Three generations of Chicago train stations: Chicago and North Western Wells St. Station (built 1881, demolished 1910), Chicago and North Western Depot (built across the river in 1911, demolished 1984), and Ogilvie Transportation Center (built on top of the previous station 1984-87).
Why was the last one demolished after only three years?
Vanderhorstviolatersays
The first post I’ve looked at on here where the building made in the 80’s doesn’t totally offend me! Still it would have been nice to have kept the other ones around, neither were all that old when they got torn down.
alohadavesays
I used the Ogilvie station in the 90’s. The commuter rail terminated there from the north.
The inside wasn’t anything special that I remember, but then I wasn’t really looking that close at it, and I only used it a few times.
I think Citi had the naming rights at the time.
_erniesays
r/yesyesyesyesno
iAmH3r3ToH3lpsays
I was a frequent user of Ogilvie. As a suburban jr high kid, I would train in to the city from Geneva to walk around and feel cool. I remember the food court with the Dunkin Donuts. And there was a bridge that took you to a record store over on the second floor.
frosty_the_blowmansays
Not that number #1 wasn’t a tragic loss; however, the silver lining is that it was replaced by one of the largest most beautiful examples of Art Deco found anywhere in the world: [The Merchandise Mart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchandise_Mart).
Hot take — I don’t think this picture does the current station justice. It’s also a structure with much higher density. The rebuilding was an inevitability, too bad it had to be in the eighties.
inherentinsigniasays
This isn’t OP’s fault, but this is sort of misleading. The second station (middle image) actually isn’t completely gone— in fact, some of the most iconic parts of it (like the bits running parallel to the tracks) were absorbed into the current station, and are a part of the modern aesthetic now. Those portions are now home to the French Market and depot, so it’s not exactly “lost”; the original towers are gone, but this isn’t a “loss” like most of the images on this sub, as it’s really more an absorption. I hope I’m explaining that clearly.
As for the top image, I’m not at all offended. The Merchandise Mart is one of the city’s most iconic Art Deco buildings and is a worthy (if not superior) successor to what was there before.
La_Guy_Person says
Why was the last one demolished after only three years?
Vanderhorstviolater says
The first post I’ve looked at on here where the building made in the 80’s doesn’t totally offend me! Still it would have been nice to have kept the other ones around, neither were all that old when they got torn down.
alohadave says
I used the Ogilvie station in the 90’s. The commuter rail terminated there from the north.
The inside wasn’t anything special that I remember, but then I wasn’t really looking that close at it, and I only used it a few times.
I think Citi had the naming rights at the time.
_ernie says
r/yesyesyesyesno
iAmH3r3ToH3lp says
I was a frequent user of Ogilvie. As a suburban jr high kid, I would train in to the city from Geneva to walk around and feel cool. I remember the food court with the Dunkin Donuts. And there was a bridge that took you to a record store over on the second floor.
frosty_the_blowman says
Not that number #1 wasn’t a tragic loss; however, the silver lining is that it was replaced by one of the largest most beautiful examples of Art Deco found anywhere in the world: [The Merchandise Mart](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merchandise_Mart).
sunflowerapp says
what the F..K was the people thinking in 80s…
Joehascol says
Here’s a streetview:
https://goo.gl/maps/9Ao6ZUo7MZ7JWjwM7
Hot take — I don’t think this picture does the current station justice. It’s also a structure with much higher density. The rebuilding was an inevitability, too bad it had to be in the eighties.
inherentinsignia says
This isn’t OP’s fault, but this is sort of misleading. The second station (middle image) actually isn’t completely gone— in fact, some of the most iconic parts of it (like the bits running parallel to the tracks) were absorbed into the current station, and are a part of the modern aesthetic now. Those portions are now home to the French Market and depot, so it’s not exactly “lost”; the original towers are gone, but this isn’t a “loss” like most of the images on this sub, as it’s really more an absorption. I hope I’m explaining that clearly.
As for the top image, I’m not at all offended. The Merchandise Mart is one of the city’s most iconic Art Deco buildings and is a worthy (if not superior) successor to what was there before.
EDIT: here’s a [photo](https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-312/April-2012/Photos-Turn-of-the-Century-Chicago-a-City-on-the-Make-As-it-Was-Being-Made/index.php?mode=popup&cp=56&view=slideshow) of the 1911 building shortly after construction from the left side (taken from the west, facing east), and [here](https://goo.gl/maps/knd5upRS9GCAdQEi6) is the exact same view from today.