“Prairie Avenue” from Souvenir of Chicago, published in 1887 by Ward Bros. of Columbus, Ohio. The view shows Prairie Avenue looking north from 20th Street (now Cullerton Street), in the year the Glessners completed and moved into their home.
Ward Bros. produced small souvenir books of various cities during the last two decades of the 19th century. The book for Chicago contains 38 views including the Palmer House, the Marshall Field Wholesale Store, the Inter-State Industrial Exposition Building, the Exchange Hall at the Board of Trade, Drexel Boulevard, Lincoln Park, and the Union Stock Yards.
In the image above, the house at far left (1936 S. Prairie) was built for Daniel Thompson, superintendent of the Chicago City Railway. Designed by architect Laban B. Dixon and completed in 1870 at a cost of $100,000, it was said to be the most expensive house ever built on the south side of Chicago up to that time. Later owned by meatpacker Samuel Allerton, it was razed in 1915.
The house at far right (1945 S. Prairie) was built for George Armour, grain elevator owner and the first president of the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts, precursor to the Art Institute of Chicago. The house was designed by the architectural firm of Treat & Foltz and completed in 1872. After a long ownership by the Corwith family, it was razed in 1931.