I exit Lake Shore Drive and pass by the gleaming new Marriott hotel, the stately Hyatt hotel, and the massive McCormick Place convention center. I pull up to a quiet, semi-industrial stretch of Wabash Avenue. An ‘L’ train passes by on the elevated tracks a block away.

At this intersection, there’s a brick warehouse with brick-filled windows. Alternate colored bricks along the window bays mark where the original windows once were.

The parking lot next to the brick warehouse is cordoned off by a chain link fence, which has the words Pray for Peace affixed to it. Small construction equipment and vehicles are parked in the parking lot across the street.

Standing proudly at this same intersection is my destination, a stone, cathedral-like structure. It seems to serve as a marker to a time way before this part of the city looked like it does today. Three bell towers form the street-facing corners of the building. A large set of vertical stained glass windows rest in the middle of the building’s exterior facade.

Two older men are talking casually outside of the entrance as I approach. I passed them, entered, and waited near an usher; watching as a group of 11 people stood in a circle, holding hands and praying. Once they finished, the usher greeted me and handed me a visitor’s welcome packet - a standard-sized white envelope containing a brochure, a pen, and some information about upcoming events.

The meeting hall reminds me of a school library. Four sections of padded chairs were separated by three rows of the building’s support columns. These white columns rose to meet the newly varnished wooden beams which formed squares across the white ceiling.

Along the right wall, wood beams and panels frame the doors and windows of small offices. To the left, an American flag rests on a stand in the corner. Behind the front stage, a small banner announces that this organization was celebrating its 170th year anniversary.

From 1847 to 2017.

Think about that. This organization was founded just 10 years after Chicago was formerly incorporated as a city. People have been assembling as members of this institution since before the Civil War, the bicycle, the radio, and airplanes. I wondered if our generation will be able to start any organization that will still exist in the year 2177.

The journey continues in the South Loop, at the corner of Wabash Avenue and 24th St.

Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
Background Music: www.bensound.com/

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