Always a functional asset and only recently perceived as pure amenity, Chicago's ubiquitous stacked wooden porches are a weird legacy for a city with a Great Fire and major fire-related tragedies in its past. WBEZ, working with U of C students, investigates why wood became the predominant porch material and how the porches fit fire codes and manage to adequately withstand flames. Chicago as crossroads for cheap lumber and the opportunities afforded by our alley system are the underpinnings for the 2- and 3-flat porch, a style unlikely to change despite a furious pace of replacement. [WBEZ, photo: Maura Connors via WBEZ]
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