Welcome to CornerSpotter, Curbed's new and fast expanding weekly game in which you—fair readers—consult archival streetscape photos or postcard illustrations to identify the building(s) and/or location presented. Time to tap that reservoir of urban minutiae and flaunt it before your fellow readers. Fire away in the comments, and we'll reveal the correct identity and backstory on Friday.
Last month, the CTA ushered in its first new "L" station in 15 years. Another, at Cermak, is expected in a couple years. We make a big deal about new stations, because for several decades, we've mostly been erasing old ones from the map. The present day system's 145 stations is something on the order of 100 fewer than when the CTA was formed in 1947— the heyday for urban heavy rail. The CTA consolidated private lines and went about eliminating underused stations and even entire routes (seven lines were removed in a ten year span). Luckily for you the station above belongs to an existing line, one which has lost an inordinate number of stations. But it ain't just the overhang that's changed. The West Side intersection has had a complete makeover, and not for the better. Nevertheless, there are clues to be harvested from the 1930s archival photo. But you may also need to summon your most dormant faculties in sorting it all out.
·CornerSpotter [Curbed Chicago]
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