Laflin Building

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Laflin Building, Henrietta Building, Bishop Building
Life Span: 1879-1950/1990
Location: 64-66 Randolph (old), 143 N Wabash, Southeast corner Wabash and Randolph
Architect: TBD

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899

Henrietta Building.

Laflin Matthew (estate)

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Henrietta Building.—64 and 66 Wabash av.

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1907
Henrietta Building.—64 and 66 Wabash av.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Henrietta Building.—143 N. Wabash av.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1914
Henrietta Building.—143 N. Wabash av.

Polk’s Chicago Numerical Street and Avenue Directory, 1928
Bishop Building, 143 N Wabash

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views and Guide to Chicago.1893

⑥ The Laflin Building
Fronts 200 feet on Randolph Street and 40 feet on Wabash Avenue, at the southeast corner. It is 85 feet high, with 5 stories, and 2 freight elevators. Its walls are built of brick and steel. The occupants are wholesale chemists, tobacconists, the American Whip Company, and manufacturers’ agents. Erected in 1879.

Inter Ocean, February 2, 1898

FIRE IN HENRIETTA BUILDING.
Hard Fight with a Morning Blaze on Wabash Avenue.
Fire broke out in the Henrietta building, Nos. 64 and 66 Wabash avenue, yesterday morning, which caused a loss of $17,000, of which $5,000 was on the building. Owing to the extreme cold and a strong northwest wind it was a hard fire for the department to fight. The damage was confined to the upper floors. The building is owned by the Laflin estate. The losses by Arms in the building were as follows:

E. G. Webster & Son, dealers in plated ware, sixth floor; damage, $5, 000.
G. A. Webster, dealer in fancy leather goods, sixth floor; damage, $1,000.
Thomas Kane & Co., dealers in boats ant school furniture, seventh floor; damage, $1,000
Carse Bros. & Co., dealers in woodworking machinery, seventh floor; damage, $1,500
Racine boats, seventh floor; damage $1,500.
Frank Armstrong & Co., dealers in chairs, eighth floor; damage, $1,000.
Ursula Lunch club, seventh floor; damage, $1,000.

The insurance on the building was as follows:

The firms affected carried insurance as follows: G. A. Webster, $2,000; E. G.
Webster & Son, $10,000; Thomas Kane & Co., $1,500; Carse Bros., $1,000.

The fire started on the fifth floor, some time before 6 o’clock, and had burned through to the sixth floor before it was discovered by John Townsend, the night janitor. A mall carrier who heard his cries turned in an alarm. The flames had gained such head way that they soon burned through the seventh and eighth floors, and the firemen had to fight the blaze from the roof.

The Ursula club rooms on the seventh floor, where 200 business women dine dally, were ruined by smoke and water, and the club had no insurance. The members were driven out, and had to dine at restaurants.

In speaking of the fire George P. Blume pt Blume & Armstrong said: “Our premises have been damaged to the amount or $2,000. The water came down into our basement and storeroom and seriously Indured many wheels. It will be necessary to take them all apart, so that the bearinga can be properly cleaned up. Considerable damage was also done to the celling, decorations, and signs in the show room. It was only recently that we had the place fixed up.”

Chicago Tribune, March 18, 1934

Rent Shops in Bishop Bldg. Before Remodeling Starts
All shops in the Bishop building, at the southeast corner of Randolph and Wabash, were rented before actual work of remodeling that structure began, it was announced yesterday by Lyndon Leach, real estate manager for the University of Chicago, owner of the property.

Keeping in mind the campaign sponsored last summer by Mayor Kelly to have store windows brightly lighted until at least 1 a.m., all lessees have agreed to keep lights on until midnight. It is expected a concerted move eventually will result in all windows in Randolph, between Wabash and Michigan, being illuminated until 1 a.m., possibly later.

Cigar Store on Corner.
The corner store of the Bishop building, 24×32, has been leased by the W. F. Monroe Cigar company, for its twentieth shop. The term is ten years, with a minimum guaranty of $6,000 for the first year, $6,600 for the second, and $7,200 for each year thereafter. J. Ward Martin, Inc., was broker.

A. Bishop & Co., now occupying the old corner store, have leased an “L” shaped shop fronting 18½ feet on Wabash and 19 on Randolph, together with three upper floors. They will pay a minimum guaranteed rental of $12,000 the first year, $13,500 the second, and $18,600 for each succeeding year.

Plan More Remodeling.
The Neumode Hosiery company has rented the store at 55 East Randolph on a percentage basis, with a minimum guaranty of $4,200 the first year, $4,500 the second, and $4,800 the third. Mr. Lesch negotiated this, as well as the Bishop lease.

The fourth store in the group, at 57 East Randolph street, was leased for five years to Samuel P. Miller, who will operate his third millinery and suit shop with a guaranteed mini. mum rental of $3,900 the first year, $4,500 the second and $4,800 for each year thereafter. W. J. Gumin of John R. Magill & Co., was broker.

The University of Chicago also has let contracts for remodeling the building at 1236-38 Milwaukee avenue. Work has just started, but already two leases have been closed. Sidney A. Breyer, men’s hats, has rented a store. The Polish Singing society has rented the third floor for clubrooms and concert hall.

The store at 59 East Monroe street has been leased by the University of Chicago to Samuel P. Gilblom for millinery and women’s wearing ap parel specialties. The percentage rental calls for a minimum guaranty of $7,200 for the three year term. S E. Terman & Co. were brokers.

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