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During the Depression in the early 1930's, the Chicago Yacht Club (a private organization) had a desire to replace their old building. They temporarily acquired a structure (on the right in photo) which was to be torn down after the Century of Progress World's Fair which took place in 1933 on the lakefront, less than a mile to the south of the Yacht Club. This building was one of the "Houses of the Future" in the Fair.
In 1935, Van Bergen was given the go-ahead to design a more permanent building that would be attached to this earlier structure. The building (on the left in photo) was built to somewhat resemble a ship (with round windows and a chimney that resembled a smokestack, etc). The building has been mostly demolished - nothing of Van Bergen's design remains. In a letter, Van Bergen wrote "...my old Chicago Yacht Club? It's built at the foot of Monroe St. - east of Grant Park & actually east of the city of Chicago. I believe they have added to it a good deal & and the original building may be lost."
In the mid 1950's, this was all replaced with a newer structure which still stands today.
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