Z. Erol Smith

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Z. Erol SmithSr. (died September 1964) [1] was an American architect in Chicago. [2] He designed buildings for Anthony Overton including the Overton Hygienic Building and the Chicago Bee Building for the Chicago Bee newspaper. [3] His son of the same name served as the first mayor of Palos Heights and continued in office for 14 years. [3]

He established his architecture business in 1915. [4] His office was at 5501 South Prairie, [5] 343 East Garfield Boulevard [6] and 305 East 55th Street. [7]

He trained at the Armour Institute of Technology and Art Institute of Technology. Much of his work is in Chicago's south side. [2]

In 1919, he designed a couple of garages. [8] In 1922, he designed to Overton Hygienic Building at 3627 South State Street. [9]

The Chicago Bee Building at 3647 South State Street was built from 1929 to 1931. It was built as the headquarters for the Chicago Bee . [10] It later also served as offices for his skin care products business and eventually as a public library. It is in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville Historic District. In 1998, it was listed as a Chicago Landmark. [11]

His namesake son was mayor of Palos Heights. His grandson Z. Erol Smith is an architect.[ citation needed ]

Work

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References

  1. "Smith". Chicago Tribune. September 30, 1964. p. 57. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bruegmann, Robert (October 2, 2018). Art Deco Chicago: Designing Modern America. Yale University Press. ISBN   9780300229936 via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 "Z EROL SMITH, 78". Chicago Tribune. February 17, 2004.
  4. Bruegmann, Robert (October 2, 2018). Art Deco Chicago: Designing Modern America. Yale University Press. ISBN   9780300229936.
  5. 1 2 "Domestic Engineering". Domestic Engineering Company. December 27, 1919. p. 78 via Google Books.
  6. "The American Contractor". 1925.
  7. "The Lumber Manufacturer and Dealer". 1919.
  8. "The Economist: A Weekly Financial, Commercial and Real-estate Newspaper". Economist Publishing Company. January 8, 1919 via Google Books.
  9. "Overton Hygienic Building". Choose Chicago.
  10. West, E. James (April 26, 2022). A House for the Struggle: The Black Press and the Built Environment in Chicago. University of Illinois Press. ISBN   978-0-252-05331-3.
  11. "Chicago Landmarks - Landmark Details". webapps1.chicago.gov.
  12. List of Chicago's outlying banks, 1893-1933 Archived 19 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  13. "The Economist: A Weekly Financial, Commercial, and Real-estate Newspaper". Economist Publishing Company. December 27, 1921 via Google Books.
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