Adams House I
Life Span: 1858-1871
Location: NE Corner Michigan and Lake Streets
Architect: TBD
Chicago Tribune, June 29, 1857
THE “ADAMS HOUSE” will be open for inspection today, from 3 to 6 o’clock P.M. Strangers at the hotels, and citizens generally, are invited to view the house.
Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1857
We take the following handsome notice of the Adams House, od this city, from the N.Y. Home Journal:
Adams House, Chicago.—A letter dated thus, has come to our hand, speaking very highly of this magnificent hotel, opened recently by a son of one of our Hudson river neighbors. Besides it local advantages, as to centrality of railroad depots, etc., it is well appointed in all respects, and, at present, very flatteringly patronized—Judge McLean’s family and Judge Grainger being among its guests. To those going West we commend it.
Chicago Tribune, November 3, 1858
ADAMS HOUSE.—This fine hotel is comparatively a new candidate for favor with the traveling public. It is situated at the corner of Lake street and Michigan avenue, convenient to business and the great central depot, and commands a fine view of the Lake and of the most handsome portion of the city. The proprietor, Mr. Walter, is an accommodating, courteous gentleman, devoted to the comfort and enjoyment of his guests. The rooms are large, airy and well-furnished. The parlors are fitted up in a superb style. The table is equal to that of any first-class hotel in this or the eastern cities, with well-trained and attentive servants to attend to the wants of guests. To such as desire a quiet, well ordered hotel we can very confidently recommend the Adams House.
Adams House
Weekly Chicago Times, December 31, 1857
The Adams House, a fine hotel, five stories high, built of brick, 72×130 feet, owned by Hugh Maher. Cost $65,000, of which the last $25,000 has been expended this year. There are many things about this house deserving of special notice. First, the
arrangements of the dining room, the cookery and heating apparatus by means of steam pipes, as also those for washing and drying clothes, the easy communication between the office and all other parts of the house, the splendor of the parlors and comfort of the bedrooms; these and many other details will bear the closest inspection, and prove that the building and keeping of hotels in Chicago is reduced to a science, and that the day has passed when the hotels in Chicago were surpassed by any in America. Burling & Smith are the architects of the Adams House, and it is kept by Mr. Adams.
The Adams House (right).
Michigan Avenue south from Lake Street
A. T. Andreas, History of Chicago, Volume II
The Adams House was built, in 1857, by Hugh Maher, a well-known capitalist of this city, and at one time accounted the largest property owner in Cook County. The house was opened, in the autumn of 1858, by William Adams; and in April of the following year, VV. L. & J. I. Pearce, formerly of the Matteson House, purchased and assumed control of the Adams. In December, i860, W. L. Pearce sold his interest to Schuyler S. Benjamin, now of the Brevoort House. Pearce & Benjamin conducted the Adams until it was destroyed, in October, 1871. It is of interest to note that this hotel stood on the former site of the old Hydraulic Mills, the first flouring mills in Chicago, which were discontinued in 1853. Hugh Maher was born
Lake Street, looking west from Illinois Central Depot. The Adams House is on the right.
Photographer: John Carbutt #123
Adams House
October, 1871
Chicago Illustrated, January 1866
To the west of the depot may be seen the Adams House, which is located on the corner of Michigan avenue and Lake street.
Adams House
NE Corner Michigan and Lake Streets
Created by E. Whitefield for the map-making concern of Rufus Blanchard
1862
Adams House
NE Corner Michigan and Lake Streets
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1869
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