Cook County Cemetery

The Institute and Buildings


A Brief Chronological History

of the Major Institutions

In order to better understand the role and placement of Cook County Cemetery at Dunning, we must understand the growth of the institutions and buildings on the grounds

COOK COUNTY POOR HOUSE

ALSO KNOWN AS COUNTY HOUSE OR ALMSHOUSE

November 1854

In November 1854, the Poor House and County Farm began operation. All patients regardless of their physical or mental health were housed in this early structure. The main building was three stories high and cost $ 25,000. The county commissioners, much like today's politicians, wanted to rid the city streets of the destitute and unsavory. They felt a county poor house, out-of-sight from the city would be humane, efficient, and even self supporting. Healthy inmates could work the fields or tend animals. Women could clean, sew, and cook.

The Cook County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday Dec 12, 1854 where a report was given offering a wonderful insight into the Poor House in 1854. Here is the text of that meeting:

Supervisor Morris offered several resolutions for the better regulation of the poor house which were substituted on motion of supervisor J.H. Gray by the appointment of a special committee of three who were instructed to devise some suitable plan for the same.

Supervisor Donnell from the special committee appointed to visit the new poor house, made a report, which was read.

The report states that the new poor house is situated on an elevated ridge, surrounded by a small grove of timber, in the town of Jefferson, about 10 miles west of Chicago. That the building is 100 feet by 40, three stories high and a basement underneath, connected with which a wing of two stories with a basement designed for the insane poor. The material is brick. The building has been constructed during the past season at a cost of $25,000. There is a frame barn in the rear with an enclosed barnyard for cows, of which there are eight kept.

There are 60 tons of coal and 30 cords of wood on hand.

The paupers were just removed from their old quarters, four miles south of the city, on the shore of Lake Michigan, when the committee arrived. There were 25 men, 27 women, and 24 children. There had been yet no classification or division of them in separate wards. There were among them some persons who presented by their fine garments rather a respectable appearance, and yet did not seem to be ashamed to remain in a poor house, nor had they apparently, any business there, except to wait upon each other.

The committee observed that there were several coal stoves set up and in full blast in many of the bedrooms, thus consuming, for the benefit of a few paupers, as much coal as would be sufficient for all belonging to each ward or classes.

At dinner, the paupers had an abundant supply of fresh roast beef and wheat bread, beans, and potatoes

They expressed a wish for some pork, and said they had plenty of fresh beef and mutton twice, and mush with milk or molasses once, each day.

The committee are of opinion that meat once a day would be quite sufficent for them, as they have no physical labor to perform. Salt beef and pork might be used occassionally with economy,

The committee hold the opinion that our present system for the support of the poor is very loose and imperfect, and liable to great waste; and reccommend that the Clerk of the Board furnish the Warden of the Poor House with printed blank forms, in order to ascertain the cost of keeping each pauper under the present plan.

Supervisor Garland offered a resolution providing for the raising of a committee of one or more to visit some Eastern city for the purpose of ascertaining the best method of conducting poor houses. Supervisor Murphy of Ridgeville, moved to indefinetly postpone the resolution, which was carried.

Supervisor James offered the following resolution which was adopted: "Resolved, that the County Agent be and he is hereby instructed to limit into the Poor House no person having a contagious disease; and the criterion by which he shall decide this point shall be the opinion of the County Physician.

Poor house later replaced by an 1869 structure building was two stories with small barred windows, cross barred grated iron doors, heavy wooden doors outside Cells about 7x8, 10 cells on lower floor, 11 on upper floor. Many cells contain 2 beds. A tall board fence at the rear of the building containing the insane formed an exercising pen 100' square.

Ref: Chicago Weekly Times

June 14 1855

As the patient population increased, so did disease and death. Most died without family and were buried by the county in "county ground" surrounding the poor house.

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL

The Cook County Hospital operated at the County Farm from August 1863 to January 15, 1866. It can reasonably be assumed that those who died at the Cook County Hospital, while located at the County Farm, was buried on the grounds. Cook County Hospital reopened on Arnold (LaSalle), between 18th and 19th with 130 beds, and then later moved to its current location. It is now known as Stroger Hospital with a brand new facility. Burials from Cook County Hospital, as well as many other agencies with Cook County, continued well after the hospital itself moved away from the county farm.

INSANE ASYLUM

Eighteen years after the beginning of the Cook County Poor Farm, , the Poor House building in 1868 was declared frail and exceedingly combustible. A new building designed only for the insane was decided upon. The Committee on Poor House and Paupers selected a site for the insane asylum about 200 feet south of the "present County House." Construction on a new insane asylum began August 30, 1869. The building was three stories high, 272 feet x 116 feet.

This new insane asylum opened in 1870 at a cost of $135,000. This new building and the poor house were the only two significant or main structures built on the County Farm property at this time.

It was noted, by the Board of Cook County Commissioners that, in in September, 1869 “that the twenty acre burying ground was to close to the insane asylum”, and that there was a recommendation that bodies be moved to the sixty rods to the west. There is no verification that bodies were actually moved nor does it indicate whether this recommendation referred to all of the bodies or just the ones in close proximity to the new insane asylum.

It is important to keep in mind that at this time there have been burials made as a result of deaths at the institution totaling fourteen years, plus an undetermined number of itinerant or undocumented burials from the surrounding area. It is with this thought that moving all of the bodies buried since the opening of the institution would have been less likely than just bodies that were immediately adjacent to the insane asylum. In either case, the cemetery was growing rapidly and there were conflicting needs for the land. It is also interesting to note that this same year, 1870, the City Cemetery at North Avenue and Clark in Chicago was being closed. The morgue there was vacated, and the fence taken down. This meant that space used for potters field or pauper burials was no longer available in City Cemetery and that the cemetery at the county ground at Dunning would play a much more important role in the burial of Chicago's indigent.

COOK COUNTY INFIRMARY

By 1882 the original poor house, despite renovations and additions was inadequate for the growing population. Therefore a new poor house, designated the "infirmary" was completed on the south end of the property, closer to Irving Park Road. It was felt the term “Infirmary” wsounded much better than “poorhouse”, but the purpose was the same. It had an initial capacity of 1000 patients. The building was very unusual as its several wings radiating from a central core.

RAILROAD

To facilitate the construction of this large infirmary, a railroad line was brought to the grounds about 1882, originally to bring construction materials.

The right of way to the County Farm left the old Milwaukee Road tracks just northwest of the Galewood yard, ran south along a path roughly at 6600 west (Nashville Avenue) for three miles then passed thru the farm of D.S. Dunning, located on what is now the southwest corner of Irving Park Road and Narragansett. Dunning conveyed a small portion of his land to Cook County to allow for the construction of the the railroad right of way and a train station located at what is now today, the southeast corner of Irving and Nashville Avenue Thus begun the orgin of the community and post office known as Dunning. The station at this location would serve the community that had begun to grow near the institution. It must be noted however, that D.S. Dunning did not own any part of the land which became the county farm. The railroad would become an important part of the county farm. After completion of the Infirmary, There was a station built actually on the grounds, just north and east of the infirmary. Daily trains would provide the means to bring patients, visitors, food, and materials to the County Farm.

COOK COUNTY HOSPITAL

FOR CONSUMPTIVES (TUBERCULOSIS)

(Also known as the Tuberculosis Pavillion)

In 1899, A third major building was constructed on the grounds. A large consumptive (tuberculosis) hospital was built in the far south eastern corner of the property, near the intersection of Irving Park and Narragansett. In those days, consumption is the term used to describe tuberculosis. This structure located west of the infirmary, replaced a consumptive hospital originally building #9 built 1898.

Opened latter part of 1903, wood construction, consisting of five buildings. Middle building was a two story administration building and central dining room. Each ward measured 52 x 65 feet 11 foot high ceilings. In 1907 a two story building was completed at the west end of the buildings to be used as a hospital ward for more advanced cases of TB. Became State property on July 1 1912 but was leased back to County who ran this hospital until late March of 1915. A more complete description of the many buildings on the grounds can be found in the appendix.

COOK COUNTY SELLS POOR FARM TO STATE OF ILLINOIS

In the years after 1910, the Cook County Board of Commissioners realized that the care of the insane and the poor was growing at an alarming rate and costs were escalating. They felt that both the poor and the insane was more than they could afford and manage. Therefore the county persuaded the state to take responsibility for all the insane in Illinois. Cook County offered the entire property and buildings to the state for the sum of one dollar. As soon as this deal was agreed upon, Cook County began to build a new facility for the poor at Oak Forest Illinois, leaving the insane behind for the state. On November 26 1910, the first 250 poor house patients were transferred to the new Oak Forest Infirmary, in anticipation of the State taking over the County Farm.

On July 1 1912, the county officially transferred the property, the institution, the buildings, the farm, and the cemetery to the State of Illinois. The institution is renamed Chicago State Hospital and is to be used only for the care of the insane.

BUILDING INVENTORY

Structures located on the Cook County Poor Farm, later known as Chicago State Hospital and finally Chicago Read-Zone Center

Table of Contents

  1. County Poor House also referred to as Almshouse
    First consisting of 2 brick and seven early wooden buildings and later 1874 brick structure with additions
  2. Insane Asylum - built 1869, and related buildings
  3. Infirmary - 1883 and related buildings
  4. Cook County Consumptive Hospital 1903-1923
    (also known as Tuberculosis Pavillion)
  5. Numbered buildings per State of Illinois inventories
  6. Additional Unnumbered buildings and Farm buildings
  1. COUNTY POOR HOUSE
    ALSO REFERRED TO AS ALMSHOUSE OR COUNTY INFIRMARY 1855-1883

    Two Brick and Five wood buildings built 1854 replaced by a new Brick building in 1874

    The first Cook County poor house was built in 1854 on an elevated ridge, surrounded by a small grove of timber, in the town of Jefferson, about 10 miles west of Chicago about four years after County purchased first parcel of land.

    POOR HOUSE BRICK (Built 1853-54)

    The main building is brick, 100 feet by 40, three stories high and a basement underneath, connected with which a wing of two stories with a basement designed for the insane poor. The material is brick. The building has been constructed during the past season at a cost of $25,000. It consisted of 24 rooms, occupied by paupers at large, about 100 old women including lying in cases. A large low dining room was in the basement with a kitchen and pantry at each end. The dining room consisted of low bare wooden tables and benches. Tin cups were used.

    The insane were first housed separately in The Insane Wing, a separate brick building built 1853-54 and was connected to the Poor House (This first insane department was later replaced by an 1869 structure ) The Insane WIng was two stories with small barred windows, cross barred grated iron doors, heavy wooden doors outside Cells about 7x8, 10 cells on lower floor, 11 on upper floor. Many cells contain 2 beds. . A tall board fence at the rear of the building containing the insane formed an exercising pen 100' square

    Official reports of 1854 gave valuable insight into the Poor House :

    “The paupers were just removed from their old quarters, four miles south of the city, on the shore of Lake Michigan. There were 25 men, 27 women, and 24 children.

    There had been yet no classification or division of them in separate wards. There were among them some persons who presented by their fine garments rather a respectable appearance, and yet did not seem to be ashamed to remain in a poor house, nor had they apparently, any business there, except to wait upon each other. “

    There were several coal stoves set up and in full blast in many of the bedrooms, thus consuming, for the benefit of a few paupers, as much coal as would be sufficent for all belonging to each ward or classes.

    At dinner, the paupers had an abundant supply of fresh roast beef and wheat bread, beans, and potatoes They expressed a wish for some pork, and said they had plenty of fresh beef and mutton twice, and mush with milk or molasses once, each day. The committee are of opinion that meat once a day would be quite sufficent for them, as they have no physical labor to perform. Salt beef and pork might be used occasionally with economy,

    The committee hold the opinion that our present system for the support of the poor is very loose and imperfect, and liable to great waste; and recommend that the Clerk of the Board furnish the Warden of the Poor House with printed blank forms, in order to ascertain the cost of keeping each pauper under the present plan.

    Still another report stated:

    "…lying and sitting in all directions, may be seen the squalid faces of men, women, and children, camped out so to speak, in the wilderness, without privacy, without comforts, and not bound to each other by any ties of common descent or mutual interest. It is a sad sight."

    Five additional wood buildings are described as follows:

    Wood Building #3 was a Frame dormitory 25 beds, occupied by men, bare walls and floors, torn down sometime betwween 1911 and 1915,

    Building #4 was a Frame Dormitory, (Circa 1854)

    60 beds occupied by boys, connected to building #3, torn down before 1915,

    Building #5 was a Frame hospital for men (Circa 1854)

    60 beds, bare walls and floors, torn down before 1915, exact date unknown

    Building #6 Frame Dormitory (Circa 1854) 175 beds, housing men, torn down before 1915, date unknown

    Building #7 Frame Dormitory, (Circa 1854) 190 beds, Occupied by both sexes, lower story for Women and children, upper story for men. Torn down between 1911 and 1915,

    Building #8 (Circa 1854) Small frame carpenter shop,

    "used largely for making coffins in which to bury the inmates, after death releases them from their misery"

    Building #9 Small frame wash house "with no suitable laundry apparatus"

    torn down between 1911 and 1915,

    “There is a frame barn in the rear with an enclosed barnyard for cows, of which there are eight kept.”

    In 1880, mention is made of the "unsafe and bad condition of the old wooden buildings of the poor house"

    In the 1874-75 Board of Cook County Commissioners Proceedings, page 433, a request was made to have the wood buildings moved away from the brick insane asylum (constructed 1869))

    On March 30 1911 a prairie fire stopped within 20' of "the wooden walls of older buildings"

    REFERENCES

    Descriptions of these earliest wood buildings are found in the:Institution Quarterly Volume 6, #3 September 30, 1915. Although a diagram, described the location of the buildings, their exact sizes and true locations are not recorded.

    Daily Democrat Press Dec 11, 1854

    Fifth Biennial Report of the Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities of the State of Illinois dated 1878, as excerpted in the Institution Quarterly Volume 6, #3 September 30, 1915. A diagram was is included.

    Chicago Weekly Times June 14 1855

    A new brick poor house building was built in 1874 at a cost of $75,000, Three stories high,

    The ladies of the vicinity gave a housewarming upon it's completion including feasting and dancing. An addition to the main building was built in 1875

    Reference:: Proceedings, p433, 1874-75

  2. ASYLUM - 1869 Also referred to as simply the Asylum Building

    Plans drawn up for "new Insane Department" in 1868, to accomodate 150 and not to exceed $30,000. A site was selected in 1869, 200 feet south of County House. Construction began on August 30 1869.

    A description of the building appears in the 1915 "History of the Chicago State Hospital" by Dr. George Leininger printed in the Sept 1915 issue of Institution Quarterly

    The building was three stories high, 272 feet x 116 feet. It contained cells in basement. Built at a cost of $135,000.

    This institution was erected on the county farm, a little over a block northeast of the infirmary, on the ground dotted with forest trees and gradually sloping to an artificial lake. L. B. Dixon, of Chicago, was the architect.

    The asylum building had a frontage to the east of 272 feet and was divided by a center building, in which the offices were situated; the two wings were divided into wards. Each ward was 116 feet long from north to south. The central building had a frontage of 50 feet. At each extreme end of wings was a projection 20 feet to the rear for bathroom, water closets and stairs to the yards. The building was of brick, with cut stone trimmings, and was three stories high above the basement.

    Each wing had a center corridor 13 feet wide, with three windows on each end. The patients' rooms were on each side of the corridors. Special pains were taken to secure a thoroughly efficient system of warming and ventilation. The heating was by high pressure steam, and ventilation was forced by two double-bladed iron fans, eight feet in diameter. The water closets were at the end of each ward. The bathrooms were adjoining at the end of each wing.

    There was a soiled clothes drop from each bathroom to a room in the basement. There were two bathtubs and three water closets on each floor. Each wing had a dining-room on each floor with attendants' each room adjoining. A dumb waiter extended to the basement from each dining-room. There was a linen room for each story of each wing near the attendants room. At the end of each wing there was a separate stairway with separate exits into yards for inmates. All food for patients in the asylum was brought into the basement of the asylum in an iron car from the rear building, and was carried to the various dining-rooms by a dumb waiter.

    1871 - the insane population was 216

    1874

    A fourth floor was added and occupied in early January, 1874

    A bowling alley was "fitted up in the basement"

    1876

    The December 1, 1876 Medical Superintendent Report contains further description of the building and it's additions. It was described in this report as having a frontage of 614 feet of pressed brick, five stories high. The body of the building is about 45' front occupied as a residence for officers.

    A North wing 444' contains 12 wards. A machine shop, paint shop, carpenter shop, and gardeners shop were located in the basement. One corrider has a billiard room

    1878 The population of the insane asylum reaches 437 inmates with 100 sleeping on the floor.

    RELATED ROOMS AND BUILDINGS TO THE INSANE ASYLUM

    The laundry room was 60 ft x 80 ft

    The old power house, serving the insane asylum consisted of boiler, engine, and fan rooms and were located next to laundry building. This power house was abandonded in 1918, was later removed and replaced by the general stores building (#28 built 1924)

    A storage and ice room building was just west of the Insane Asylum dining room (east of pond) and appears on 1904 Sanborn fire insurance map.

    A flour shed was located in the rear of the laundry building

    A fuel shed for the insane asylum was located next to boiler house. (ref 1915 history)

  3. INFIRMARY (1883) AND RELATED BUILDINGS

    A new infirmary was announced to be built on the southeast corner of the grounds to replace the poor house.

    Plans were adopted for the construction of the Infirmary on September 22, 1881. Capacity to be 1000 inmates A construction contract was awarded in June of 1882, to the McGrath and Downey Co.. Construction during 1882 was handicapped by the lack of the railroad still unfinished needed to carry building materials to the site.

    A cornerstone ceremony occurred on September 11 1882 with a special ten car railroad train leaving Union Station with dignitaries.

    In June 1883, patients were transferred from old poor house building. Great detail on the cornerstone ceremony and detailed Information regarding its construction can be found in Sept 5 1882 Tribune and other issues.

    The brick three story building consisted of nine separate and distinct buildings with frontage to the south. In front of the circle is an administration and four dorms.

    A carpenter shop for the purpose of building coffins, was located just west of the female wards and is shown on the 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

    A 51,000 gallon Cistern appears on the 1905 Sanborn map.

    Two additional unknown buildings were also located here, but were gone or not shown on the 1905 Sanborn map

    In January, 1912, fire destroyed the central portion of the infirmary buildings, which contained six wards, operating room, two congregate dining-rooms, kitchen, chapel, and the corridors leading from the east to the west wings. The fire did not destroy the two west wings which were not in use, nor the three east wings which housed insane patients.

    Two west wings were wrecked to make room for CW13 and CW14 in 1913.

    A second fire, January 9 1914 started in the ruins at the western end of the infirmary buildings.

    On May 4, 1914, two east wings of the infirmary caught fire. The building was then leveled.

    The infirmary power plant was abandoned in 1918

  4. COOK COUNTY CONSUMPTIVE HOSPITAL (TB)

    (Also known as the Tuberculosis Pavillion)

    1903-1923

    This structure of wood construction was located west of the infirmary.

    It replaced a consumptive hospital originally located in building #9 built 1898 This new consumptive hospital was opened in the latter part of 1903, wood construction, consisting of five buildings. Middle building was a two story administration building and central dining room. Each ward measured 52 x 65 feet 11 foot high

    In 1907 a two story building was completed at the west end of the buildings to be used as a hospital ward for more advanced cases of TB. The consumptive Hospital became State property on July 1 1912 but was leased back to

    County who ran this hospital until late March of 1915.

    On December 26, 1913 a fire claimed 18 lives. The fire involved all buildings except Annex 1 and 2, the two buildings on the east.

    Beginning May 8, 1914, some insane patients were admitted, and by 1915 there were 418 insane patients housed at this facility.

    The building, with a population of 400 patients, burned on December 11 1918. All patients were able to leave the building safely, and the building was rebuilt.

    References include Fire Journal page 143-144 and the Chicago Tribune for December 27 and 29, 1913.

  5. NUMBERED BUILDINGS
    FROM STATE OF ILLINOIS INVENTORY AND MAP

    The buildings in this section correspond to assigned key numbers on several State of Illinois maps and plot plans.

    This information has been augmented with additional information from other sources Assigned Bldg.#

    1. Gatehouse- Main Entrance - 1 story, brick and wood frame 13'x15' 187 sq. feet
    2. Gatehouse - Truck Entrance - 1 story, brick, wood frame, 11' x 15' 165 square feet
    3. Pumphouse - 1 story brick - steel frame 28' x 50' 1400 square feet
    4. CW 21 Ward building (Cottage Ward) , built 1929, part basement and one story brick, reinforced concrete, 175' x 196' 22700 square feet Declared surplus and scheduled for demolition on July 22 1975
    5. CW 22 Ward building (Cottage Ward), built 1929, part basement and two story brick, reinforced concrete 38' x 193' 16713 square feet Declared surplus and scheduled for demolition in letter dated July 22 1975
    6. CW 14 Ward building, (Cottage Ward) part basement and 2 story brick, Reinforced concrete 38' x 193' 14175 square feet Occupied February 1914. Used at one time as a parole ward for 125 male patients Ordered surplus and scheduled for demolition in letter dated July 22 1975
    7. CW 13 Ward building (Cottage Ward) 38 x 193 feet part basement and 2 story brick, occupied February 1914 14175 sq feet, it is a closed cottage for Male Patients Declared surplus in letter dated July 22, 1975
    8. Administration Building, built 1915 187' x 75' although inventory shows 165' x 83 32454 sq ft 3 stories and basement, brick and wood construction with the front entrance facing Irving Park Boulevard Offices and living quarters for the hospital staff. The kitchen and storerooms are in the basement, the first floor is occupied by the offices of the managing officer, assistant manager officer, chief clerk, record clerk, chief nurse, steonographer’s room, and staff meeting room. The second floor is occupied by the apartments of the managing officer, assistant managing officer, officer’s dining room, guest rooms, and telephone office. The third floor is occupied by members of the staff.
    9. Nearby are two identical receiving wards each 2 stories 238 x 65 opposite each other on main driveway declared surplus in letter dated July 22 1975 then designated Employee Building and General Offices Building This is a T shaped building 3 story brick, steel and reinforced concrete 199' x 362' treated at poor house. The building was remodeled in 1903 for use to treat the physically sick insane. The west wing is longer than the east wing.
    10. Gas Pump House/Garage 1 story brick, steel frame 22' x 22' 484 sq feet.
    11. Storage Building 1 story Brick Wood Frame 12' x 12' 144 square feet
    12. Staff Cottage #1 used for Mental Heath Training Program Located northeast of the intersection of Irving Park and Oak Park avenues. Part basement and 1 story brick, wood frame 44' x 100 6758 square feet
    13. Information unavailable or number unassigned
    14. Information unavailable or number unassigned
    15. Cottage Ward #16 2 story brick, wood frame built 1914 per Sanborn 1941 map capacity of 112 patients Declared surplus and ordered demolished in a letter dated July 22, 1975 98x140 13384 sq feet
    16. Cottage Ward #15 2 story brick, wood frame built 1914 per Sanborn 1941 map opened March 4 1916 capacity 80 patients Declared surplus and ordered demolished in a letter dated July 22, 1975 98x140 13384 sq feet
    17. Cottage Ward #17 opened December 1 1915 Part basement and one story brick with wood frame 130 x 184 feet 18330 sq feet Consisted of two dormitories, day room, and dining room, and can accommodate about 72 patients. Shown incorrectly as CW23 on Sibbett map Surplus and scheduled for demolition July 22 1975
    18. Acute Hospital Bldg built 1927 also known as the Chest Services Building part basement and two story brick and reinforced concrete 159 x 164 34730 sq ft To construct this building, the 1904 morgue had to be moved a bit to the northeast
    19. Cottage Ward #18 Built 1915 opened July 5 1916 20532 sq feet Opened as the receiving ward for men Three ordinary dormitories and rooms to accommodate one or two patients, dining room, two day rooms, and other necessary house facilities Declared surplus and scheduled for demolition on July 22 1975
    20. Cottage Ward #19 built 1915 opened about July 1916 20532 sq feet part basement and 2 story brick/wood frame Originally Women’s receiving ward Three ordinary dormitories and rooms to accommodate one or two patients, dining room, two day rooms, and other necessary house facilities Marked childrens ward on 1968 Sibbett map declared surplus and scheduled for demolition July 22 1975
    21. Pathological Building & Lecture Hall ( Fourth Morgue) This building is situated about 100 yards south of the main building for the insane. It is of brick construction, two stories high, and contains a large amphitheater, where clinics are held. It was ready for occupancy Dec 1 1904, It was moved about 1927 to make room for Acute Hospital. (See three previous morgue buildings in the alphabetical listing) This building carries the same index number in error as the transformer building below
    22. Transformer building 170 sq feet 190 x 452 feet 83428 sq feet
    23. Food Service Building built 1940 Also known as new cafeteria and Dining Room 1 story brick and steel 184 x 189 irregular 34857 square feet
    24. Nurses Home built 1915 occupied October 15 1915 4 stories facing east with basement, seventy-two double rooms later known as Vocational Rehabilitation Center Situated directly west of the paint shop 136 x 188 with capacity for 150 employes. A forty-eight room addition was built in 1920, adding 96 beds. Another source shows 187’ x 75’
    25. Cottage Ward 23 (CW23) also known as the Untidy Cottage built 1915 90 x 250 1 story brick - wood frame 7476 SQ Feet Incorrectly shown of 1942 plot plan as CW17 Situated just west of the nurses home, near the main track of the Chicago Milwaukee, and St. Paul RailroadSibbett Map shows "male Intensive" Delclared surplus and scheduled for demolition in letter dated July 22 1975
    26. Chapel built 1934/36 1 story brick with wood frame, part basement, part balcony 84 x 118 6932 sq feet declared surplus July 22 1975 letter Destroyed by fire about 1987
    27. Main Kitchen built 1914 shown as bakery on Sanborn 1941 later used as Rehab Workshop 117 x 120 18390 3 story brick and wood frame part basement
    28. General Stores Building built 1924 built on former site of insane asylum power house part basement, 2 story brick, reinforced concrete 77 x 140 20938 sq feet declared surplus in letter July 22 1975
    29. General Dining Room Connected to and just east of main Kitchen shown on 1942 map Sanborn 1941 map shows it as "Little Theatre Building”
    30. Transformer Building 1 story brick 10 x 17 170 sq feet
    31. Boulevard Building built 1870 as part of Insane Asylum also known as Office Quarters Building 2 story brick 19,456 sq feet
    32. Fire Station 3160 sq feet built 1897
    33. Employees Cafe & Kitchen DW-5 Also known as Employees Dining Room or Old Cafe 2 story 14,560 sq feet
    34. Education Building formerly known as DW1 & DW2 shown as Activities Building on Sanborn 1941 map built 1898 basement and 2 stories 66,994 sq feet Declared surplus in letter July 22, 1975
    35. Diagnostic Center built 1931 Part Basement and 2 story 63780 sq feet declared surplus in letter July 22 1975
    36. Female Infirmary built 1950 Part basement, attic, and 1 story 41417 sq feet Dining room in center of building contains Female wards #1,2,3,4 declared surplus in letter July 22 1975
    37. Male Infirmary built 1950 part basement, attic, and 1 story 41417 sq feet Dining Room in center of building contains Male Wards #1,2,3,4 declared surplus in letter July 22 1975
    38. Cottage Wards CW10 and CW11 built 1904 faces east known as Group #2 each 19663 square feet, part basement situated 125 feet north of detached ward buildings consists of 2 two story cottages and 1 one story cottage connecting the group and surrounding a court The two larger cottages are 84 x 74 The middle cottage is 58 x 38 The open court is 58' long enclosed by an ornamental fence
    39. CW 5 Cottage Ward completed 1897 ? Brick day room in center Dormitory on either side, dining room in rear building faces west 12191 sq feet
    40. CW 6 Cottage Ward completed 1897 ? reported as a cottage for 96 demented untidy patients in a building intended for 2 story 12191 sq feet Brick, day room in center, dorms on either side Dining Room in rear Building faces west
    41. CW 12 Cottage Ward completed December 1913 1 story brick 3137 square feet an unlocked cottage for 40 female patients
    42. CW 7 Cottage Ward built 1903 two story 7560 sq feet Renaiisance Style (CW Cottage Wards 7-8-9 referred to as Group #1) A detailed description appears in Leininger history page 36
    43. CW 8 Cottage Ward built 1903 Two story 7560 sq feet Renaiisance style CW Wards 7-8-9 referred to as group #1 A detailed description appears in Leininger history page 36
    44. CW 9 Cottage Ward built 1903 Two story 8102 sq feet Renaissance style CW WARDS 7-8-9 referred to as group #1 A detailed description appears in Leininger History page 36
    45. CW-20 Cottage Ward 1 story part basement 18066 Sq Feet shown as CW-25 in parenthesis on Sanborn 1941 declared surplus in letter July 22 1975
    46. CW 24 Cottage Ward built 1924 per 1942 map part basement and 1 story 18066 sq feet another source show 1927
    47. CW 4 Cottage Ward erected 1890 all brick two story basement 13750 sq feet
    48. CW 3 Cottage Ward completed 1890 basement and 2 story 13750 sq feet Appears on 1894 Sanborn
    49. not known
    50. CW 1 Cottage Ward completed 1890 2 story with part basement 27218 sq feet. with dining room shown on 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance map CW 2 Cottage Ward completed 1890 2 story with part basement 27218 sq feet. with dining room formerly a male cottage it was converted into a female ward for elderly patients. shown on 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance map
    51. Amusement Hall built 1887 having originally designed as a cottage ward for patients. rebuilt in 1893 consists of balcony and 1 story 8326 sq feet (1942 map shows that it was rebuilt in 1914) declared surplus July 22 1975 letter designed as a cottage ward but remodeled into an amusement hall. 2 stories high, stage on north end Rebuilt in 1917,one story high, 62 x 133 feet dedicated December 1917 with a seating capacity of 1200. There is an elevated stage, a balcony, a picture machine booth. Well lighted, heated, and ventilated. Entertainent consisted of moving pictures, a play, or musical program given once or twice a week and dances for patients are held twice a week. A late dance is held for employees.
    52. White House Building built 1892 Storehouse on North End opened 1925, Drug store on South End new construction occured in 1967
    53. Garage and Automotive Shop
    54. Garage
    55. Power House (North of Mechanical Shop) along main railroad track. Shown as New Power House on 1918 grid map Superceded by #71 power house
    56. Metal Storage Building 1 story 1920 square feet
    57. Mechanical Shops Building built 1927 2 story 26484 square feet
    58. Laundry Building 24,674 Square feet built 1954 per Sanborn map 1 story and mezzanine declared surplus in leter July 22 1975 (Also see previous laundry buildings in alphabetical section)
    59. Incinerator built 1930 per Sanborn 1941 map Basement and 2 story 2897 square feet
    60. Paint Shop 1 story 2,188 sq feet An L shaped structure south of current powehouse Transferred to State in 1912
    61. Greenhouse built 1886 North Side of Farm Road, east of farmhouse Transferred 1912 to state Torn down before 1975 inventory list Appears on Sibbett 1968 map Other greenhouses mentioned in alphabetical section of this list
    62. Cottage Building #1 Vocational Building Basement and One Story 1344 sq feet
    63. Cottage Building #2 Basement and one story
    64. Farm Cottage competed during 1904. 13024 sq feet Part basement and 2 story This building is situated near the center of the farm, about 1400 feet west of the main building for the insane. The building fronts east and back of it are grouped the barns, chicken houses, etc. The building is 80 feet long, 54 feet wide and two stories in height; there are two one-story extensions in the rear, 27 feet by 22 feet. The construction is of brick and artistic in appearance. It was designed to accommodate 45 patients. In 1915 there are 75 patients housed in the building. A minor fire occured May 9 1914
    65. Root House #1 An L shaped building directly west of the Farm Cottage
    66. Root House A rectangular building east of #62
    67. Farm Equipment Storage building
    68. Blacksmith Shop Just east of Oak Park Avenue Gate South side of Farm Road
    69. Insecticide Storage Near Oak Park Avenue Gate South side of Farm Road
    70. Paint Storage North Side of Farm Road, south of current Power House Appears on indexed map and ob Sibbett 1968 Map
    71. Garbage Building for CW 20 1 Story 100 Sq. Feet
    72. Garbage Building for CW 24 1 Story 100 sq Feet
    73. Garbage Building for CW 3 & 4 240 SQ Feet
    74. New Powerhouse 1 story built 1962 15,271 Sq feet
    75. Elevated Water Tower built 1962
    76. Cottage near Infirmary Formerly used in Maternity cases and for infectious diseas Remodelled into a nurses home in 1903 Building wrecked in 1914
    77. Medical-Surgical Bldg (Margaret Durso) 113,236 sq feet built 1968 5 stories, part basement and penthouse Remodeled into current Administration building with patients on upper floors A modern morgue was built on the first floor which replaced four other older morgues over the years
    78. Staff Cottage #5 Part basement and 1 story 4,424 square feet
    79. Staff Cottage #4 Remodelled into New Horizon Center Part basement and 1 story 4424 square feet
    80. Staff Cottage #3 4,424 square feet Part basement and 1 story
    81. Gatehouse 1 story 48 square feet
    82. Vehicle storage and repair Garage 17,868 square feet
    83. Clothing Center built 1968 1 story 13,484 sq feet shown as "proposed" on Sibbett Map
    84. Employees Cafe 1 story 6,642 sq feet
    85. blank
    86. Admissions and Special Projects Part basement, 4 story and penthouse 59,915 square feet currenty used for geriatric unit

    BUILDINGS AND FEATURES
    WITHOUT MAP INDEX NUMBERS

    Detached Ward buildings completed in 1885 cost $135,000 2 stories, brick, large basement houses general bathroom, swimming pool 20 x 25, carpenter shop, machine shop, and mattress shop. formerly brick poor house structures

    DW 1 (Detached Ward built 1898 Described as dark and forbidding in a biannual report Converted to a ward for working men who are outdoors most of the day

    DW 2 (Detached Ward) built 1898 Described to be converted into a ward for incorrigable male elopers See Building #33 Education Building

    DW 3 and 4(Detached Wards) (Built 1898) Described as an “untidy male ward and was overcrowded and most undesirable” in the 1914 Biennal Report See Building #33 Education Building

    DW 5A (Detached Wards) era 1914 located on the first floor of the Amusement Hall contains 75 men reference: Volume 5 #2 June 30 1914 Institution Quarterly

    DW 6 (Detached Wards) era 1914

    DW 7 (Detached Wards) era 1914

    DW 8 (Detached Wards) era 1914

    DW 9 (Detached Wards) era 1914

    Art College established 1912 in CW-1 for female patients

    Artesian Well - 1869 690 feet deep served poor house and IA

    Artesian Well - Insane Asylum 756 feet deep

    Artesian Well dug Nov 12 1872 cost $1485

    Artesian Well dug 1877 2107 feet deep

    Bakery, built March 1918

    Barber Shop Five modern barber chairs installed 1926

    Barns 1878 report:"A little distance from the Main bldg for the Insane

    Barn built 1886 . Barns destroyed by fire Oct 16 1916

    Barn, Hay shown on 1894 Sanborn just south of Laundry

    Barn, Hay shown on 1904 Sanborn In farm area, north of root house

    Barn, Horse #1 shown on 1894 Sanborn next to Carriage Shed

    Barn, Horse #2 1918, brick Barn, Smaller just North of 1894 laundry

    Beauty Shop installed January 1926

    Biological laboratory and Autopsy house (See Morgue #3)

    Boiler and Engine House erected 1890 Boiler House Built 1889 The boiler, engine and fan rooms were next to the laundry building and were of brick. The smokestack for the boiler was 85 feet high and 9 feet square at the base. Four 250 horse-power water-tube boilers, equipped with traveling chain grates, were installed in 1907. Two 500 horse-power boilers were also installed, with traveling chain grates. A new smokestack, 180 feet high, was built in 1907.

    Bowling Alley in basement of main building opened in 1874

    Bridge - Rustic constructed 1875

    Butcher Shop rewired 1909 Chickenhouse and Chickenyard transferred to state of Illinois in 1912 City water main connected 1895 Connected to city water main by an 8” pipe and fire plugs Cold Storage Building built 1892 about 100 feet east of south end of store building

    Clothing Center built 1968

    Consumptive Hospital built 1898 This building is situated near the southeast corner of the grounds. It is of brick construction, three stories and attic high. It has three wings like the letter T and faces south. The longest wing runs north and south. However, the west wing is longer than the east wing. In 1903 this building was remodeled and used for the physically sick insane

    Crematory appears only on 1904 Sanborn Map on site where mechanical shops building #54 was built

    Ditch 1907: laid with 15" tiles and later covered over

    Drug Store See South end of Store bldg #50 the farm in 1875 was very productive

    Flour shed in rear of laundry building

    Fuel shed next to boiler house

    Gas house with an Excelsior gas Machine 20 ft cylinder

    Greenhouse, Large on Narragansett in front of Insane Asylum

    Greenhouse, Older, adjacent & south of Laundry appears on Grid map

    Hog Shed listed as transferred in 1912

    Ice House and Paint Shop (smaller) 1878 report: 300-400 ton capacity just northeast of south end of pond. Appears on 1894 Sanborn

    Ice House (larger) built 1883 holding 300-400 tons appears on 1894 sanborn map shown as paint shop in 1904 Sanborn still in use in 1915 as a paint shop Superceded by #57 paint shop Rebuilt or new construction in 1925

    Implement Shed appears on Grid Map

    Industrial Department on the lower floor of the Amusement building

    Kitchen and bakery built March 1918

    Lake 1884 report: stocked with many varieties of fish including two 50 lb Sturgeons also see reservoir 1890: pond almost dry, Artesian well supply also low

    Land information In 1875 medical supt report, it is stated that a large number of shade trees were planted. In report ending Dec 31 1877 it is stated that the "asylum grounds were filled with sand and earth. Artistic flower beds and winding paths have displaced the hillocks and ditches of a year ago"

    Laundry Building 1894 just west of pond burned Jan 2 1895 rebuilt in 1896 shown unfinished on 1894 Sanborn “In the rear of the insane asylum at a distance of 100 feet was the laundry building, 60 by 60 feet in size, built of brick with shingle roof two stories above the ground, with a cellar. This building was divided by a hall through its center with laundry, drying room and ironing rooms on one side, and kitchen and bakery on the opposite side. The second story was subdivided into apartments for servants employed in rooms below. This laundry building was connected with the main building by a brick corridor 10 feet wide.”

    Another Laundry building was built, before 1930, and still another in 1954

    Library – There were more than one over the years. One wat fitted up in 1872 at a cost of $500

    Main Building (new) See Horner Bulding #22

    Morgue (first) PRE 1872 located in basement of old insane dept of poorhouse (almshouse building #2)

    Morgue (second) built 1872 by recommendation to replace location previously described

    Morgue (third) erected 1890 called the Biological laboratory and Autopsy house located about 200 feet west of present CW-9 near thr RR track of the St Paul Railroad torn down during 1904 replaced by fourth morgue

    Morgue (fourth) see 1904 Pathological bldg/lecture hall

    Morgue (fifth) within Medical Surgical (Durso) Bldg.

    New Employees Dining Room built 1968

    New Nurses Home built 1968

    Oil House built 1930

    Picket fence between Insane Asylum and Poorhouse torn down in 1907

    Piggery 1878 report:"a little distance from Main bldg fo insane" Several hog pens were erected per 1877 report Two new piggieries, 12 x 456 feet built 1923 and 1924.

    Playground, built 1904 for tennis, croquet, baseball, and football

    Pump House plot plan #3

    Rail line and Railroad Depot cost $2100. Until 1882 the nearest railway station at which on could take the cars to or from the county farm was at the village of Jefferson, two miles away, on the Wisconsin division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. However, the commissioners of Cook County, seeing the necessity of having railroad communication direct for the city, built some three miles of line running across the poor farm in a southerly direction, and intersecting the St. Paul road at Galewood. This was done and the first train from the city to the county farm was started on the 11th of September, 1882. The station was named Dunning, in honor of one of the oldest wealthiest settlers in the vicinity.

    Reservoir July 6 1874 constructed for surplus water for purposes of fire protection

    Road Dec 2 1869 describes entrance road as being a "rugged road to clump of trees"

    Root Cellar, 1914 $2000 cost 60 x40 Just west of main building for insane Possibly bldg #62

    Soap House built 1909

    Schoolhouse ref 1878 report small frame building on grounds serving 150 children, inmates of the poorhouse

    Sidewalks 6000 feet put in in 1918

    Slaughter House S.S. Of Farm Road on 1904 Sanborn Map Staff Development plot plan #8

    Steam Drying Room 1877 next to laundry in insane asylum (West wing of building)

    Storage Building 40 x 150 completed 1915 See #50

    Storehouse built 1892 See White House building #50

    Stores Building built 1915 This building is of brick construction and is about 40 feet by 150 feet, two stories and basement high. The south end of the building was fitted up and has been used as a drug store

    Vault - Cemetery constructed 1874 per BCCP 1874

    Vegetable House See Root Cellar

    Vocational Rehab Center See Nurses home bldg #24

    Wagon Scales moved in 1910 from south side of driveway to north side of driveway

    Wagon Shed, built 1877 reference 1877 wardens report

    Wards #1-9 built 1904

    Washhouse, per 1877 report, converted from wood to coal. Connected to city water main by an 8” pipe and fire plugs

    Water Tower - elevated see plot plan #72