Day 284: Chicago Cultural Center Dome

Posted on October 12, 2011 by eaj81

On the north side of the Chicago Cultural Center architecture is Greek-inspired with strong angular structures and military-influenced decorations. From the curving marble staircase an outdoor garden and sculpture can be viewed. At the top of the stairway is the 45-foot by 50-foot Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) Rotunda. The ceiling is embossed with plaster carvings of swords, shields, helmets, and flags. This ornamental heraldry serves to remind viewers of the loss that comes with war.

The 40-foot-diameter stained-glass dome in shades of tan, beige, and ochre is now lighted electrically. It was originally illuminated by sunlight. The stained glass was made by Healy & Millet of Chicago. It is held by cast-iron ribbing, manufactured by the Winslow Brothers of Chicago. A floor inset with glass blocks originally provided natural light from the dome to the first floor below.


The immense G.A.R. Memorial Hall is just beyond the Rotunda. It measures 53-feet long, 96-feet wide, and 33-feet high. Leased to the Grand Army Hall and Memorial Association between 1898 and 1948, it was a meeting place for members of the G.A.R. Today, the collection of Civil War artifacts once displayed there is now preserved at the Harold Washington Library Center. It is used for ceremonial and artistic purposes, including weddings.

In 1972, the building earned landmark status and in 1976, it earned Chicago landmark status.

Information source: The People’s Palace

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Day 283: National Firefighter Appreciation Day

Posted on October 11, 2011 by eaj81

National Firefighter Appreciation Day will be a day for all Americans to take time to appreciate the firefighters in their communities. National Firefighter Appreciation Day will fall on the second Tuesday in October, during Fire Prevention Week, which has been held over the week of October ninth since 1922.

In appreciation for firefighters and the job that they do.

Information source: United States Senator James Inhofe

Posted in Chicago, Firehouses, Holiday, Life | Tagged | Leave a comment

Day 282: Chrome 343 9/11

Posted on October 10, 2011 by eaj81

Adam Culbertson, a Tinley Park firefighter since 2004, has placed the names of all 343 firefighters who died responding to the attacks on a custom-made chrome firefighter helmet to serve as a symbol of their sacrifice.

 

“This is my way of making a memorial for those guys that lost their lives that day. And hopefully this is my way of keeping them remembered,” he said.

He plans to ship his creation to the New York City Fire Department to commemorate the 10-year-anniversary of the historic day.

The helmet is made of chrome to reflect the face of the onlooker and is inscribed with the  words “reflect, remember, respect.”

“That’s where they can reflect on where they were that day, remember what happened and respect the people who lost their lives,” he said.

Two helmets with the same design were made so one could stay in his hometown of Tinley Park for a local 9/11 memorial ceremony. The other goes to FDNY Special Operations Command headquarters.

You can email Adam at festerfirehelmets@hotmail.com to find out how you can host the helmet.
Information source, triblocal.com
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Day 281: Res4cue

Posted on October 9, 2011 by eaj81

The Remembrance Rescue Project is a not-for-profit created by firefighters to preserve awareness to the importance of 9/11 through the stories from Rescue 4. Rescue Company 4 was created on June 1, 1931 and has been stationed in Queens, NY. September 11, 2001 FDNY Res4Cue responded to the WTC with 8 firefighters that morning. All 8 firefighters from Res4cue were lost that day. In the aftermath of 9/11, Rescues 1 and 2 lost their rigs at the WTC, and those of Rescues 3 and 5 required major repairs before being placed back into service. Immediately after 9/11, Rescue 4 was the only rescue company covering the City of New York.
Rescue 4 is currently the only fire apparatus from 9/11 operating outside NYC. The Remembrance Rescue Project allows for Rescue 4 to serve as a mobile memorial to Educate, Honor and Remember the events of 9/11 in towns throughout the country. 

The Remembrance Rescue Project provides direct support to children of fallen firefighters, while working to restore Rescue 4 from 9/11 as an educational tool, historical artifact and memorial. The Rescue also serves as a memorial to all firefighters lost in the line of duty throughout the country each year.   

Click the logo below for more information on the project or to donate to the cause.
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Day 280: National Anthem

Posted on October 8, 2011 by eaj81

Here’s to the Hawks in their first home game tonight at the United Center against the Stars.  Although this was taken at Training Camp, it’s sure to be a packed house tonight at the Madhouse on Madison cheering on the Blackhawks.

 

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Day 279: One Goal

Posted on October 7, 2011 by eaj81

 

This is an old one, but in honor of the Blackhawks first regular season game tonight at Dallas I decided to reach into the vault and post a picture that I captured during their race to the cup in 2009-2010 season.   I like this photo so much as it is uniquely Chicago in the way that the whole city fully backs their sports teams by donning the brontosaurus with a Blackhawks jersey, Picasso with a hockey helmet and modes of transportation with the icon Indian head logo of the Blackhawks.

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Day 278: Details

Posted on October 6, 2011 by eaj81

The Wrigley Building is full of details. They just don’t make buildings like they used to anymore. Adorned with one of the most spectacular detailing of terra cotta in the world at the time of its completion, the building is a gleaming example of architecture and elegance. The building was designed to look like the incorporation of French Renaissance style and Seville Cathedral’s Giralda Tower in Spain. La piece de la resistance is the elegant clock tower on the south tower which reminds passerbys to check their timepieces while they scuttle along Michigan Avenue.

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Day 277: On the Ice

Posted on October 5, 2011 by eaj81

The Blackhawks logo at center ice at the United Center. 

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Day 276: Reflecting on the City

Posted on October 4, 2011 by eaj81

A view from the United Center as the sunset reflects on the skyline.

 

Posted in Chicago, Nature, Skyline | 2 Comments

Day 275: Toews

Posted on October 3, 2011 by eaj81

 

Jonathan Bryan Toews is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for and is captain of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is currently the youngest captain in the NHL, having been appointed in 2008.

Toews was selected by the Blackhawks with the third overall pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He joined the team in 2007–08 and was nominated for the Calder Memorial Trophy as NHL rookie of the year. The following season, he was named team captain, becoming the third youngest captain in NHL history at the age of 20. Toews won the Stanley Cup in 2010, along with the Conn Smythe Trophy for the playoff MVP. After winning the Cup, Toews passed Peter Forsberg as the youngest player to join the Triple Gold Club.

Toews competes internationally for Team Canada and has won gold medals at the 2005 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, 2006 and 2007 World Junior Championships, 2007 World Championships, and the 2010 Winter Olympics (a tournament in which he was named Best Forward).

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