"It was started in 1891 by my one grandparent and two other fella's, Brown and Butler. Just what you see in the picture, that's the way it started. There's just enormous amount of history here," said Bud Hinkens, Former Owner.
The metal workers pride themselves on using the same equipment and techniques that the blacksmiths of yester-year used.
"Everything, all of these tools, nothing is newer than 1914. So it's, and again it's important to be able to utilize all this old equipment when you're doing a sensitive job because if you want to make it look like it was done a hundred years ago, you need equipment that was made a hundred years ago," said John Lamonica, Owner. "You know before we had paint, a blacksmith used beeswax to seal the iron, so what I'm doing is now I'm decaling the iron, I'm gonna dip it in this box, then I'm gonna take it and quench it in beeswax and that's kind of what a finished project was."
Over the years, the foundry has contributed iron to many Chicago landmarks, including the John Hancock building, the Sears Tower, as well as construction at the 1933 World's Fair!
"Probably nine out of 10 buildings have seen some of Butler's iron," said Lamonica.
Not only does the foundry do industrial work, they also provide customized and specialized jobs for anyone wanting to restore or replicate an architectural element.
"Can you imagine, you live in Chicago there shouldn't be nothing where you can't get it the next day or same day, and even with structural steel or ornamental iron, you could come here and get it done. You got a little gate and you need it repaired? And you want it repaired the same way that the old blacksmith made it a hundred years ago? Give us a call, we'll come out and we'll repair it for you. And we'll be happy to do it too," said Lamonica.
Recently at Butler Street Foundry, an abandoned area that had been closed off for 50 years was uncovered, and inside was a complete pattern shop and vintage casting equipment, and a few surprises.
"This is a very special bathroom because not only can you to go to the washroom here, you could also store your money and count it because this is a washroom slash safe vault," said Lamonica.
In a foundry of this age, John says they're always finding old things lying around.
For more information:
Butler Street Foundry
3422 South Normal Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
(773) 924-2233
www.thebutlerstreetfoundry.com
A
Bridgeport business has been kept in a time capsule of sorts. The
Butler Street Foundry is rich with history, and many of the buildings
that made Chicago hog butcher to the world were erected with steel
fabricated here. Now, although the Butler Street Foundry no longer
does foundry work, the blacksmiths continue to work doing structural
and architectural fabrication, and they've been at it for 114 years!
