to buy them because they are too expensive to update and maintain so they fall into decay and are knocked down.

[@rhuephus]

ha ha ..you wanna pay for upkeep, maintenance, taxes and utility bills for a 110,000 sq ft, 100 room mansion ????

[@mic1240]

There was also many changes in Chicago during this time it was the fastest growing city in the world, and areas fell in and out of fashion for the wealthy. Today this area is gentrified, but even 30 years ago was not considered a desired area. His company town, then known as a Pullman, is the Pullman neighborhood in the city and the area is one of the few urban US National Park district areas too.

[@erickrohn2970]

@@rhuephus well if it was saved and made into a museum of architecture of days gone by. Ha ha what's the difference us taxpayers would be paying for the maintenance and upkeep. Or there could be a fee to enter and tour the home. Just a shame such a magnificent home with all the wood mill work was demolished.

[@jamesholt7612]

Awesome video Ken.

[@tomrockhill8634]

What a shame that it's gone.

[@Emmanuelmanu-q6j]

Quel magnifiques demeur dommage qu elle n exite plus 😢😢

[@baddestjoanna-michellesmit5578]

Hearing demolition od beautiful things hurts, man it hurts ..... These things were built to last the test of time ! They are worth so much to the universe and should be preserved .

[@kathleenlingenfelder2287]

I enjoyed your story. I like to lose myself in the particular "age".

[@Porsche996driver]

Now must watch more Pullman train videos ha. 🚞

[@judyimel5697]

Love

[@thekeith-donovanexperience]

I’ve always wanted to know about this family’s fortune

[@stevelloyd2814]

Again another beautiful home lost and eventually a terrible condo takes it's place for the future

[@wannaduckfin]

New sub. You do a fabulous job! 👍👍👍

[@paulbrunelle1444]

One just hopes that when the home was torn down that some of the beauty from the interior was taken elsewhere and reused.

[@lawrencecunningham7321]

Wow that would have been a great museum. Thats like destroying the Biltmore. Dam shame

[@Yetti0]

So sad!

[@notheotherklaus]

I have watched a series of these videos now, the homes of the robber barons, the most beautiful houses in American history, and most - most - have been torn down, demolished, just shortly after the owner past away. Often replaced by grim tall rises.

[@badassunicorn5351]

I just love this channel ❤️

[@edwardquirk8393]

I lived in roseland and worked at the Pullman national bank in high school was a safe and nice neighborhood then now its like a war zone

[@jimoconnor6382]

Ya don't say. It's definitely a different place if you haven't been there in awhile, from Roseland to Calumet City.

[@tontoruiz7289]

LOVED IT

[@rinohorizonte]

Americans travel to Europe to admire their architecture and old jewels then still stands proudly across the centuries. Meantime torn real treasures down instead cheaper wood , sheetrock, plastic and cardboard " houses" .

[@renevallee4217]

Is it possible for you to do a program on the Eugene McVoy house in Chicago located at 3030 Lakeshore Drive? A dear friend of mine grew up there and she is now long since passed...but I have always heard stories of how grand it was etc...I love your work...

[@snoozinghipo]

Why were so many of these beautiful mansions knocked down , and in this case only 1 year after the passing of their mother. So sad. Nothing with match this again :(

[@windronner1]

It’s heartbreaking not more of these houses were never saved. What the hell were these people thinking?!?

[@RichardBarron_]

I wish you lived in In California so much more Architecture to marvel at.

[@jaybee8748]

Except that Chicago is known as he architectural capital of the US. For a reason.

[@lisariggs8947]

That's a real shame, the Pullman house demolished, a tribute to the times. It could have been repurposed

[@bobbyspapercraft]

Come to new Jersey to tour the historic Kuser Mansion.

[@caesar3311]

Do George Harrison’s manor

[@amandahirschfeld7382]

Sad it was torn down

[@romatrixwiper9354]

these mansions were something we cant have in today's time

[@r.williamcomm7693]

“This house” does great work but didn’t describe Pullman very well. A Pullman cars were private luxurious rail cars that were bespoke, custom made for wealthy ppl, so that when they traveled by rail, instead of sitting with the other passengers or even in a more exclusive area, the wealthy ppl had their Pullman cars hooked to the trains on which they were traveling. If you think about it it’s a neat idea. Imagine what a treat it would be to have a chance to see inside even one Pullman car.

[@marstal4913]

Sad... only in America do we tear down ancient mansion to build a Circle K or Walmart. Sickening, really...

[@deedeethomas7835]

Thank goodness the demolition monster prevelent in America didn't destroy the Biltmore Mansion. Gorgeous architecture from the past replaced with crap over decades. Tragic.

[@harryasstruman3101]

That's cool I was just wondering if he had anything to do with Pullman cars. Growing up in st-charles Mo. The ACF company made Pullman cars are one of the biggest job suppliers in the area

[@baddestjoanna-michellesmit5578]

Wow , wish we had traveling sleepers but I guess those hotel planes are his vision now. Days llol but would love a car like his vision lol .sleeper car , would be so cool! Like a dope R V .

[@maxdoubled4800]

Sad to know we won't look back at homes like this when I'm old but it's good to know people have better priorities than these bastards did. Beautiful house though!

[@CatherinesChronicles_]

Sad

[@brianbrands1]

No mention of Solon Beman? Did he play a role in the design or construction of the residence? Was he in charge of the Wedding Day renovations you mention?

[@GenXtothe7thPower]

We’ve devolved so badly, it’s sad. A banana taped to a blank canvas is “art”. All of the “art” at tjmaxx people buy, any 10 year old could paint. Everyone is too hypnotized, staring at a screen to create anything beautiful. 😞

[@nofrackingzone7479]

This olde mansion💡

[@JimmyCall]

Crazy how these homes are knocked down for little to no reason, or as if they had no value.

[@considerthelilies91]

When the Planckinton mansion was demolished in Milwaukee back in the 1980's, many Marquette University students cheered on the bulldozer

[@acesplit]

One correction - this is quite far from the Gold Coast neighborhood. This is in the South Loop, on Prairie Avenue.

[@jaybee8748]

Well south of the Loop, on Prairie.

[@gwtwvivien]

Horrible buildings replacing beautiful works of Art.

[@johnbroadway4196]

All these old mansions in New York Chicago and other various places throughout the world. It is A shame that such beauty and opulence is all history.

[@billy1673]

Another prime example of the stupidity and short-sightedness of our species.

[@lisadolan689]

🙏🙂Ken

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

If they knew then what we know now, that house would have been saved. What a missed opportunity for the city of chicago.

[@lynxbotts2792]

Yas Illinois my home state my state yas also Chicago yas I live like 2 hours away from there Chicago is fine- is very shooty-?

[@williammcghee863]

As much as I like nice things and dream of a life of carefree opulence, may we say a short prayer for the human cost sacrificed, just so one innovators ego could be satisfied.

[@paulmarado]

How was it heated?

[@carolmiles2351]

Go to 111th Street... that's the remainder of the Pullman Enterprises

[@christians.7019]

I’m fashionably LATE🥺

[@kimvanhowe852]

Compared to the beautiful picture of the Pullman house and your coffee mug (ick) I think you should put a picture of the Pullman house on your coffee mug instead 😆

[@narmale]

😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 wtf have we become...

[@patricialong5767]

Isn't his house supposed to be "haunted?" Simply overdone but extremely lovely! This was the true Gilded Age! Today, we are not rich enough and too practical to build such opulence, unless you are a millionaire. Ages come and ages go, as planned.

[@chinoman7234]

I stayed the night in this house before it was torn down

[@twistoffate4791]

@Chino Man, I seriously doubt that, since the Pullman Home was demolished in 1922.

[@chinoman7234]

@@twistoffate4791 just celebrated my 107 th birthday 🎉

[@twistoffate4791]

@@chinoman7234 Sorry, but I don't believe you.

[@mauricioochoa4179]

So stupid. Why was that house demolished! An important part of Chicago’s history gone, just like that

[@jimoconnor6382]

The only thing left is the clock tower and the rest was burned down several years ago

[@UKindness4]

He was a horrible person who enslaved labor and was a murderer!

[@danbowman9294]

He created thousands of jobs. You are probably a communist.

[@photai7501]

Why demolish? Nice house lol

[@keepitsimple4629]

22,000 sf, and that wasn't enough. These insatiable people disgust me. They could never get enough of anything. Empty souls.

[@danbowman9294]

Jealous much?

[@keepitsimple4629]

@@danbowman9294 I'm happy with what I have. The scriptures say be content with whatever state we're in.

[@danbowman9294]

@@keepitsimple4629 Virtue-signaling isn't very Christian.

[@keepitsimple4629]

@@danbowman9294 Neither is hedonism, avarice, and not sharing what you have with the less fortunate.

[@danbowman9294]

@@keepitsimple4629 Judgemental, pompous, falsely pious...not very Christian at all.

[@TracyMarie71]

How incredibly disrespectful of his children and the city to not take care of such a grand monument to style, grace and history.

[@jacqueresch6534]

His wife wanted the house razed. Her children didn't want it.

[@Joy-TheLazyCatLady]

From a historical standpoint, it's a tragedy but really, who needs a house that large and opulent? At 7000 sq ft, each floor could have been a separate opulent home for a wealthy person or family. Too much misplaced pride and selfishness amongst the very wealthy. Capitalism is responsible for the death of these beautiful historical structures.

[@claudermiller]

Wealthy people are so wasteful.

[@vincentdougherty947]

From beautiful to ugly "modern " bldg

[@nathanrogers5277]

Wonder how many slaves they owned!

[@stephencurry8552]

Victorian architecture is hideous!