Arcade Building
Life Span: 1869-1871
Location: 158-160 S. Clark, West side Clark bet. Madison and Monroe.
Architect: T. V. Wadskier
- Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago for 1870.
Arcade Buildings.—East (sic) side Clark bet. Madison and Monroe.
Titsworth A. D. merchant tailor, 158 and 160 Clark, Arcade bldg. r. 744 Wabash av.
Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago for 1871.
Arcade Buildings.—West side Clark, bet. Madison and Monroe.
Titsworth A. D. & Co. merchant tailors and clothiers, 158 and 160 Clark
Hannaford E. & Co. publishers, 158 Clark
Svenska Amerikanaren (Swedish), published weekly, 158 Clark1
Chicago Evening Post, September 24, 1869
THE ARCADE.
A Splendid Block of Buildings on Clark Street and Broadway Place.
Chicago is becoming more and more noted for its magnificent buildings, as in very short periods some new and handsome structure is reared above it its foundation. The San Franciscoans who were lately here expressed themselves agreeably surprised and astonished at the advance of Chicago in its architecture. Here are assembled about fifty of the best architects in the country, nearly all of whom are taxing their brains and exerting themselves daily, and oftentimes at night, to devise original and acceptable designs for new buildings. And it is a matter of pride and gratification to know that their efforts are seconded by liberal-minded citizens, who expend large sums annually to build these monuments to Chicago’s greatness. Another and imposing building is about to be added to the list. Reference made to the Arcade building now being constructed on the ground on Broadway place, to the rear of Farwell Hall. It will be the joint property of Messrs. Farwell and Laurence, and will cost about $45,000. A building adjoining, and composing part of the block, will cost $35,000, making the whole block worth $80,000.
The Arcade building proper will be 32 feet front by 90 feet deep. It will be five stories in height, with basement. The front will be of Cleveland sandstone, of a pure white color. The architecture will be the American Renaissance. There will be passage ways from Clark street, through to the street in rear of Farwell Hall, 8 feet wide, with stone pavement. On each side of these passage ways the wall will be ornamented with pilasters, caps and ornaments of rich stucco work. In the centre of the building will be 8 store 15 feet wide, with broad windows looking into the Arcade. In rear of the Arcade there is a court thirty-two feet square, with stone pavement, which forms part of the avenue in rear of Farwell Hall. The front will be richly ornamented with pilasters extending up to the cornice, and terminated by Corinthian capitals. The openings will be flanked on each side by columns with ornamented caps, and will have richly-carved keystones. There will be a balcony projecting from the first and the third stories, of stone, with ornamental railing. The cornice will be of galvanized iron, in keeping with the style of the building. The first story will be of iron, with ornamented arches springing from the Corinthian caps of the columns, enriched by carved ornaments, heads and shell-work.
Adjoining the Arcade, and forming part of the block, will be a building 30 feet front, owned by John C. Rue, which will contain four five stores, three fronting on the Arcade side, and one on Clark street. The offices in the stories aboue the stores will be entered by two passageways, one from Clark street, and one from the Arcade side, and divided up into suits, which are furnished with all the necessary conveniences. The whole interior trimmings of the building will be black walnut.
- Arcade Building
From the left, Cox and Donahue’s Bindery, the Arcade Building (A. D. Titsworth’s establishment was within) and Chicago Lithographic Company & Artists’ Emporium.
Photographer: Copelin and Melander
1869
Chicago Tribune, May 8, 1870
A. D. Titsworth’s New Store—Enlargement of Business—Ready-Made Clothing.
It is now tally twenty years since A. D. Titsworth opened his merchant tailoring and clothing establishment in this city. During that long time the business which he founded has steadily grown, supported as it was by his own practical knowledge, and by an earnest endeavor to meet, in the highest possible degree, the wants of purchasers until it has become so firmly established, and merits so well known as to need no outside aid. No house in the city is more widely known, and no one has a better or mare honestly-earned reputation.
But Mr. Titsworth, after devoting himself for so many years to the special branch of custom-made clothing, has now determined to enlarge the sphere of his operations, and to engage in the sale of clothing after a plan of his own devising, and which will certainly attract the favorable attention of the public.
It is his intention henceforth to pay far more attention to the ready made clothing business than was formerly the case, and to keep on hand a stock of ready-made clothing which is to be superior in quality to any heretofore produced the Chicago market, and which is to be manufactured in his own building and under his own supervision. This, it will be seen, is something new to Chicago where measured and ready-made work have never before been made under the same roof. But, though both branches are under one hand, the custom and ready-made clothing will be manufactured by entirely different workmen, and in different rooms. It is also his intention to have marked on every article in the store in plain figures the price for which it can sold, and that price will be as low as it will be possible to produce the garments for, and certainly as low as persons could buy the same garments elsewhere at wholesale. The large amount of trade which he expects to secure will enable him to adhere to this rule in reference to low prices, When these prices are all determined on, they will not be deviated from for any one, and business will be done only for cash.
As preliminaries to this change, Mr. Titsworth has become sole proprietor of the business, and leased the Arcade Buildings, on Clark street, between Madison and Monroe, which are admirably fitted for the purposes be has in view. There he will carry on, not only the new, but the old business; for he has no desire to lose his old customers, and persons ordering clothes will find them well and as conscientiously made as at any time during the last twenty years.
That Mr. Titsworth will succeed, there is no doubt. In view of the good fortune that has hitherto attended his labors here, it is beyond question. The citizens of Chicago will appreciate and encourage an attempt to furnish them with excellently made clothing at reasonable prices, It is what they have long needed, and they will not throw away an opportunity of securing it.
The formal opening of the new store will take place during the week.
- Arcade Building Site
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
This building was built in conformity to the adjoining Major Block. T. V. Wadskier was the architect of this as well as its after-Fire successor, Andrews Building (1872-1892).
NOTES:
1Svenska Amerikanaren, 1866-1873: Published by a stock company. Hans Mattson was editor until February, 1867; Herman Roos, editor and head of the editorial staff from 1867 to 1869; Peter A. Sundelius, 1868 -1870, 1871-1873; A. W. Schalin, January to August, 1871. Paper sold in 1873 and name changed.
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