Some History

The workers cottage was the original Chicago home, built as early as the 1830’s and into the beginning of the 20th century. These were modestly scaled utilitarian buildings built of wood, while later versions (built after the Chicago fire of 1871) were made of brick. Typically, they were either one or one-and-a half stories in height, and had gabled roofs that faced the street.  The “workers cottage” property type developed in response to the grid-like subdivisions common to Chicago, as the city grew around the mouth of the Chicago River. As time passed, the basic form of the cottage stayed the same, while ornamentation styles came and went. Early examples showcased a simple Greek Revival style, while later versions were adorned with the ornate Queen Ann style. Regardless of the ornamentation, these cottages were the backbone of early Chicago.