1863—The Great North Western Sanitary Fair
Main Building, Union Hall
Life Span: May 30 – June 24, 1865
Location: Dearborn Park
Architect: Mr. A. Bauer
Chicago Tribune, April 14, 18651
N. W. SANITARY FAIR.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN COMING.
Breaking Ground for the Building-Ceremonies—Meetings.
President and Mrs. Lincoln have signified their intention to attend the Great Fair to be held in cur city, commencing May 30, for the benefit of the Sanitary Commission and Soldiers’ Home. The following telegram was yesterday received by E. B. MeCagg, Esq., President of the Commission, frem Rev. W. H. Ryder, D. D:
- Kimbark and myself leave for City Point to-day. The Commission is pushing forward its work here with great vigor. Large and timely provision was made in anticipation of the late battles. I learn from a source entirely reliable, that the President and Mrs. Lincoln will attend the Great Sanitary Fair.
The formal commencement of the Fair building in Dearborn Park will be made at 3 o’clock on Saturday afternoon, when the ground wilbe broken with appropriate ceremonies. A grand procession will be formed in/which will appear six companies of rebel prisoners from Camp Douglas, who have taken the oath of allegiance, and eighteen han-dred of our own soldier boys. A portion of the lumber donated for the buiiding will also be conveyed on wagons in the procession. It is understood that Mayor Sherman will issue a proclamation asking that business be generally suspendec in the city, in order to give all an opportunity of joining in the interesting ceremonies.
A meeting of the Committee of Arrangements for the procession will be held in Parlor No. 1, Tremont House, this evening, at 7 o’clock; it is hoped that every member will be present—all others wishing to aid are requested to be in attendance.
The regular meeting of the Friends of Progress will be heid at Sanitary Rooms, No. 65 Madison street. on Friday afteraoon, April 14th, at 2 o’clock. A full attendance is requested, as business of importance will be transacted.
Voice of the Fair, April 27,18652
THE HISTORY OF THE PRESENT FAIR MOVEMENT—ITS PLAN, ETC.
In this, the first number of The Voice, we sent a sketch of the history of the movement by which the Great Fair will be wrought out.
On Saturday, October 22, 1864 a special meeting of the managers of the Soldiers’ Home was held for the purpose of considering the means to be adopted for the conduct of a proposed Fair for the benefit of that institution. Mrs. Hoge, who was present, suggested that a Fair gotten up for the joint benefit of the Sanitary Commission and the Soldiers Home would be much more profitable to the treasury of the “Home,” while it would materially benefit the Commission, whose funds are at a low ebb. The suggestion was acted on, agreed that $25,000 of the proceeds should be given to the Home—the balance to the Commission.
On motion of Mrs. Loomis, it was decided to open the Fair on February 22—Washington’s birthday—and to continue it till March 4th—the Presidential Inauguration day. A committee, consisting of Mrs. Hoge, Mrs. Livermore and Mr. Blatchford for the Commission, and Mrs. Hosmer, Mrs. Dickinson, and Mr. Bryan for the Home, was appointed as Executive. This was the little cloud, scarcely larger than a man’s hand, which grew till it almost encircles the heavens, spreading into every corner of our broad land, and including every department of industry in its ample details.
On the following Tuesday the ladies of the Soldiers’ Home and Sanitary Commission met in consultation at the office of Mr. Bryan. It was then resolved to hold a mass meeting in Bryan Hall on the succeeding Thursday afternoon, for the purpose of enlisting the sympathies and securing the cooperation of representatives of all classes in the preparations for the Fair. At this (Thursday) meeting there was a large attendance of ladies, a majority of the churches in the city being represented; Col. C. G. Hammond presided. Hon. Lyman Tremain, of New York, eloquently addressed the meeting. The Executive Committee reported plan and circular of appeal for aid; also additions to their number by the following appointments:
- President—Hon. Mark Skinner.
Vice Presidents—Col. C. G. Hammond, E. B. McCagg, and T. B. Bryan.
E. W. Blatchford had been chosen Treasurer and Secretary, and Mrs. Hoge, Mrs. Livermore, Mrs. Hosmer and Mrs. Dickinson as Corresponding Secretaries.
An adjourned meeting of ladies was held on the following Saturday, in Metropolitan Hall. The leading feature of this meeting was the inception of the denominational plan, a committee consisting of five ladies from each division of the city being appointed to nominate two ladies from each church in the city, as a committee on that church, their duties were defined to be, to request the several clergymen to bring the matter before their respective churches, and ask the co-operation of the members. Every lady present was also constituted a committee of one to do all that lay in her power to further the work. At a subsequent meeting these church committees were reported, and the nominations confirmed. From that time forth nearly every church in the city has been actively engaged in preparing for the Fair. Subsequently the churches were organized into denominational classes, each denomination choosing its own chairman.
For several weeks this organization remained intact; but it was found that the work increased on the hands of the committees, and that very many others were willing to work in the same vineyard. It was resolved to extend the circle of operations, by appointing committees of business men to represent each branch of industry among us; and in order that they might have time to work; to postpone the commencement of the Fair to May 30th.
This decision was formally arrived at about the middle of January, and a meeting was held on Monday, the 16th, in the rooms of the Sanitary Commission, at which the new organization was effected. The officers of the Fair were appointed substantially as follows: the list of Chairmen of sub-committees having, however, been considerably extended at subsequent meetings. The list now given is complete to the present month.
From this time the real work for the Fair com-menced. Regular weekly meetings of the Executive Committee have been held on Monday after-noons, in the rooms of the Sanitary Commission, at which general plans have been decided upon, leaving it to the sub-committees to follow out details. These sub-committees in their turn have, most of them, been hard at work, each chairman appointing his own coadjutors. They have prepared each a special circular, which, with the general circular of the Executive Committee, has been sent out everywhere. Already the results of their labors are apparent in the long lists of donations which are only partially reported in this issue. The machinery is so perfect that some one of the meshes will catch everybody; and from present indications it seems as though less space would be required to print the names of non-contributors than of those who will give something to the Fair.
THE BUILDING, ETC.
The main building for the fair is already under way. It was intended to lay the cornerstone with appropriate ceremonies, but on the day appointed for that purpose the astounding intelligence that our beloved President had been assassinated absorbed the thoughts of all . The erection was commenced quietly. The structure will cover Dearborn Park, near the lake shore, having a frontage of 162 feet on Washington street, and a depth of 386 feet to Randolph. A central hall, 386 feet in length, 55 feet high, and 60 feet wide, with arched Gothic roof, will be devoted to the denominational booths, and other displays of fancy articles. A wing on each side, full length, 44 feet wide and 16 feet high, will be occupied by the heavier goods. The wings will be connected with the central hall by entrances at the middle and each end. The building will be of wood, plain, and will depend for ornamentation on the internal display of goods, except that the Washington street entrance will be fitted with circular windows of stained glass, surmounted by a large American eagle on an ornamented shield. On each side of this central building will be a massive tower, sixty feet in height, with embattlements, from which will be displayed the national flag.
Besides this building, several others will be brought into use during the Fair. It is expected that separate buildings will be required for several of the departments; and use will be made of the Soldiers’ Rest adjacent, which will be connected with the Fair building proper by a covered way. The apportionments of space have not yet been determined on.
Voice of the Fair, May 4, 1865
THE MAMMOTH FAIR BUILDING BEING ERECTED—ITS SIZE, DIMENSIONS, ETC.
The construction of the immense building in Dearborn park for the great Sanitary Fair, soon to be opened in Chicago, has been commenced and is being prosecuted as rapidly and perfectly as possible.
In consequence of the sudden calamity that had fallen upon the nation, the imposing ceremonies, with which the breaking of the ground for the commencement of the building was to have been celebrated, were indefinitely postponed. At the same time the necessity of entering upon the work was so urgent that it was deemed prudent to dispense with the proposed ceremonies and commence the building at once. The work was therefore quietly and unostentatiously begun, and, by diligent prosecution, has now reached quite an advanced state. The flooring for the whole building has been laid, and the sides and roofs of the two side buildings are being raised.
The building will be the largest of the kind ever erected in the city of Chicago, already renowned for its immense wooden structures; and yet it is feared that the building will be inadequate for the fair. It will cover the entire space of Dearborn Park, including the iron fence around the same, and will be 385 feet in length by 162 feet in width. It will be formed into three distinct halls, connected at either end and in the centre by passages 43 feet in width, all being under one roof.
The centre hall, extending from Washington street to Randolph street, a distance of 385 feet, will be in the form of a gothic arch, 60 feet in width at the base, and nearly joining in the top centre at a height of 50 feet. It will be supported by twenty -three trusses or arches, about sixteen feet apart.
The two smaller halls, one on each side of the main hall , will be 43 feet wide by 12 feet in height at the eaves, the roof rising gradually to a height of 16 feet in the centre. There will be three other halls, or aisles, connecting the centre or side halls, one at either end, and one in the centre, each of which will be 43 feet in width and 62 feet in length, extending through the main and side buildings the entire width of the whole building.
There will be an open space of eight feet between the centre and side buildings for the admission of light through a large number of windows, three feet by seven. The centre building will be further lighted through forty-eight windows, twenty-four on each side, in the arched roof , at a height of thirty feet from the ground. These windows will be four feet by six in size. In the top centre of the main building will be an open space, seven feet in width, protected by an overhanging roof, four feet higher, which will answer for the double purpose of affording light and thorough ventilation. There will also be a similar mode of affording light and ventilation for the side buildings. Light will also be afforded for the side and end halls through windows three feet by seven, at a height of eight feet from the ground, and only seven feet apart around the entire building.
There will be doors for entrance and exit on Washington street, one on Randolph street, one on Michigan avenue, and one on Park place. The principal front and entrance will be on Washington street, in the centre of the building. The doorway will be twelve feet wide, and on either side of the doors will be handsome windows of stained glass. In the centre of the building, on either side of the main entrance on Washington street, is to be a handsome frame tower 60 feet in height, surmounted by a staff 34 feet in height, which will bear the national colors. Over the main entrance will be a large and handsomely stained glass window 25 feet in height. Surmounting the centre of the gothic arch, between the centre towers, is to be an eagle six feet in height, supported by a large shield bearing the national device. On the corners of the building, fronting on Washington street, are to be towers 30 feet high, surmounted by flag-staffs 26 feet high.
The entire amount of timber in the building will be 400,000 feet. The cost of the lumber and carpenter work, exclusive of the roof, is to be $19,000. There will be 70,000 square feet of roofing on the building, which is to be covered by felt, making all the structure waterproof. The contract for the building has been let to Mr. T. Menard, under the supervision of Mr. A. Bauer, architect. The building will be completed on the 20th of May.
Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, July 8, 1865
CHICAGO SANITARY FAIR.
The great North-western Sanitary Fair-illustrations of which we give this week—has closed, and Chicago has added her mite—a few hundred thousand dollars—for the relief of our sick and wounded soldiers. On the 30th of May last, the day of opening, the weather was most propitious, and the inaugural ceremonies, consisting of a grand procession of troops from Camp Douglas, independent of military organizations, firemen and civic societies, were very imposing. The opening exercises commenced at 5 P. M., in the spacious Dearborn Park Hall. Music, social and instrumental, a poem written and delivered by Thomas Buchanan Reed, and an oration by Governor Ogleaby, were the features of the day.
The buildings—erected especially for the purpose—were more extensive, and in point of design, more beautiful than any structure ever raised for the same purpose in this country. The grand attraction was Union Hall, in the main building where articles of virtue and contributions from nearly every State in the Union were displayed. The visit of Gens. Grant and Sherman to the fair tended materially to swell the receipts, and was the occasion of a grand demonstration of regard on the part of the people of Chicago for those great soldiers.
- Interior View of the Union Hall, North-Western Sanitary Fair Building, Chicago, Ill. – From a sketch by Mr. L. Hurz.
Chicago Tribune, July 12, 1865
TEARING DOWN THE FAIR BUILDING—Workmen are now busily engaged in tearing down the monster Northwestern Sanitary Fair buildings. Almost all the flooring has, been taken up, part of the roofing has been torn off, the turrets on the handsome tower at the Washington street entrance have been leveled with the dust, and parts of the walls have been torn away here and there, to facilitate the removal of lumber from the inside. Looking in through these rude breaches at the wreck, one cannot but feel regret at the destruction of the magnificent edifice where for so many days and nights, actuated by the holiest feelings of patriotism and humanity, good, warm-hearted men, and beautiful, generous women, labored earnestly and successfully to raise means for one of the noblest and most gigantic enterprises which the world has ever seen. Still more keenly do we feel the contrast, as we look upon the chaos and hear the dull thumping of hammers and the voices of the workmen engaged 1n the labor of demotion, with what it was but a few weeks since. Then, moving to the harmony of delicious music which floated through the gigantic pile, were thousands of the young, the brave and the fair, brilliant in array and resplendent with joyous animation. Overhead, twined, wreathed and festooned with tasteful care from point to point in the mighty arch and on the pillar’s which support it, were our National colors, dear emblem of our ration’e heaven born strength and purity. On either hand, the shores between which the waves of life rolled on, were triumphs of American art, science and industry, the proud evidences not only of our inventive and creative genius, but of the princely humanity which it was there shown distinguished all classes of our people. Over all poured from a myriad of lights a flood of dazzling rays, reflected and intensified by the glitter of diamonds and tender beams from eyes that “looked love to eyes which spoke again.” Now all left to recall to a this brilliant scene are the bare, broken walls and the few fragments of drapery which still flutter here and there like the last autumn leaves upon the storm-chafed vine. The dull sounding plows of the workmen are the only music, and instead of so invitation to enter and join in the festive scene as of yore, a surly laborer calls our attention to the prominent placard “No admittance.”
William Shaw, Photographer.
Chicago photographer, William Shaw photographed scenes of the Sanitary Fair. Specific booths and vendors captured include the Methodist booth and Wright’s Restaurant. Other views include a street view capturing the opening day procession at Court House Square; a group portrait of men and women posed in a booth or float decorated with horse shoes and a wire sign above reading “Burden;” an interior view of one of the buildings lined with heavily decorated stalls and banners for each state; an exterior view of Union Hall; 2 interior views of people posed on a beautifully constructed footbridge; a group portrait of a trio of women dressed with large turbans on their heads on the steps of a gazebo; and others. A total of thirteen stereoviews.
THE WAUBANSEE STONE MYTH.
Inter Ocean, May 6, 1900
“Old Resident” Points Out Errors in Recent Publication.
Many Dates Wrong.
Tells the Unromantic Story of Famous Waubansee Stone.
Was a Prairie Bowlder, Drilled and Used as a Fountain at a Fair During the Civil War.
To the Editor,-Under the caption of “Chicago at a Glance‘ a page of the Chicago Sunday Tribune of April 22 was devoted to the history of Chicago. There was a map of the city with the places of historic interest numbered, and a “key” explaining the numbers and giving information as to dates, names, and places. The whole represented a great deal of painstaking work, and if it was accurate it would be valuable for reference as well as interesting, but unfortunately it is not. There are so many errors in dates, places, etc., that as an old resident who has spent much time in gathering and compiling facts concerning the early history of our city I feel constrained to ask you to call attention to a few of them in the columns of your paper. which circulates so largely among the “old timers.”
To begin with, the Waubansee stone, which stands in a private yard at No. 100 Lincoln park boulevard, has a rather interesting history, but not a romantic one, by any means. It was not carved by a soldier at Fort Dearborn in 1812, nor did Daniel Webster use it for a platform from which to prophesy the future greatness of the Garden City. The facts about the Waubansee stone are these:
During the civil war there was a sanitary fair1 held at Fort Dearborn park, and a prairie bowlder was dragged there. Workmen chiseled the outlines of a face on one side and a hole was drilled from the top and through the mouth. This was used for a fountain during the fair. It stood in the center of Michigan avenue. After the fair it passed into the hands of Henry Fuller, and to attract attention to it he made up a story about Indian carving or something like that.
Among those who believed the tale was Isaac N. Arnold. Fuller owed Arnold, who was an attorney, $25 for professional services, and when Arnold asked him to pay the bill Fuller told him he could take the Wanbansee stone if he would call it square. The bargain was made and the bowlder was removed to No. 100 Pine street, or Lincoln Park boulevard, where it now lies. This is the true story of the Waubansee stone.
NOTES:
1President Lincoln was shot on April 15, 1865.
2Voice of the Fair was a newspaper published by the women who organized the Great Northwestern Sanitary Fair for the Sanitary Commission, which was held in Chicago from May 30 to June 24, 1865. The first issue was issued on April 27, with the recent news of President Lincoln’s assassination given a notable place on the front page. This sanitary fair newspaper was printed by Round and James of 46 State Street
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