Mallers Building, Farwell Trust Building
Life Span: 1883-1920
Location: SW Corner of Quincy and LaSalle, 224-26 S. Quincy
Architect: John J. Flanders
Inter Ocean, April 5, 1885
THE MALLERS BUILDING.
Loftiest In Town—Bargains In Offices.
Twelve stories and basement high, with frontage of thirty-nine feet on LaSalle street and sixty feet on Quincy, the new Mallers Building, now almost completed, present the most striking and picturesque architecture in the neighborhood, and fitly introduces one to the great new Board of Trade Building, but a half block to the south. The cornice is 163 feet above the sidewalk, while the top of the ornamental finial is 173 feet high, and the sense of loftiness is still further appealed to by the, tall, slender arcades or bays with which the facade is treated, and by the small angle-tower or minaret which is corbeled out at the second story, and, extending the entire height of the building, is capped out with a handsome ornament. The arcade on LaSalle street projects out as a bow-window, its beautifully rounded side-lights commanding the entire street to the north and south, and the middle one of the three Quincy street arcades is treated with similar, novelty and effectiveness.
To turn from the general effect to some chief particulars, the foundations of the building are most massive, and constructed throughout of cut dimension atone, the material alone in each of the many piers costing $5,000. The first story Is treated with Quincy granite, very massively, with red granite columns at the entrance and small black granite shafts supporting and embellishing the entrance arch, which is additionally guarded by two great terra cotta griffins seated aloft and presumably life-size. The granite is carried up to the third story, and from that point skyward the finest quality of pressed brick blends harmoniously with the terra cotta projecting bay. The latter terminate at the ninth story in a graceful treatment of ironwork, serving as the base for two final arcades with uninspiring pressed brick shafts, whose capitals are crowned by a rich cornice of molded brick and terra cotta.
Above the first floor, which will be occupied by one of our chief banks, there are forty-four offices, and not strange is it they should be so diligently inquired after at the office of Mr. Jacob Weil, First National Bank Building, especially when it is considered how very reasonably, despite their unexcelled and indeed unequaled excellences, they are being rented. From $300 to $900 a year is all that is asked.
Some glimpses of an interior so highly yet not extravagantly praised! Then take this elevator, which fulfills its contract specification that it should be “the finest ever seen in Chicago,” and speed to the highest floor. Behold the stairs, every particle of iron! See beneath the tile floor which the workmen are placing in position the thick layers of concrete, resting on fire-proof hollow-tile, and these again on iron beams and girders. The ceilings are constructed primarily of a network of gas-pipe, with wire-cloth sewed on; not a lath in the building, and every partition without exception made of tile; no wood anywhere except in slight superficial dressing such as sashes and doors, should the furniture catch fire it must in the complete absence of draughts in floor, wall, and celling, prove simply a local flash. All the halls are floored with marble tile. The elevator guides are iron, and their lubricant is not grease, but, like the walls of the long-drawn elevator well, absolutely fireproof, and such is the character of the entire building beyond question and without reservation. And, although an iron-shutter-barred, window permits descent to the neighboring roofs, Mallers Block has no proximity to the great open court at the rear of those buildings, with its drafts communicating from one the other. Plate glass is used throughout the building, much of it a special order manufactured in Paris, and there is not a lighter office building in this or any city. It is heated by steam admirably ventilated throughout, with lavatory conveniences, etc., on every floor, and supplied not only with gas but with the Edison light; every wire sheathed in iron. There is a large storage vault in the rear of each story, and a tier of vaults in front, occupying the angle-tower, and possessing the novelty of natural light from the very narrow lancet windows which form such an ornamental feature of the exterior. In the lower regions the machinery corresponds with the rest of this model improvement. which Mr. J. B. Mallers—long time a resident of this city, and an expert in the building art—has personally superintended throughout its construction.
If the Mallers Building is strikingly rich and handsome, it is largely due to the dexterous use and beautiful color and shape of the terra cotta supplied by True, Brunkhorst & Co. from their Northern Terra Cotta Works, at the Northern city limits; city office, McCormick Block. These noted works have manufactured nine-tenths of the terra cotta used in Chicago architecture
Furthermore the building is a monument to Harris Bros.’ pressed brick, Abbott & Wright, agents, 161 LaSalle street, who still have in stock, material that is just as handsome and uniform in color, reasonable in price and every way satisfactory as the splendid exhibits they show here in this tallest office building in the city.
In the fire-proofing is seen the workmanship of the Pioneer Fire-Proof Construction Company, whose good offices are being so constantly employed in behalf of the permanency of the new Chicago. When they insure a structure the element of fire is debarred from service.
The iron steps of the front entrance and the long drawn iron stairway were manufactured by Braumoeller & Mueller, 90-92 West Yan Buren street, who supply all kinds of iron work for ornamental purposes in buildings. The iron stairs in question are not only the longest in Chicago, but the best built.
The steam-heating and ventilating apparatus, also the boilers, steam pumps, etc., were suppled by F. W. Lamb & Co., 258 Michigan street, the well-known contractors for these appliances. The contract has been filled in the most thorough and satisfactory manner, a specialty of the firm being the successful warming and ventilating of public buildings.
Diebold safes, of course, equip the great banking-room.
Thirty-three vault doors have been placed to the building by S. H. Harris, No. 103 Monroe street, whose products in this line are nowhere surpassed in quality and popularity. His works are called on to supply very many buildings in Chicago and the Northwest, and always with results that are entirely satisfactory.
The plumbing, by P. Nacey, 1209 State street, is an honest, thorough job.
The architect of the Mallers Building is Mr. J. J. Flanders, who is also architect to the city Board of Education.
Mallers Building
224-226 S. LaSalle
Maller’s Building
Robinson Fire Insurance Map
1886
Rand McNally Bird’s Eye Views of Chicago, 1893
⑥ The Mallers Building.
Occupying a lot but 38 feet on La Salle by 59 on Quincy Street, is 12 stories and basement, or 175 feet high. It has 2 elevators and 200 occupants, who are of all classes of light business. It cost $275,000 in 1884, and was for awhile the highest office building in Chicago. It is all steel, pressed brick, and stone.
Inter Ocean, March 20, 1906
The Mallers building, 226-228 La Salle street, a twelve story and basement structure, Chicago’s first fireproof skyscraper, was attacked by fire last evening, which damaged the building and offices to the extent of $8,000.
Two men, Peter Turbarson and Kari Anderson, night janitors in the building, were slightly burned and almost overcome while groping their way through smoke and flames from the eighth floor to the street. Both fell exhausted when they reached the street, and were assisted to a near by office building, where they were revived.
The fire started in the basement, occupied by E. W. Bechstein as a saloon, and spread up the elevator shaft to the roof. The firemen saw the flames in the basement, and when they opened the door of a storeroom near the elevator shaft the flames drove them back. Marshal Buckley seized a lead of hose, and, covering his face, dashed into the room. Members of the engine company followed him, and after a fight of fifteen minutes the flames were checked.
Climb to Roof to Fight Fire.
Other firemen soon arrived, but were unable to reach the upper floors by the stairway, and climbed the fire escapes to the root of the building and fought the flames from that point.
Offices Are Damaged.
The omces of Granger Farwell & Co., owners of the building. which are on the second floor, were damaged $500, while the offices of the James A. Benedict company on the third floor, were damaged $100.
Bechstein’s saloon was damaged $3,0C0, while the loss on the building was $4,000. The cause of the fire could not be learned.
Owing to the number of large banking and brokerage firms in the building, Timothy
Mahoney of the Central detail station summoned many policemen to guard the building.
Was Ploneer Fireproof Building.
The Mallers building was erected in 1884. It was the first fireproof building erected in Chicago and the first skyscraper in La Salle street. Recently It was sold to Granger Farwell by John B. Mallers, the constructor and owner.
Chicago Examiner, November 10, 1912
Farwell Trust Building Bought by La Salle Street Savings.
The La Salle Street Trust & Savings Bank has closed the purchase of the Farwell Trust Building located on the southwest corner of La Salle and Quincy streets for $500,000. The lot is 33.8×60 feet covered with a twelve-story office building Edward A. Wanner represented both parties to the transaction. The building will be remodeled immediately after plans by D. H. Burnham & Co. The bank will occupy the first and second floors. This corner was the only property offered for sale on La Kalle street between the Board of Trade and the City Hall.
Mallers Building
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906
It was removed in 1920 along with the Gaff, Mallers, Counselman,and Royal Insurance buildings for the Federal Reserve Bank.
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