Laowai

We had an architect over to look at the possibility of removing the stupid post that sits in the middle of my kitchen. The architect was very thorough and he was very complimentary about our house. He said because the house is built so sturdily it makes removing the post more difficult. I’m starting to think I might have to make friends with that post.

The architect looked at the old blueprints for our house and it got me wondering about the original owners and about the architect. So here’s what I learned.

As you can see above the house was built for Mr. Howard J. White Jr. and the architect was Marvin G. Probst. As I searched online I found more information about these two men. It seems that both men followed in their fathers’ footsteps and were part of a very influential Chicago architecture firm.  

It was hard to find information on Howard White Jr. but I did find the obituary for his Father, Howard J. White Sr. He died the same year our house was built, 1936. He was a member of the architecture firm Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. His obituary appeared in the Chicago Tribune and said:

Mr. White was widely known for his work in America and England. Noteworthy structures he designed include the Field museum, the Wrigley building, the 310 South Michigan Avenue building in Chicago; the Selfridge store building in London and the Union Trust building and the Union station in Cleveland.

Next I found the obituary for our home’s architect Mr. Marvin Probst. He died in 1970 at the age of 69. Here’s what the Chicago Tribune said

“Mr Probst was president of the architectural firm of Graham, Anderson, Probst and White, Inc., 201 N. Wells St., a 96 year old firm which has designed many of the city’s major buildings. Among the projects designed by the firm are the Merchandise Mart, the Lasalle National bank building, Field museum, Shedd aquarium, American Dental association building, Morton Salt company building and the WGN Continental Broadcasting studios.

Mr. Probst joined the firm in 1922 after his graduation from the University of Illinois. He later succeeded his late father, Edward Probst, as head of the firm. The company traces its origin to a partnership founded by Daniel H. Burnham, father of the Chicago plan, in 1873.

Here is the Wikipedia entry for the Architectural Firm. It’s hard to tell what specific buildings Mr. Probst designed, other than our house, he seems to be mentioned mostly in reference to succeeding his father. I’d like to stop by our historical society to see if I can learn a little more. And I ordered a book all about Graham, Anderson, Probst and White. I wonder if there are other residences designed by Mr Probst. 

Anyway – I find it fun and interesting to look back. It makes me like our house even more to think of its past. I would love to know more about the family who lived here. Maybe see a photo of them. It makes me want to take good care of it and be sensitive in our renovations.