- Corner of State and Madison, looking Northeast from Chicago Tribune building.
- Clark and Harrison Streets
October 17, 1871
- Chicago River After the Fire
October 1871
- Chicago River After the Fire
October 1871
- The ruins of the courthouse and City Hall (in background) in the days after the 1871 Chicago Fire. There are workers walking through the wreckage in the area of the devastation of the courthouse. The long exposures of the era render them ghostly.
- The wreckage of St. James Episcopal Church looking north on Rush Street from Huron Street
- The Tribune building at the southeast corner of Dearborn and Madison Streets after the Chicago Fire of 1871
- The Chicago Marine Hospital
October 1871
- As told by H. W. Kennicott:
About ten A. M., Wednesday, October 11, 1871, Mr. Shock, T. J. Bigford and myself, walking along State Street, below Harrison, noticed an old mahogany sideboard. It was suggested that we purchase it and start business, so we made a bargain with the owner, a second-hand dealer.
Our combined cash capital being less than $5.00, we had to make the most of it. Our purchases consisted of the old sideboard, an empty barrel, a water bucket and six glasses, which cost us $2.50. We then hired an expressman to take the things down to the Lake, fill the barrel with water and haul it to the corner of Dearborn and Monroe Streets, opposite the old Post Office. While this was being done, I went over on West Lake Street, where the commission men were opening their stores, and purchased a barrel of cider, a barrel of apples and some grapes, getting trusted for them.
At about one o’clock we opened the first store in the burned district, our stand being located at 169 Dearborn Street. We cleared about $25.00 that afternoon, selling our goods at the old prices.” The photograph of our stand was taken by Thomas Copelin & Thomas Hine.
The next day Mr. Bandwin opened a book and news stand near us, Frank Barker, then a little boy, clerking for him.1
- Rush Medical College
Dearborn Street and Grand Avenue
1871
- Ruins of the Union Passenger Station
1871
- Ruins of the Michigan Southern Passenger Station
1871
- Courthouse
- Courthouse
- West Entrance to the Court House after the Fire
Copelin & Hine, 1871
- Clark Street Bridge No. 5
1866-1871
- Burnt Safes
Dearborn Street
- Entrance to Republic Insurance Co. Building
LaSalle St.
- Post Office, Interior
- Insurance Building
Washington Street
- Burnt District Coffee House
- Realtor, W. D. Kerfoot’s Block
TOP:Photographed in 1871 by William Shaw, 137 22d street.
BOTTOM: W. J. Burton painting after photograph.
- Van Buren Bridge No. 3
1867-1871
- Ruins of 53-55 Lake street
D. B. Fisk Co.
1871
NOTES:
1 Source of this description is from The Story of Chicago by Joseph Kirkland, 1892.
According to Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1871, Thomas Bickford, traveller, who resided at 79 Madison, Peter Shock, carpenter, residing at 195 Rush and a book store owner named Gilbert Baldwin from 259 W. Harrison.
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