Paul Hansen: Edgewater Architect
By Sarah Gawo
The Man:
Paul Hansen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark. Unfortunately, the date of his birth is uncertain based on the census data. The 1900 census shows his age as 41 years old being born in 1859. The 1920 census shows his age as 67 which is a 6 year difference from the 1900 data. The 1930 census lists him as 78 which is not too far off from the 1920 record. Based on these censuses, it would be reasonable to believe that he was born between 1851-1853.
According to Paul Hansen’s passport application filed in May 1922, Hansen was born on May 5, 1851 (which further supports the estimated range above), and he emigrated to the United States on March 31, 1892. He emigrated with his wife, Helene, born on October 26, 1856 and their daughter, Margrethe, who was born in April 1884. Hansen and his family immediately settled in Chicago, and it indicates that he became a naturalized citizen and received a certificate of citizenship on October 15, 1900.
In the 1900 census record, Hansen’s occupation is listed as “architect.” Although there is no clear evidence of Hansen’s education, he likely received professional training in architecture in Denmark. He reported that he and his family lived in and rented 1888 East Ravenswood Park (currently Ravenswood Park 5441).
In his passport application from 1922, he wrote that he is going abroad to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Holland, France, and Belgium to visit and study building [construction] for two years during which he is also traveling with his wife and daughter. Interestingly, in Margrethe’s application, her occupation is listed as an artist. Additionally, it is reported that Paul Hansen and the family lived at 828 Lawrence Ave (formerly 1526?) in 1922 which he had designed himself.
On February 26, 1937, Paul Hansen’s wife Helene passed away due to a skull fracture and cerebral laceration. The address listed on the death certificate is located at 4646 Magnolia Ave (formerly 1855), which agrees with the address listed on the 1930 Census. Paul Hansen passed away the following year on September 24 from arteriosclerosis, and he was laid to rest in Norwood Park by his wife. According to the Illinois Cook County Death Records from 1871-1998, Hansen’s last residence was at 4426 N. Racine Ave (formerly 1625).
His Work and His Residences:
For the first few years, it appears Paul Hansen worked out of his home. He didn’t appear in local business directories until the early 1900s. In the 1900 city directory, Paul Hansen is listed working out of his home address in Ravenswood Park; however, there is another address listed as 310, 100 Washington which could be a private office. In the 1910 city directory, Paul Hansen is listed twice with one office at 1138 Ainslie (formerly 1208) and another listing at his home address on Hollywood Ave. In the 1923 City Directory, Hansen is listed working out of 1520 Wilson Ave.
The 1898-1912 American Contractor database shows there were roughly 115 buildings under the name “Paul Hansen” with him owning and designing properties such as Ashland Ave 3711-3713 N. (formerly 2068-2070), Paulina Street 2348 N. (currently 4117), and 952-954 Hollywood Ave (currently 1410-1408). The name “P. Hansen” in the database shows that he designed an additional 55 buildings under that partially abbreviated name, bringing the total to 170 buildings from 1898-1912. The name “P. Hanson” shows that he designed another 10 buildings, bringing the total to 180 with him owning 515 and 517 Cuyler Ave (currently 1837 and 1835). Lastly, the name “Paul Hanson” generated about 27 buildings, bringing the total to 207 with him owning and designing 826-828 Lawrence Ave.
Between 1898-1912, Paul Hansen designed over 50 buildings in Edgewater, both flats and large apartment blocks. Of all the streets in Edgewater, Paul Hansen designed the most buildings on Winthrop with approximately nine building projects there. According to Pillars & Porticos, a news article from the early 1900s reported that Paul Hansen lived on Winthrop Avenue in Lake View. Foster comes in a close second, as he designed about 8 buildings there.
The post-1912 permit information table available on the Edgewater Historical Society’s website shows that Hansen had designed an additional 7 buildings in the Edgewater area, most of which were flats designed for Hugh F. Hughes on Gregory Street in 1913.
According to Pillars & Porticos, his 4646 N. Magnolia Avenue home is probably one of the most significant apartment buildings he created. On the website, it is mentioned that the building is listed as significant in the National Register nominating papers for the Sheridan Park Historic District in Uptown.
For more architecturally significant work created by Paul Hansen, check out these links:
Sources:
- Chicago City Directories (1900-1923)
- Federal Census (1900, 1920, 1930)
- United States, Passport Applications, 1795-1925
- 1898-1912 American Contractor Database
- Pillars & Porticos website (www.pillarsandporticos.org/18-3071-palmer-erickson)
- Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998
- Illinois, Northern District Naturalization Index, 1840-1950