IV. NOT JUST STATIONS-GERBER'S OTHER DESIGNS
A few standing examples of Gerber's designs for structures other than train stations are shown below. Two of his most unique designs were a fraternity house at the University of Illinois and a fanciful scheme for rebuilding Chicago's Lake Shore Drive decades before the infamous "S" curve was later ironed out.
LAKE FOREST, IL-WESTLEIGH AVE. BRIDGE
Where once electric trains of the North Shore Line rushed by, today Gerber's bridge over Westleigh Ave. is now used by joggers, bicyclists, and roller-bladers. Gerber's creative versatility extended not only to train stations but also to structures like bridges. His work was heavily used with the reconstruction of the North Shore Line's "Shore Line" after World War II. Unfortunately this newly rebuilt line was abandoned a short time later by the interurban as it consolidated in its last years.
SKOKIE, IL-DEMPSTER TOWER
Although time has taken its toll on this interlocking tower, it originally matched the Prairie Style of the nearby Dempster Street Station just two blocks north (left in the picture). This tower controlled movements of both North Shore Line interubans and CRT "L" trains in and around this busy station. This tower also helped to coordinate North Shore Line electric freight trains which interchanged cars with the nearby Chicago & North Western steam line. One of the important freight commodities carried by the North Shore Line from this point north was coal from Insull-controlled mines in Central Illinois to one of Insull's Commonwealth Edison power plant-using, of course, Insull's North Shore Line to maximize revenue back to his empire!
CHICAGO-MCJUNKIN BUILDING (WILSON & BROADWAY)
Gerber's largest building, the McJunkin Building today anchors the intersection of Wilson and Broadway Avenues in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. Just across Wilson Avenue is Gerber's rapid transit "L" station, still in use though a once ornate facade has been removed. The McJunkin Building houses a variety of retail and office space and was most recently, in 1996, damaged by a fire in the nearby Wilson Avenue "L" shops but has since been repaired. In the 1920s, following its opening, this building was quite impressive, especially at night with its many ornamental lights and white exterior surfaces. The popular Beaux Arts design was again employed by Gerber for this commercial property.
According to Martin Tangora, the architects Marshall & Fox also played a role in the design of the McJunkin Building.
DELTA ALPHA EPSILON HOUSE-UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Arthur Gerber designed this fraternity house at the University of Illinois. His handwriting can be seen on this copy of an original document. Note the Broadway font drawn by hand in the DAE house part. Its current status is unknown. This picture came from the architect's late son, Burton Gerber.