Montorse Beach area lake barrier/stone blocks question (Montrose: requirements, building)

[RelaxTakeItEasy]

I always remember my parents taking me to the lake to the Montrose Beach area as a kid +20 years ago, my parents still go there, and I still go there myself. One thing I've always wondered, even as a kid, was how did the city make those big concrete barriers on the shore, north of the beaches?

I went there last week to just hear the water, the stone looks used, but just as sturdy as it did 20 years ago. When where these things built?

[ToriaT]

Here is an interesting piece that explains the history of the "building" of the chicago lakefront. The hardened shoreline concrete structures are called revetments. Currently I think the U.S. army corp of engineers has worked with the city on various breakwaters or revetments having to do with the lakefront.

http://www.cityofchicago.org/dam/cit...ineHistory.pdf

[ChicagoMeO]

In the 1970's when you walked along those rocks, from North Ave beach to Foster - or maybe more, but i only went that far, people painted pictures and sayings on those rocks. I think most have faded but it was really cool to look at the artwork and peace signs and sayings on those rocks.

[gomexico]

The rocks are replaced, over the years. I believe there was a major re-make of the rocks at Montrose within the past decade. There was a similar re-remake in several other lakefront areas.

[snoylekim]

I think they used the stone from old Stagg Field ( U of Cs First Football Stadium) when it was demolished in 1956-57 for some part of the South Side Rocks .. interesting where the stones from the West Stands ended up, given what occurred underneath them

[C. Maurio]

The city got them for free from the Mafia. Inside the rocks are many bodies including Hoffa!

[RelaxTakeItEasy]

Just got back to this,

just what I was looking for, thanks everyone.

[Just1Fan]

Originally Posted by RelaxTakeItEasy

just what I was looking for, thanks everyone.

No. Thank you.

[Mr Downtown]

The blocks were Indiana limestone, cut for this specific purpose. The modern revetment replacements are smooth concrete instead, for various reasons including ADA requirements.