Pullman Field Trip

Two of my favorite eras of history are The Gilded Age and the Progressive Era.  I was fortunate to teach both units this year with my 8th Grade Class.  They were so passionate about learning about the growth of corporations and the labor movement.  One final thing I wanted to do was take them to the Historic Pullman Neighborhood in Chicago where many significant events occurred in the course of Chicago's history and America's as well.  The neighborhood is on Chicago's far south side and took us all the way to 111th St.  The Pullman Rail Company was one of the most famous Company Towns in American history.

 The Pullman Co. Today

The Hotel Florence was named after George Pullman's favorite daughter.  Today, it is in the restoration state but still looks marvelous.  The exterior is well maintained and the historic district designation will keep it there as long as nature allows it to stand.  Below, students enjoy walking in the billiards room and the smoking parlor, where businessmen would often meet and have cigars.   The original railing still shows the remnants of burn marks.  Also, an original metal sign, today worth thousands on reality shows like American Pickers is ready to be displayed.  The final pictures show the dining hall with an original fireplace and stained glass window.

Historic home renovations line the streets of Pullman.  The home to the right recently won an award for being historically accurate in size and color.  Due to historic district status, remodeling work on the exterior has to be done to certain specifications.  The Pullman Co. purchased paint in bulk in the 1880s to save money, thus most homes during that era had red and green paint and were leased to employees.  These 3 story homes are very popular for families and are reasonably priced in today's real estate market.

The Green Stone Church was the local place of worship in Pullman.  The Green Stone is a rare stone once found in Pennsylvania where the Pullman Co. originally started.  The stone today no longer exists.  It is also extremely brittle and therefore does not enjoy the Chicago winters.  The stained glass window looks amazing from the inside.

 

A mural at the Pullman Visitors Center shows an original luxury rail car and the labor history with European immigrants, African-Americans, and residents of Illinois.