Building No. 4 (the RES)

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The Importance of the Structure

From the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Historic Sites Division:

The Pullman Rear Erecting Shop (RES) gives evidence to the industrial evolution that defined American mid-19th and 20th century rail car design and assemblies. The RES footprint is witness to the high-bay, long-span structures that facilitated the Pullman industrial engine and supported the assembly of early steel rail car production.

Surviving as the remaining southern book-end of the rear erecting shop buildings, the estimated 38,600 square foot RES structure is composed of solid masonry, multi-wythed brick and limestone walls, gambrel roofs, riveted structural steel column and truss assemblies, over-sized rail car access doors and brick-flooring. The original roof assembly was punctured by continuous and segmented bands of roof monitors designed to maximize interior ventilation and natural day-lighting.

Architectural and decorative appointments, although modest, provided a visual reference to the overall site aesthetic and architectural design conceived by architect, Solon Beman.

Wiss Janney Elstner Report

In 2019, the Friends of the Pullman History Site commissioned WJE to produce a report on the RES. The study was paid for by generous grants from the National Trust, Landmarks Illinois, and the National Park Service.

Please note! This is a large file (18 Mb).

Original Drawings

Courtesy of the Ryerson and Burnham Archives, the Art Institute of Chicago

     

Historical Images

These images display building No. 4 (the RES) in use, using historical images.

Drone/Current Condition Images

These images were taken in April, 2017 by drone.

     

THE PULLMAN HISTORY SITE

Other Resources

Reference & Background

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Chicago Collections is a consortium of libraries, museums, and other institutions with archives that collaborate to preserve and share the history and culture of the Chicago region. Seach in their holdings for pullman.

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Other Pullman-Related Sites

  • Historic Pullman Garden Club - An all-volunteer group that are the current stewards of many of the public green spaces in Pullman. (http://www.hpgc.org/

  • Historic Pullman Foundation - The HPF is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "facilitate the preservation and restoration of original structures within the Town of Pullman and to promote public awareness of the significance of Pullman as one of the nation's first planned industrial communities, now a designated City of Chicago, State of Illinois and National landmark district." (http://www.pullmanil.org/)

  • The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum is a 501(c)3 cultural institution. Its purpose is to honor, preserving present and interpreting the legacy of A. Philip Randolph, Pullman Porters, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and the contributions made by African-Americans to America's labor movement. ((http://www.nationalpullmanportermuseum.com/)

  • Pullman Civic Organization - The PCO is a strong and vibrant Community Organization that has been in existence since 1960. (http://www.pullmancivic.org/)

  • Pullman National Monument - The official page of the Pullman National Park. (https://www.nps.gov/pull/)

  • South Suburban Genealogical & Historical Society - SSG&HS holds the Pullman Collection, consisting of personnel records from Pullman Car Works circa 1900-1949. There are approximately 200,000 individuals represented in the collection. (https://ssghs.org/)

  • The Industrial Heritage Archives of Chicago's Calumet Region is an online museum of images that commemorates and celebrates the historic industries and workers of the region, made possible by a Library Services and Technology Act grant administered by the Illinois State Library. (http://www.pullman-museum.org/ihaccr/)

  • Illinois Digital Archives (IDA) is a repository for the digital collections libraries and cultural institutions in the State of Illinois and the hosting service for the online images on this site. (http://www.idaillinois.org/)