Hammond's 1920's Building Bust - Planned but never built.

The sketches above illustrate some of the many buildings that never made it off of the architect's drawing boards. While many new structures were being erected in the city, sometimes at a dizzying pace, there were those that never turned into brick and mortar. Along with the boom came the bust, here we reflect on a few of the buildings that can only rise from the pages of the history books.

On the left, we have the impressive Hohman House Hotel Building. This $500,000 seven story structure was to be located on Clinton Street some 50 feet from the corner of Hohman and Clinton. Built along Gothic styling, the architectural design would be trimmed with brick and terra cotta. The hotel would feature 164 guest rooms, with three quarters being single occupancy and the remaining quarter being double occupancy. Room rates would be economically priced at $2.00, $2.50 and $3.00 per night.

Hotel amenities would include an elegantly designed lobby, restaurant, writing room, lounges, a cigar and magazine stand, and two elevators. Also included in the building are two store fronts, to be used as a possible barber shop and smoke shop. Plans for the Hohman House Hotel were first brought to light by a news story on June 9, 1928. Construction was to begin in thirty days, with completion in the fall of the same year. The Hohman House was to have been a sister hotel to the Southmoor Hotel Apartments nearing completion at Hohman and Elizabeth, being erected by the same builder.

On the right, is the imposing Greggory Theatre building, first conceived in 1924 as the drawing shows. It was to be constructed on part of the old Central School property at Hohman and Fayette. Cost of the project was close to $1,350,000, along with the 3,500 seat theatre, the structure would also house a dance hall large enough for 1,500 couples, and offices in the remaining top floors. Work was to begin in 1924 but never did.

Later in 1928, the plans were revised and resurrected, but this time progress was made, as work on the structure began when the south foundation wall was erected. The new Greggory Theatre was to have been built immediately south adjoining the nine story First Trust and Savings building. This four story theatre and office building was designed by noted architect L. Cosby Bernard and was to be an exact duplicate of the bank located next door. Starting off at only four stories, six more floors could be added when needed.

The first floor will contain the theatre and three storefronts, with additional space for the storefronts on the second floor. The two remaining top floors would house fifty offices identical to those in the bank, and serviced by two elevators. The front facade is to be made from Indiana Bedford limestone and granite. The theatre portion will seat 2,500 patrons. The mezzanine floor here will consist of rest rooms, smoking rooms along with the theatre offices.

A garden wall atmosphere of architecture will be featured in the auditorium of the theatre. Also included in the design of the theatre is a unique glow-illumination style of lighting, so no direct beam of light will be seen in the auditorium. To complement the auditorium a large lobby of the same design is planned. A wide expansive stage will also be featured. However the only part that was built was the aforementioned foundation wall, the remainder of the structure never materialized. Also of interest see the related story Hammond's 1920's Building Boom.

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Source information and photos from
the microfilms of The Times newspapers located at the Hammond Public Library.
and the Hammond Historical Society Calumet Room located at the Hammond Public Library

Twentieth Century Time Capsule © 1999 HammondIndiana.com

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