History & Restoration
Listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings, Hairpin Lofts, aka the Morris B. Sachs Building, or The Hump building was built in 1930 by Sol Goldberg, who believed in the long-term strength and viability of the Logan Square community. Goldberg made his fortune by redesigning and manufacturing the humble hair pin in 1915. His “hair pin with the hump,” was a U-shaped wire with a “non-rust satin enamel finish,” and a few crinkles on each side. It inspired the camel insignia on the Hump Hair Pin company’s logo and the recurring camel motif on the building’s facade and the lobby floor.
The building was built as a six-story mixed use combination store and office building at the northwest corner of Milwaukee and Diversey in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood. The Hump Hair Pin Manufacturing Company maintained their offices in the building along with other office and retail tenants until 1947 when the Morris B. Sachs Department Store moved in. Goldberg’s glory hair pin days were threatened when long hair styles gave way to the shorter or “bobbed” hair fashions that women began to wear. Being a savvy businessman , he created a Bobby Pin and saved his company.
After nearly two decades of vacancy and neglect, the building has been skillfully and accurately restored to its former grandeur. From the exterior perspective, the façade was restored by fabricating stone elements that were previously removed or damaged, and replacing them with non-historic elements utilizing similar and existing materials. The restoration was done with the aid of archived photos to recreate the original 1930 splendor of the building. The second story full-height display windows as well as the residential floor windows were upgraded with energy-efficient, aluminum cladding.
On the interior, the aging marble and terrazzo flooring, the entryway light fixtures and coffered plaster ceilings in the lobby were refinished. Elevator medallions, elevator frames, glass tile, hardware, transoms and signage throughout the building were accurately restored, maintaining the original design elements found throughout the common areas and lobby. One and two-bedroom residences now occupy the upper four floors over retail space and the Hairpin Arts Center. The building is a LEED Certified Eco-Friendly “Green Design”.
The building’s height and unique architectural design make it the most prominent structure in the Logan Square six-corner.
