Livingston Building

Built: 1902

About George H. Miller

George H. Miller (b. May 7, 1856—d. March 6, 1927) grew up on a family farm as one of eight children. His education began in the public school system, and by the age of 15, Miller began his career under architects from the Rudolph Richter firm, which at that time was the only one in Bloomington. In 1874, Miller traveled to Columbus, Ohio, working as a draftsman with the Chicago-based firm Fredrick and Edward Bauman, and working alongside architect John Harris.

Returning to Bloomington in 1875, Miller launched a successful career as an architect. He designed prominent buildings such as the Oberketter, Corn Belt Bank, and Livingston buildings, which established him as a leading figure in Bloomington architecture. Miller innovated by introducing modern side lighting systems in school buildings, a technique still in use today.

Beyond architecture, Miller contributed to his community, serving as Bloomington city treasurer, third ward alderman, and chancellor of the local Knights of Pythias chapter. He married Rose Stautz in 1887 and had three children: Kenneth, Raymond, and Sallie. In his later years, Miller faced health challenges, including paralysis from a stroke, leading to his passing in 1927. He is buried in Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Style: Chicago Tall Building (1800-1920)

About Chicago Tall Building (1800-1920)

The result of advances in construction technology which used steel frames to allow buildings to get taller, the Chicago Tall Building style is characterized by the projecting bays, or oriels, that run the length of the building. The commercial style is often marked by a flat roof and a terminating cornice. The façade is organized in horizontal bands and sometimes borrows elements from the Richardsonian Romanesque style with rough stone and recessed openings and from Neo-Classic style using pilasters to create vertical emphasis in the composition

Address: 102 W. Washington Street

Brief History:

1902 - Built for a cost of $36,000 under the ownership of Ike Livingston. The first floor originally housed Ike Livingston & Sons Apparel. The second floor housed a children's shop.
1905-1915 - Sixth floor housed the Bloomington Elks Club.
1927-1969 - Walgreens and numerous legal and insurance companies were tenants through the years, until the drug store relocated to a new location at Eastland Mall.
Now houses Elroy's and luxury apartments developed by Fred Wollrab.

Architectural Description:

Six story masonry building in the Chicago Tall Building style.
Faced in gray-pressed brick with terra-cotta detailing.
Building façade is broken down into five distinct sections by architectural elements such as the terra-cotta sill/header belt between the fifth and sixth floor.
Second floor is highly detailed with terra-cotta ornamentation between the windows.
Elaborate terra-cotta cornice supported by brackets and pilasters rests atop the building.
Bays, 1/2 hexagonal, line both sides of the exposed building and each contain three windows.

Interesting Fact:

Sigmund Livingston, a relative of the building’s owner, founded the Anti-Defamation League for the B’Nai B’Rith, an organization to fight anti-Semitism, while maintaining a law office here.
In the early 1900s, many Bloomington residents enjoyed dancing and music under the stars on this building’s roof top garden.