Occupants: Louis and Christian Wahl, Levi Rosenthal
Location: 2026 S. Prairie (Old 964)
Life Span:
Architect:
Lakeside Directory for the City of Chicago for the Year of 1874
Wahl Christian (Wahl Brothers) r. house 964 Prairie av.
Wahl Louis (Wahl Brothers) and Commissioner Board Public Works, City Hall, r. house 964 Prairie av.
Lakeside Directory for the City of Chicago for the Year of 1876
Wahl Christian (Wahl Bros.) 49 Franklin, house 964 Prairie av.
Wahl Louis (Wahl Bros.) 49 Franklin, house 964 Prairie av.
Lakeside Directory for the City of Chicago for the Year of 1880
Wahl Christian (Wahl Bros.) 49 Franklin, house 2026 Prairie av.
Wahl Louis (Wahl Bros.) 49 Franklin, house 2026 Prairie av.
Lakeside Directory for the City of Chicago for the Year of 1884
Rosenfeld Levi, 76, 5th av. house 2026 Prairie av.
Lakeside Directory for the City of Chicago for the Year of 1885
Rosenfeld Levi, 76, 5th av. house 2026 Prairie av.
Land Owner, May, 1874
Chicago Tribune, December 27, 1874
Announcements.
There will be a party given at the residence of Mrs. Louis Wahl, No. 964 Prairie avenue, on the evening of the 5th of January. It is an eleemosynary affair, intended for the aid of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, on the corner of Paulina and Adams streets. The Committee of Management include the names of some of the very best people in Chicago. Mrs. Wahl’s house is very large, and has a dancing-ball or bailroom, so all who are fortunate enough to obtain tickets for this worthy charitable enterprise are to be congratulated upon the pleasant evening they will undoubtedly enjoy.
Chicago Tribune, December 8, 1876
Event of the Season.
The party at Louis Wahl’s residence, 964 Prairie avenue, last evening, was the most notable social event of the kind that has occurred in two, or possibly three, seasons. All the world of fashion was summoned, and if any failed to attend it was through their own fault. The entertainments given by Mr. and Mrs. Wahl are always anticipated with a lively interest, as experience has shown that they know how to arrange affairs on the most liberal scale, as well as in the most agreeable manner. This party was yet larger and more brilliant than any preceding one. The list of invitations numbered close to 1,000. Of course, it was not expected that more than half of the favored ones would be able to respond in person; yet, even leaving out all who were prevented from attending by illness, absence from the city, Brother Moody’s influence, and the other usual array of impediments, there were yet enough left to fill to repletion the magnificent and capacious-brown-stone palace of the host. Never was witnessed a gayer scene than was presented last evening tn the annals of Chicago society.
The arch-enemy of society-goers, bad weather, did not come around. There was neither rain nor snow to fleck the delicate robes of the ladies. It was a clear, cold night; the snow was well-trodden; the ground was hard. It was a beau-ideal cf a night for such an occasion. Yet care had been taken to circumvent any sudden change in the weather-indications. An arched passage, prettily constructed of trellis-work, and surmounted by a substantial roof, had been built from the carriage-block to the door. This was carpeted, and brightly Illuminated by means of a reflector placed across the street, whose gleam threw the whole of the noble mansion into sharp relief, making a picturesque scene from the street.
The arrival of the carriages at about 9 o’clock added an element of life to the generally quiet Prairie avenue. In one continuous line they rolled up to the curbstone, discharging their fair loads and driving rapidly away, each one’s place being filled as soon as it had passed by. There was very little confusion, a man being stationed at the carriage-block to give directions to the drivers and assist the occupants of the vehicles in alighting. Naturally, some impatience was exhibited to get inside the house, as the bright lights, the distant music, and the moving throng of guests were all perceptible to the senses, and appealed to the curiosity with a strength that was more than ordinary. From 9 o’clock until after 11 o’clock the carriages continued to arrive.
Un the broad flight of stone steps the guests passed in twos, and threes, and groups, and processions. A stable attendant opened the massive doors, and ushered the new arrivals into another world,—a world of bewildering gayety, and light, and beauty. Passing up the stairs to the dressing-rooms a glimpse was afforded of the spacious parlors on either hand, glowing with life and color, and resounding with the animated voices of hundreds of people, while over all was heard the soothing strains of the orchestra in a far-off room. At the top of the stairs was stationed another waiter, whose duty it was to pilot the tide of humanity into the different dressing-rooms. The waves of life surged irresistibly up the. staircase, and parted on this rock of a domestic who was planted there irrevocably, the ladies going in one direction and the gentlemen in another. Of the 400 or 500 guests the following were among the most noteworthy: Mr. and Mrs. O. H. Lane, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Rees, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Oakley and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. S. D. Kimbark and daughter, Mr. T. Allen French, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Brown, Mr. A. P. Kellcy and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Enos Ayers, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hale, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Nudd, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Grant, Dr. and Mrs. A. R. Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. C H. Billings, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan. Miss Florence Bryan, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Bickford, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Coomes, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, Mr. C. W. Kltngman, Mr. Charles Packer, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Peck, Mr. F. A. Marsh. Mr. and Mrs. C E, Coburn, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Smith, Miss Belle Smith, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Thompson, Mr. Jesse Spaulding and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fargo, Miss Irene Fargo, Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Gale, Mr. George Snyder, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Chcnev, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. Coleman, Mr. Joseph B. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. P. C. Hanford, Mr. William A. Mitchell, Miss Mollie Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Goodell, Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Field, Mr. and Mrs. William Chisholm, Mr. and Mrs. George W. Young, Mr. and Mrs. James Boland, Miss Alice Hilton, Mr. and Mrs. Ned Jones, Dr. and Mrs. Bevan, Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Galloway, Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Bartlett, Mr. and Mrs. Washington Hesing, Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Torrence, Mr. Ed Palmer, Mr. Ed Kimball, Mr. Fred Gibbs, Mr. and Mrs. Julias Bauer, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gilbert, Mr. and Mrs. J. M. W. Jones, Miss Ella Goodridge, Mr. and Mrs. George E. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Bournique, Mr. C. C. Adsit, Mrs. Col. Mulligan, Miss Alice Nugent, Mrs. Nugent, Mr. N. Nugent, Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Beecher, Mr. and Mrs. F. Folz, Mr. George H. Bowen, Miss Nellie Beecher, Miss Mamie Beecher, Miss Josie Van Cott, Mr. and Mrs. R. C. Meldrum. Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Bryant. Mr. and Mrs. Sydney Myers, Dr. and Mrs. Henrotin, Mr. and Mrs. Ernst Pressing, Mr. P. A. Wilbur. Mr. James B. Goodman, Mr. Daniel Burnham, Mr. A. G. Sherman, Mr. and Mrs. E. Foreman, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Clark, Mrs. David A. Gage. Dr. and Mrs. C. G. Smith, Mr. J. A. Olcott, Mr. and Mrs. Hugh T. Birch, Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Stone, Miss Carrie Boardman, Miss Mary Price, Mr. and Mrs. David Kelley, Mr. and Mrs. F. R. Otis, Mr. and Mrs. Mackey, Mr. and Mrs. McBean, Mr. B. F. Dodson, Miss Nellie Medill, Miss Nellie Wadsworth, Mr. ana airs. A. Booth, Miss M. Booth, Mr. W. V. Booth.
The Reception.
At the door of one of the front rooms stood Mrs. Louis Wahl, attired in a rich combination suit of black silk and velvet, embroidered with jet. She was assisted in the reception by Mrs. Frank Wentworth, Mrs. Goodrich, Misses Alice and Carrie Neyman, and Misses Eva, Drusic, and Lillie Wahl. In the reception room across the hall Hand’s concert orchestra poured forth music through the parlors and corridors the guests streamed, handsome and handsomely-dressed women and attentive gentlemen. Up and down the stairways the throng passed and re-passed on their way to and from the ball-room. and the air sparkled with diamond-dust and was noisy with the rustle of silk.
Passing through the ceremony of reception, the dancers sought the upper floors, while those who met with old friends remained below for conversation. Mrs. Brooke Herford, elegantly dressed in black silk and laces, drew a small knot around her, while her daughter, Miss Helen Herford, in white Paris muslin, puffed and ruffled, and trimmed with black beads, sought the attractions above. The parlors were filled early, and adorning the promenade were Miss Minnie Shaffer, attired in Paris muslin, flounced and puffed from the waist to the hem, with Roman sash under the pannier, and her hair dressed with natural flowers; Miss Kinzie in white Swiss, trimmed with flowers, and her hair in braids; Miss Fannie Lyon, in white gros grain, with fluted flounces and garniture of fruit and autumn-leaves; and Miss Griggs, in heavy black and white silk, with flounces and puffings, the corsage high, and trimmed with natural flowers.
Clustered around Mrs. Wahl during the earlier part of the evening were Miss Kelly, in a gaslight blue silk, with overskirt of black velvet; Miss Josie Van Cott in tulle and puffed, and trimmed with natural flowers and leaves, with corsage of white gros grain, high, with graceful demi-sleeve; and Mrs. William Jenny, in rose silK, the flounces trimmed with faille, edged with dress material, and corsage trimmed with faille and flowers. In the further room Mrs. S. D. Kimbark. wearing an elegant combination an it of black velvet and silk, with trimmings of point, lace. discussed the fashionable topics of the day with a group of ladies. Mrs. Charles D. Partridge joined the group, wearing a cream-colored corded silk, a la Comptesee, the skirt in three deep flounces and trimmed with wide bands of maroon velvet, the corsage trimmed with illusion laces. As the evening wore on, the throng of beautiful women became more and more pronounced. The parlors overflowed into the corridor, and the reception-rooms were filled. Standing in the doorway was Mrs. Billings, in a rich embossed velvet and silk combination, and coral ornaments. Further on were Mrs. Charles Coburn, attired in lemon-colored brocade, and wearing diamonds; Mrs. James P. Smith, in black velvet and point lace, and Mamie Kimbark, in seal brown silk and velvet. Snrveving the scene, that took all the hues of the autumn landscape, stood Mrs. Charles Fargo, in lavender sun, with sleeveless tunic of cream-colored silk, and, near her, her daughter, Miss Irene, in tulle, with corsage of white gros grain.
In the lower part of the second parlor stood Mrs. S. A. Treat, in black gros grain, cut a la Princesse and trimmed with cardinal silk and laces; Mrs. Walter Peck, in chocolate silk, with sleeveless tunic of lemon brocade, trimmed with ball fringe; and Mrs. William H. Thompson, in rose brocade, in two shades, trimmed with autumn leaves and flowers.
Moving Slowly Through the Rooms,
and recognizing friends on every side were Miss May Bevan, in orange silk, flounced and puffed, with corsage trimmed with illusion, and Mrs. James Hervey, in cardinal silk, fronted with three folds, and trimmed with a broad band of velvet of a deeper shade, the corsage trimmed, with laces. Making her way through the promenaders for a tete-a-tete with her mother came Miss Ella Goodrich, in Paris muslin with garniture of autumn leaves, and corsage of white gros grain trimmed with leaves. Standing near the window was Mrs. McClellan, in lemon silk. in two shades, and trimmed with folds, and near by Mrs. Frankenthalt in black gros grain. with trimmings of lace and flowers, and Mrs. J. W. Done, in maroon brocaded velvet, cut a la Comptesse, and trimmed with lace.
Carriages were arriving rapidly, and the jingle of sleigh-bulls came and went. Ladies warm and fresh from the ball-room exchanged greetings with ladies cold and fresh from the wintry night. Thick heavy cloaks mingled on the stairway with rich silks and rustling muslins. Hooded figures went up, to develop into richly-dressed women when the coverings were thrown aside, me dressing-room hallway was preempted for the promenade, and Mrs. Bryant, in lavender silk, with deep tunic of royal purple uncut velvet, trimmed with point lace; Mrs. Col. Loomis, in pearl silk, with trimmings of stone-color; and Miss Sarah Wilder, in black gros grain, trimmed with puffed bands of lemon-silk and laces, led the way from the crowded rooms below.
At 10 o’clock most all the guests had arrived. There were a few who came later, but most all had entered upon the scene at that hour. A few moments for conversation in the parlors. and then
Up to the Ball-Room.
Chatting with Mrs. Wentworth, who wore lavender silk, flounced with puffiDgs and trimmed with tulle, and Mrs. Goodrich, in prune silk and velvet, the tour of the parlors, with a pleasant word to Misses Alice and Claire Neyman, in white Swiss, puffed and ruffled, the people passed around into the hallway to the staircase. Attentive to the comfort of the guests were the young daughters of the host and hostess, Miss Eva, in pale-blue silk, fronted in folas and trimmed with lace; Miss Drucie. in rose silk, in folds and a single flounce; and Miss Lillie, in pink silk and lace trimmings.
There have been a great many large parties in Chicago, but it is doubtful if any of later years have assembled so many handsome women. They came and went an almost end less throng, familiar faces giving way to new, and coming back again. Miss Fannie Lyon, in white gros grain, with fluted flounces and garniture of fruits and autumn leaves; Miss Nellie Medill, in heavy white corded silk, with over-skirt, low corsage and demi-sleeve, and diamond ornaments; Miss Carrie Boardman, in white gros grain, with trimmings of tulle; and Miss Ella Spaulding, in white silk, with ruff of fluted illusion, were succeeded Dy Mrs. Bournique, in lemon silk, with deep flounces, trimmed with flowers, and Mrs. C. H. Hale, in cameo silk, with lace overdress..
It was a success socially, albeit a little crowded in the lower, rooms, until the attractions above had drawn away a larger portion. It ls not within the accomplishment of any paper to afford a complete description of all the ladies, and but few compared with the numbers to select from are given.
Mrs. Dr. Bevan wore royal purple silk, with trimmings and corsage of black velvet.
Mrs. Dr. Gunn lavender silk, with overskirt of black lace; corsage a la Marie Antoinette, with bertha of lace.
Mrs. Wilson, lavender silk, with deep tunic of faille; corsage high; diamond ornaments.
Mrs. James Boland, heavy black silk, trimmed with broad bands of velvet, and ball fringe; corsage ol velvet, a la Marie Antoinette, heavily trimmed with point lace; halr laMaintenon; diamond ornaments. Mrs. H.
O. Stone, rose silk, with corsage of deeper shade. Miss Satterlee, gas-light blue suit, with trimmings of black lace.
Miss Mueller, white Paris muslin, with trimmings of black leaves, and hair neglige.
Mrs. Thompson, rose-colored brocade silk, with garniture of leaves.
Miss Carrie Tucker, ciel blue silk, with lace trimmings.
Mrs. Harry Hall, white gros grain, trimmed with point lace.
Mrs. John Clark, lemon-colored brocaded silk, with trimmings of narrow black velvet.
Mrs. Washington Hesing, gaslight blue with trimmings of point lace.
Miss Mary Price, black velvet.
Miss Stubbs, rose silk, with white tarltan over skirt and trimmings of flowers.
Mrs. Bartlett, elegant black silk and velvet combination.
Mrs. Small, combination suit of brown silk and velvet.
The Ball-Room
is a feature of Mr. Wahl’s residence that every society lady and gentleman knows how to appreciate. Life without dancing would be burdensome indeed to this class of the community. The entire upper floor of the house is given over to dancing purposes. The ball-room is after the mo6t approved models.
It did not take the younger people long to find their way to the ball-room. Hand’s orchestra was stationed at the head of the room, and was soon engaged in rendering some of the most seductive or waltz music. The scene on the floor was exceedingly pretty. The gorgeous gas-jets cast a flood off light upon the brilliant costumes of the ladies, and as they mingled in the dance, gave tho room the appearance of a kaleidoscopic warmth and variety of color. Following was the programme of the dances:
It is, perhaps, needless to say how long the dancing continued. It was certainly not midnight when the last couple left the floor. Meanwhile refreshments were served in the dining-room.
Chicago Tribune, December 10, 1876
The Wahl Reception.
There is no doubt but that the affair Thursday evening at Mr. and Mrs. Wahl’s residence, No. 964 Prairie avenue, was the most brilliant of the season. Everything was conducted on the most lavish scale. The invitations were almost limitless, and covered about all of Chicago high society. In the number of people present, and the display of dress, the reception was of marked importance in the social annals, and as such was chronicled in extense in The Tribune of Friday, to which the readers are referred for particulars.
Chicago Tribune, May 21, 1882
A New Device for Killing Cattle
An adjourned meeting of the Illinois Humane Society was held yesterday afternoon in the club-room of the Grand Pacific Hotel. Mr. John G. Shorthall in the chair. The new constitution adopted at the last meeting of the Board of Directors was formally adopted. It is an elaboration of the old constitution and aims to give the society a wider scope in its humane work. Mr. Christian Wahl produced a device for blinding cattle while being killed. It is made of thick leather to fit the animal’s head, and at the top is an eyelet hole of iron through which a heavy iron bolt passes. The animal is killed with a heavy blow on the head of the bolt. The device appeared to meet with favor, but Armour’s method of shooting the cattle is well thought of by the society. The society then adjourned..
Inter Ocean, January 2, 1887
Mr. Louis Wahl made No. 2026 his home, and often gathered about him the young people, that they might make merry. Upon the upper floor there is a commodious dancing hall. Mr. Levi Rosenfeld, a retired dry goods merchant and capitalist, succeeded Mr. Wahl in the ownership of this beautiful home.
- 2026 S. Prairie
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
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