The Glessner House Makes An Impact in Chicago

In the South Loop neighborhood in Chicago, an old house that sits on 18th street and the historic Prairie Avenue looks a bit out of place amongst the high-rise condominium buildings. Closely resembling a fortress, the Glessner House helped create a new architectural design and houses many historical artifacts from the nineteenth century.

The Glessner House Museum is one of Chicago’s hidden gems, with its rich background and impact on the community. It is just one of the many historical attractions around Prairie Avenue, holding unique charm and history within its walls.

Celebrate the Upcoming Holiday Season

Every season, the museum hosts various events to celebrate the holidays or get people in the city to participate in what the property has to offer.

For the upcoming winter holidays, the museum will host events to celebrate, including:

• Haunted Tours of Prairie Avenue
• Edgar Allen Poe Readings
• A “Holiday Bazaar,” where artists can sell their creations and crafts to the public
• Sleigh rides drawn by horses down Prairie Avenue and a meet and greet with Santa Clause

The details of the events are listed on the Glessner House website and anyone can attend.

The People that Started It All

The history of the house started when a couple named John and Frances Glessner purchased the house in 1885. The Glessners became famous in Chicago for being involved in the farming industry and helping establish the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. At the time, Prairie Avenue was a very exclusive part of the city, but the house needed some work. They hired a famous architect from Boston to come and spruce up the place.

Henry Hobson Richardson, or H.H., came to the house and began the transformation. He gained attention through his work in Europe, and helped introduce a new style to architecture in the United States. He created a home with grand staircases and large fireplaces, incorporated wood from oak trees, and allowed natural light to flood the rooms. H.H. Richardson completed his project in 1887 and created a lasting Chicago masterpiece.

“The House Was Subject of Much Remark by Passers-By”

As evidence by his quote, John Glessner often spoke about the attention his house received and it's historical integrity. He wanted the English Arts and Crafts movement to be visible in his home, which people still experience today when visiting. Mostly everything in the museum now contains historical significance, including detailed furniture and wall decorations by family friends of the Glessners. Today, the museum features more than 6,000 artifacts that belonged to the Glessner family and friends.

A Rose Among the…High Rise Condos

“Once you walk in, you’ll understand,” says Oksana Paluch, a Glessner House volunteer, regarding the influence of the museum. “The historic integrity of the collection and the dedication to keeping it preserved is incredible. The collection is beyond words.” Paluch says she greatly appreciates the enthusiasm and passion that runs through the staff and volunteers, and believes it adds a great deal to Chicago’s culture.

The city almost demolished the house in 1966, but preservationists came together to keep it restored for future generations. Through contributions and grants, the museum completed the Glessner House Conservation Project in 2000. Today, the house remains fully in tact and better than ever, with tours running Wednesday through Sundays of visitors eager to see this historical piece of Chicago.

Even with all the events and updates, the house truly exists exactly as it did in the 1800s. Museum visitor and Prairie Avenue resident Whitney Butler says, “this house stands out from any high rise floor to ceiling window. It is truly an undiscovered part of the city that is totally worth checking out. It’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.” By: Maddie Asebrook

Photo By: Maddie Asebrook/Chicago Storytellers

POLL: Which event sounds most interesting for the holiday season?

For Classic Food at Affordable Prices, Stop At Kroll's

If you ever take a stroll around the South Loop, Kroll’s Bar and Grill would be a fantastic place to warm up and relax. The bar is located at 18th Street and Michigan Avenue. and offers great food and drinks at affordable prices As one of only a few restaurants in the developing neighborhood, this is best I have found so far.

The Atmosphere

In a sense, Kroll’s created the definition of a classy sports bar turned restaurant. Sitting only blocks away from Soldier Field, a great deal of its clients are die hard Chicago Bears fans or people that live in the neighborhood. Upon entering, you can choose to sit in the bar area, accompanied with large projection screens playing sports coverage all night, or walk further back into the restaurant. The bar area could be its own establishment, because of its large size. Both areas are equipped with comfortable leather seats and booths, and ample space for your tired feet and obnoxiously large winter coat.

The Food

If you find yourself looking for classic sports bar appetizers and burgers, Kroll’s is definitely the place to visit. They offer three different menus: the regular menu, the late night menu, and the game day menu. Each menu is pretty self explanatory, but includes various items depending on the time of your visit. Personally, I found the double cheeseburger or loaded tator tots quite delicious, but probably gained a few extra pounds while lounging in my comfortable leather seat. My friend had the thin crust pizza, which also was delicious. The variety of the menu drew me in instantly. Take out is also available, with the menu with available online as well.

The Bar

The bar is the perfect place to come and have a decently priced beer or mixed drink after a long day or while watching a game. Kroll’s features daily drink specials on various beers, wines and cocktails, none of which go over $8. The bartenders are very nice and definitely know their drinks like the back of their busy hands. You can find the extensive beer and wine menu available online as well.

The Service

Even while frequenting this restaurant late at night, the service is fantastic. As a fairly picky eater, our waiter remembered my high maintenance order without even writing it down. They can get a little frazzled during a game, but who doesn't when a thousand different things are going on at once. Also, if you live in neighborhood and go on Tuesday, you can receive a 20% off discount on your food and bar tab, which definitely can help the ailing hungry college student.

Overall, everything about this restaurant says affordable and delicious. The drinks, the food and the service are all very reasonable, and the atmosphere is not terribly unique, but enjoyable. Kroll’s is open daily from 11 a.m. until late in the evening. Just get off at the Roosevelt stop on the red line, or take the number 3 bus south to 18th Street. I would highly suggest stopping in with a group of friends for a cheap drink and a good time. -By: Maddie Asebrook