The House of Munn by Willard Jones Real Estate

Willard Jones Magazine

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The True (Abridged) Story of Chicago's Original Kardashians: The House of Munn The Loftrium at 819 S Wabash stands tall and proud in the former Film Row of Chicago, where major movie producers used to house their operations during the Golden Age of cinema. But its exquisite, distinctive appearance belies its rich and storied history, comprising of over a century of drama, betrayal, mystery, hubris, and the pursuit and failure of The American Dream.

The story begins with a familiar Chicagoland namesake: The Gurnee family settled in Chicago to establish a saddle-andwhip store. The latter quickly gained influence via political connections, and achieved success through real estate developments across the state. In 1869, Amelia Gurnee married Joseph Armour, the owner of a massively successful grain merchant company. In the years following the Great Chicago Fire, however, their marriage fell apart, and Amelia died of an undisclosed cause. Shortly thereafter, the widower Joseph began to develop a mysterious illness and spent much of his time receiving extensive treatments at local spas.

A few years later, Joseph married his widow's sister, Carrie, and quietly moved back to Chicago after a quick European wedding.

Joseph's health continued to decline, and a series of illness began to plague the Gurnee-Armour family. In rapid succession, Carrie's father, her son, and her husband all passed away.

The Gurnee-Munn children often held playdates with the Caton children at the White House, where the eldest Munn befriended Robert Todd Lincoln. Through a series of high-society teas and meetings, Carrie successfully commissioned the construction of the Munn Building at 819 S Wabash. She also financed a nearby building which was regarded as "the world's largest music house."

During their time in Washington D.C., Carrie's daughter and namesake became close with Ethel Roosevelt and spurred rumors that she was due to be engaged to Teddy Roosevelt, Jr. She instead married Reginald Boardman of Boston, but stayed close with the Roosevelt family.

Carrie Munn suffered a stroke in 1912 and was confined to her Washington home, where her children stayed by her side for months. Carrie survived the stroke, but was killed in a tragic car accident when her limousine inexplicably crashed into a telephone pole only a year later.

Her estate was carried out by her children, at which time S. Karpen & Bros signed a 99-year lease at 819 S Wabash. The building has since changed hands several times over the past century, and at one point ironically hosted a coffin factory. But today, the building boasts almost all of its original charm: namely, a massive central atrium whose light reflects off every surface, not unlike its original creator. The Gurnee-Munn family continued to make headlines for their luxurious lifestyles, with one Munn child becoming one of the first people to film their wedding day. The others went on to be fashion icons, developers, and eventually retirees -- some settled in their former vacation towns, and others' fates were lost to time.

The once-gilded age of the Munns trickled slowly into grit, and then was again revived in the mid-20th century when the South Loop underwent revitalization efforts by developers and played host to dozens of major film companies.

Another handful of decades later, yet another transition attempted to rebrand the area into a desirable location for professional service firms. The only remnant of its glitzy and glamorous past is the pale, haunting ghost signs boasting colorful, flashy ads across its facade. Its rich history may be buried, but 819 S Wabash stands strong over 100 years on.

Carrie was the sole inheritor of $3 million in cash and bonds, as well as her late husband's share of his company. Two years later, she became acquainted with and married Charles Munn, who had strong business connections with the Dows and their extremely successful freight brokerage and grain commission company. The Dows company and Munn family had worked together in New York not long after the Munns immigrated from Ireland, and became close even after the latter moved to Chicago.

Carrie and Charles Munn had two children and quickly worked their way up the social latter with the help of the Dows. Their family frequented Newport, New York City, Mancester, St. Augustine, and Palm Beach. With their success came mansions, vacations, and exclusive access to the famed Chicago Club and Union Club. But even legendary wealth couldn't protect them from tuberculosis, which unexpectedly killed Charles at age 50.

During the Gurnee-Munn's time in Chicago, Carrie had become acquainted with the son of a supreme Court justice and "Chicago's first lawyer," Arthur Caton. Caton's wife had famously maintained a lengthy affair with Marshall Field, whom she later married. Caton had died of unknown causes during their marriage, and Field, too, dropped dead just five months after his wedding to the former Mrs. Caton.

News of the Munn Building's construction, June 1910

The Munn-Gurnee-Pulitzer-Armory-Boardman family, a.k.a. the House of Munn, circa 1933.

Source: New York Social Diary, July 2022

The beautiful and scenic Loftrium, located at 819 South Wabash, is the most creative and distinctively-designed office building in the South Loop. Between the tall, timber lofted ceilings, dramatic central atrium and large windows bringing in radiant natural light, the Loftrium offers a truly unique office experience. Recent upgrades include new, express elevators and lobby security system.

The Loftrium Today

Situated steps from Grant Park and nearby numerous residential towers, educational institutions and student housing developments, the South Loop offers a truly electric location. Adding to the convenience is the close proximity to to Lake Shore Drive and the Red, Orange and Green line trains at Roosevelt.

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