Look!: Mysterious Portals In Old Town

We walked by these the week we moved to Chicago and have wondered about them for years. These doors are the entry ways through an outside garden wall that runs in front of two side by side buildings in Old Town. They are incredibly heavy-looking, like doors in the Great Wall, with crazy carvings and glossy paint and varnish to catch your eye.
Does anyone know their history? Close-ups below the jump...

The walls themselves are interesting too, they have tile pieces set among the bricks in patterns, and the house numbers are done in mosaic.

So intriguing! If you know of a cool architectural detail that you pass by, take a picture and send it in, we love to highlight the details of Chicago.

(Re-edited from a post originally published 04.25.06)

Comments (6)

You're freaking me out. I just uploaded my photos of those doors today, and I just moved to Chicago a short time ago.

Maybe newcomers are destined to find them?

My photo:
http://www.marksism.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=4930

I was looking for a new apartment in the Old Town area and one of these units (I think the red door) was available for lease. I went on a tour and I the complex is really fantastic. There are several apartments that all open into a courtyard behind that door. The unit I looked at was a 2 story, 1 bedroom/1 bath unit - gorgeous stained glass and colorful tile, exposed rafters, stucco detail, beautiful fireplace. But the downside: tiny kitchen, zero closet space, and the price tag: $2,200/month!

That looks like the Carl Street studios but it's been a looong time since I lived in Chicago (stuck in Indianapolis for the time being).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Street_Studios

I just noticed that one of the units on Schiller is for rent; I can't remember the website listed on the front. The unit looks fantastic, if compact...

I grew up at 1545 N Wells Street. I moved away when I was 7 or 8. that was in the mid 50's. I used to play with the girl who lived here. I had a strange dream about her several years ago and I was just thinking about her for some reason! I did a search for Burton Place hoping to get a look at the marvelous place I used to visit. Thanks for posting these pictures of the doors. It was always an adventure to visit here and I've thought of it often. Unlike anything I had seen or would see. I saw my first sectional sofa here - at it was huge! I believe it was stark white. There was a bathroom accessed through a long closet! I've always loved that idea. In the house we moved to I remeber checking the back of the closet just in case there was a great room hidden back there. It was exciting, when, in my 20's I moved into a house on Belmont off Broadway to find a closet which opened to a staircase leading to a single room at the top of the building with a door leading to the roof. Ahhh. I loved that. I owe happy memories to my little friend on Burton Place.