Harper Avenue Substation - Chicago, IL - Historic Transformer Sub-Stations Buildings on Waymarking.com

This substation has a plaque by the door which lists its name as Harper Avenue Substation, Commonwealth Edison, 5611 South Harper.

The building is listed as having architectural significance on the nomination form nominating the Hyde-Park Kenwood Historic District to be added to the National Register of Historic Places. However no further details are given. (Source: (visit link)

The website The Prairie School Traveler has a page dedicated to the building which states that it was designed by architect Hermann von Holst and built in 1923. (Source: (visit link)

A contemporary of Frank Lloyd Wright, von Holst grew up in Chicago after moving here with his family from Germany. He agreed to oversee Frank Lloyd Wright's practice after Wright abruptly moved to Europe with a married client. A biography of von Holst is here: (visit link)

The Prairie School traveler and other websites state that von Holst designed a large number of substations for Commonwealth Edison during the 1920s.

While it isn't possible to get very close to the building, a number of decorative tile elements are recognizable. The level of maintenance leads me to believe it may still be in use but I can't confirm that.

Creation date: 1923 Status: Don't know Current use: Not listed

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