Benjamin H. Marshall (1874-1944)

Born in Chicago in 1874, Benjamin H. Marshall was the principal partner of architectural firm Marshall and Fox. He was known as a colorful society figure, and oft compared to Florence Ziegfeld or Jay Gatsby. He designed some of Chicago's most well known landmarks including the Drake Hotel, the Blackstone Hotel, fie buildings on the exclusive East Lake Shore Drive, 1550 North State Parkway, and the South Shore Cultural Center. He also designed private residences including Oak Hall in Northport Maine for Chicago financier Ira M. Cobe (built 1912-1914), and his own 32-room pink stucco Wilmette mansion (built in 1921).