Richard Nickel Home Placed On Demolition Hold List

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jul 24, 2009 3:40PM

Preservation Chicago placed the Richard Nickel House at 1810 W. Cortland on its "Chicago 7" list of architecturally significant buildings slated for demolition. Nickel, a photographer and architecture preservationist, dedicated his life to preserving Louis Sullivan's classic architecture as Sullivan's buildings were being torn down rapidly during the 60's and 70s. Nickel's home often store rescued artifacts from buildings before being sold to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, where they remain on display.

Mike Royko once wrote of Nickel, "I figure that anyone who tries to save landmarks in Chicago is goofy enough to teach celibacy in a Playboy Club or nonviolence to Dick Butkus." Nickel was killed on April 13, 1972 when a stairwell at the Chicago Stock Exchange collapsed on top of him while he ran back into the building to gather more artifacts. The Cortland home later became an art studio and, in a uniquely Chicago twist of fate, was slated for demolition last year. The ever intrepid Daniel X. O'Neil saw that the Nickel house was placed on the city's demolition hold list yesterday. Let's hope the hold stays.