Merchant’s Insurance Building

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Merchant’s Insurance Building
Life Span: 1868-1871
Location: NW corner of LaSalle and Washington Streets
Architect:

Chicago Evening Post, May 8, 1868

ANOTHER LANDMARK GONE.
The Dying Testimony of a Chicago Residence Thirty Years Old.
Day by day, as one passes along our streets, he obsorves that the old structures which have stood as landmarks of former times fast disappearing, and giving place to lofty and magnificent buildings for the purposes of business. Among these primitive buildings cluster many pleasant and interesting associations, and a glance at their history impresses one with a better idea of the wonderful growth of this still youthful city.

Among the finest residences of Chicago twenty-seven years ago was the long brick structure, two and a half stories high, on the northwest corner of Washington and LaSalle streets, now being torn down to make way for an elegant marble front block. In 1840 the part of the city where this house now stands was almost a “howling wilderness” and was considered “out in the country” although directly opposite the public square. The lot was purchased by Mr. Tuthill King, in 1840, for an insignificant sum, it being then little else than a terrible mud hole. Through its center ran a dirty stream-called in those days “The Soldiers’ Ditch”-which made its sluggish way to the river. When Mr. King went to examine his purchase, before building, he took a long pole and sunk it a distance of thirteen feet in the aforesaid ditch, and then failed to discover bottom. It was evident that it would be impossible to place a house upon the lot until the surface had been raised and filled in. Accordingly work was commenced and in the spring of 1841 the lot was sufficiently high to begin the foundation of the corner house, a building 27×40 feet, which was designed as a residence for Mr. King. The mason work was let to Mr. Sherman, formerly Mayor of this city, and the carpenter work to Mr. Lloyd, afterwards owner of the splendid iron front block, corner of Wells and Randolph streets.

For several vears after Mr. King moved in, the depth of the mud in front of his house was fearful, and he has often seen wagons sunk to the hubs and abandoned by the driver and horses, but afterwards dug out. Next to Mr. King’s house stood a shanty, occupied by an Irish family, and the inevitable hog and the mud was so deep that the hog which used wallow therein, would be out of sight much of the time, occasionally coming to the surface to blow ofF. One year after the completion of Mr. King’s residence, which cost the then liberal sum of $3,000, he built the other houses of the block adjoining it, on the north, which he rented to different parties. The size of the lot upon which all the buildings stand is 111×96 feet, all of which is still owned by Mr. King, and is worth an immense sum of money.

In 1857, Terrace Row, on Michigan avenue, was constructed, and Mr. King moved into one of the residences, renting his block—including his own home where he had lived for thirteen years—to Mr. Shopley, who used them as a boarding house till the year 1865, when they were fitted up as offices, for which purpose they have been used till the present time. They are now being cleared away to give place to the Merchants’ Insurance building.

Nearly thirty years ago, .and probably before Mr. King built the block just mentioned, Hon. Hiram Norton, now residing in Lockport, built immediately across the street, on the southwest corner of LaSalle and Washington streets, the good sized brick house which of late years was used as the headquarters of the city Police Department, and has now given place to the magnificent Union Building. The house, when built, was considered an elegant mansion, but people wondered that Mr. Norton should go so far out of the city to live. These stories seem to-day almost incredible, but many still live to vouch for their correctness.

Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1868

Merchants’ Insurance Building.
The building is to be constructed of Athens marble, with imposing fronts in the Florentine style. The outer walls will be remarkable for their bold and massive appearance. The structure will be surmounted with heavy stone cornices, with pediments and medallions and frieze ornaments. It will have two entrances on La Salle street and one on Washington street. The La Salle street front is to be 96 feet, and on Washington street there will be a frontage of 111 feet. The Washington street front will contain three offices on the first floor, and the La Salle street front will contain an office 38 by 72 feet on the first floor and in the basement. Each story will be very high, and the entire building will have a height of 81 feet. The halls will be easily accessible, airy, wide, and well provided as regards light and ventilation. The offices will be planned and furnished very completely, and each first floor office will have a fire-proof vault. Indeed, the whole structure will be fire-proof throughout, and constructed in all its details especially with a view to presenting a massive and imposing appearance. Its cost will be about $200,000.

Chicago Handbook, A Complete Guide for Strangers and Tourists, 1869

THE MERCHANTS INSURANCE COMPANY BUILDING.
One of the most stately and beautiful edifices in the, United States, is the new building of the Merchants Insurance company of Chicago, on the northwest corner of LaSalle and Washington streets. It is five stories in height, and has a frontage of ninety-six and one- third feet on LaSalle street, and a frontage of one hundred and eleven and a half feet on Washington street. Both the front elevations are built of magnesian limestone, from Athens, of which so many of our best buildings are made. The total height of the structure, from the sidewalk to the cornice, is eighty-two and a half feet. The style of the architecture is the modified Italian, such variations having been made as are neces- sary to adapt it to the rigor of our climate. The LaSalle street elevation, fronting the court house, being most conspicuous, is therefore most elaborate in its workmanship and ornamentation. For the French roof style has been substituted a more classic, and truly American architecture. The ornamentation is, to a considerable degree, original, the carved flowers, fruits and leaves being generally selected from native American plants. The interior of the first and second stories is wainscoted with black walnut, in neat and tasteful panels, after the French style. The second story floor is laid with alternate dark and light colored marble tiles, and from the centre of this floor rises the stairway to the several stories above. This stairway, with its landings, occupies considerable spnce in the exact centre of the building; and on each floor, all the rooms open into the square hall which encloses the stairway. Two large and elaborate entrance* lead to the mam hall from LaSalle street, and one from Washington street. The first and second stories are finished in hard wood, and all the glass for the interior, as well as the exterior of these stories, is the best French plate. The black walnut railing and balustrades of the stairway are particularly noticeable for their massiveness and elegance of structure. The stairways rest on iron carriages.

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