Today is a special day. One of my personal areas of interest since becoming involved with the historic highways of Chicago and the U.S. has been a little filling station located at 3801 W. Ogden Avenue on the city’s west side. (I have a story about the station on my website here.) Built in 1925 and operated by John J. Murphy for over 40 years, the building is often referred to as the Castle Car Wash. This is the name painted on the front—likely the last entity to attempt to use the building for commercial purposes. The building has been sitting vacant and deteriorating for the last 20 years or so. Subject to benign neglect during the long economic decay of the surrounding North Lawndale neighborhood, new commercial and residential improvements in the area puts new pressure on the historic structure’s survival. Today, Landmarks Illinois drew needed attention toward the Murphy Filling Station when they placed it on their 2009 Chicagoland Watch List of endangered historic structures. In operation for more than 30 years, Landmarks Illinois has saved countless architectural and historic treasures throughout the state of Illinois. For more information about Landmarks Illinois and the Chicagoland Watch List, visit http://www.Landmarks.org. The Watch List includes many structures, all worthy of preservation. Landmarks Illinois is also highlighting the importance of neon signs, another part of our commercial landscape that is disappearing. To see the entire watch list, click here.
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