Blaine still lives in this fine residence at the southeast corner of Rush and Erie streets. Emmons Blaine, built in the вЂ™90s, is partly surrounded by a high brick wall, Mrs. Opposite, on the east side of Rush street, were two early apartment buildings, the Marquette and the Charlevoix, which housed many socially prominent residents, including some of the townвЂ™s most eligible bachelors in the early days. It was demolished in the вЂ™30s to make way for a parking lot. The famous Virginia family hotel, built by Leander McCormick, brother of Cyrus McCormick, the вЂњReaper King,вЂќ once stood in this area. The Croydon-hotel, farther north, occupies the site of the gray stone mansion built by Judge Mark Skinner, friend of Abraham Lincoln. On the west side of Rush street are the Milner hotel, at Grand avenue, and the Alexandria, at Ohio street, withe the ShrinersвЂ™ Medinah temple nearby. So letвЂ™s stroll along Rush street, from Grand avenue to Chicago avenue, recalling other days! But enough remain for us to be able to recapture something of the flavor of old times, if we look about a bit. Since that time many of the fine homes have been razed, remodeled, changed. With the building of Michigan Avenue bridge in 1920, traffic was diverted and Rush street became like a quiet eddy near a rushing river. At 5:30 in the afternoon, Rush street once resounded to the tread of horsesвЂ™ hoofs and the jingle of silver chains on expensive harnesses as liveried coachmen drove the rich men of the near north side to their homes.

But in the вЂ™80s and вЂ™90s, and even into the present century, it was вЂњElegant Rush street,вЂќ home of the most prominent families of Chicago. вЂњQuaint little Rush street,вЂќ they call it today, noting the old mansions, falling into decay.

First structure built in chicago 1930