Old Colony Building

Landmark Context

Old Colony Building is held in public view at 407 S Dearborn St by the city's landmark record. The designation record holds onto a construction date of 1894 and credits Holabird & Roche. It was designated on July 7, 1978. Old Colony Building already ties commercial development, architectural branding, and corridor and downtown change to one real building before archival digging begins.

Old Colony Building starts to make more sense when researchers track storefront depth, upper-floor expression, and corner treatment, how the facade addresses pedestrian traffic, and later signage, infill, or reuse. The point is not just to admire the building but to understand how commercial architecture stayed visible even as the economic life around it changed.

Research Starting Points

Old Colony Building opens next into trade press and city directories, permit files and assessor records, and historic photographs and newspaper coverage. Those records help separate what the landmark file says from what the longer building history actually shows.

Old Colony Building can keep observation, source work, and interpretation attached to one building.