Holmes Tomb, North Clark Street and West Irving Park Road, Chicago, Cook County, IL

Significance: John Spry Holmes, builder and real estate developer, died 14 September 1931...The Holmes Tomb is a rare example of an Art Deco mausoleum. Charles G. Blake Company is credited with the custom design and construction, completed in 1934. The Blake Company had headquarters opposite Oak Woods Cemetery and the company has been credited with designing and fabricating the majority of Graceland's finest monuments. The symmetrical tower, similar to a version of a small skyscraper - designed with setbacks, chamfered fluted corners, window frames with central projection and carved panels of palmettes all define the structure as distinctly Art Deco. Incorporated within the gate design are Egyptian lotus buds with maple leaves and undulating vine-like bars defining the wavy patterns of the Art Deco period. The linear lettering located at the base of the monument - John S. on the left-hand side and Maud G. on the right-hand side - is in keeping with the Art Deco style.

Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N1220

Survey number: HABS IL-323-C

tombs and sepulchral monuments cemeteries art deco architectural elements bronzework gates mausoleums chicago holmes tomb holmes tomb north clark street park road cook county illinois charles g blake company faith foley courtney gray catherine handelsman historic american buildings survey john spry holmes maura pilcher charles pipal school of the art institute of chicago amy van ralst photo architectural diagrams library of congress

1934 - 1970

Library of Congress

http://www.loc.gov/

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