Williams Building—Fifth Avenue II

Williams Building—Fifth Avenue II, Monroe Building
Life Span: 1889-Present
Location: Southwest corner Fifth avenue and Monroe
Architect: Holabird & Roche

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899

Williams Bldg.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Williams Bldg.—196 to 200 Monroe

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
Williams Bldg.—205 W Monroe

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1914
Williams Bldg.—205 W Monroe

Chicago Chronicle, July 29, 1897

Excavating for the foundations of the Williams block at the southwest corner of Fifth avenue and Monroe street will begin week, the contractor having nearly finished the work of cleaning away the remains of the old building burned in January.

The big new structure will be one of the finest and handsomest buildings in the wholesale district, according to the plans of the owner. J. M. W. Williams, and the architect Holabird & Roche. A. Moonert is the contractor, who is now busily engaged in clearing the site.

The new building, which was briefly described in The Chronicle July 18, will cover a area of 90×125 feet and will be nine stories high. It will be built of dark red brick, with fronts of terra cotta and plate glass. The Italian renaissance style of architecture will be followed. The building will have wood floors and hardwood interior finish and, it is said, will be strictly modern in all its equipments.

Profiting by the experience of last winter the plans now call for a fireproof structure The fire which destroyed the old building and nearly wiped out half a dozen firms was constantly brought to the minds of all persons passing within sight of Monroe street and Fifth avenue by the picturesque ruin at the corner until after the hot weather began.

Just before midnight on one of the coldest nights of the winter the fire broke out. Many engines were called to the scene, and during the battle with the flames several firemen and thirty members of the fire insurance patrol had narrow escapes from death. Eighteen people were injured. The feature of the fire, however, which was the mountains of ice remained after the fire was extinguished. Scores of streams were playing and the water appeared to freeze almost as soon as it 1eft the nozzles.

The solid masses of ice, higher than the elevated tracks in Fifth avenue, resisted the sun’s rays for months. Despite the fury of flames the south wall of the building was left intact and will be used in the new structure.

The building will cost about $200,000.

Chicago Tribune, January 1, 1898

Williams’ Building.
J. M. Williams improved the southwest corner of Monroe street and Fifth avenue with a ten-story building, covering an area 90×125 feet. The exterior is of red pressed brick with large window areas, giving good light effects. Molded brick and terra cotta are used in the trimming. The interior is of steel and tile construction, making the building practically fireproof. It is built like an office structure and will be used for wholesalers and jobbers. Two large entrances lead into the building from Monroe street, and three more are provided for in Fifth ave-nue, in case the owners makes leases for office purposes.

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