Weather Bell
Chicago’s weather is as notorious as its mobster past. Chicago experiences sudden climatic changes, high variations in temperature, and an erratic precipitation. Because of the city’s location between the Great Plains and Lake Michigan, the weather can be distinctively unpredictable.
Amidst all this forecast murkiness, there is a light. A light that changes to green, yellow, and red. The Weather Bell at Monroe St and Clark St has outlasted its initial owner, Bell Federal Savings. Originally erected in the early ‘60s, the sign and its bell promoted “the Weather Bell Corner.” Even though ABN AMRO eventually bought out Bell Savings and a Walgreens now occupies the ground floor space, the Weather Bell is still there. (The Bell Federal name has been removed.)
As fickle as the weather can be, Chicagoans can only hope that the bell’s forecast will ring true.
Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) WCityMike
The Weather Bell: 100 W Monroe St
Public trans: Bus # 1, 2, 6, 7, 10, 22, 24, X28, 29, 36, 56, 60, 62, 124, 126, 127, 134, 135, 136, 144, 145, 146, 147, 151, 156, 157
Blue/Red Line train (Monroe)
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POSTED IN: Architecture & Attractions
5 opinions for Weather Bell
Claire Nowak-Boyd
Dec 5, 2007 at 10:59 am
Wow! Here in St. Louis, we have a Weatherball. Same idea, almost the same name, slightly different execution. Unfortunately, the loft developers who own the building just put back reddish orange neon so it never changes color anymore. On the other hand, after what Downtown StL has been through (it was deserted and Detroitesque for many, many years), it’s pretty cool that this thing survived at all.
Here is a friend’s picture of the Weatherball during the day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/61388640@N00/100175689/
Matt B
Dec 5, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I wonder if that’s the same Weatherball I had seen an old commercial for on YouTube. There was a little jingle to go along with it too.
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