Sherman House I & II

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Sherman House I & II
Life Span: 1837-1860 (I); 1861-1871 (II)
Location: NW corner of Clark and Randolph Streets
Architect: William W. Boyington (II)

Chicago City Directory and Business Advertiser, 1855

Sherman House

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859
Sherman House, Tripp & Hale proprietors, Randolph ne cor S Clark

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
Sherman House, Gage, Waite & Co., proprs., Clark, n. w. c. Randolph
Merchants Farmers and Mechanic’s Savings Bank, 52 Clark St., Sherman House Block, (See advt. p. 134)
Field Marshall, (Cooley, Farwell & Co.,) bds. Sherman House.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Sherman House, Gage Bros. & Walters, proprs., Randolph, n. w. cor. Clark

History of Chicago, Volume I, Ending in the Year 1837, by A. T. Andreas, 1884.

The First Sherman House.
The City Hotel, subsequently the Sherman House, was built in 1836-37 by Francis C. Sherman. Jacob Kussel was its first proprietor, taking possession in December, 1837. In 1844, Mr. Sherman remodeled the house, added two stories, making it five stories high, and changed its name to the Sherman House. Two years later Mr. Russel retired from its management and was succeeded by James Williamson and A. H. Squier; the next year Mr Williamson retired from the firm, William Rickards purchasing his interest.

This firm, Rickards & Squier, retained the proprietorship of the house until in 1851, when they sold out to Brown & Tuttle, late of the City Hotel, a building which then stood on Lake Street, near Wabash Avenue, and was formerly the Farmer’s Exchange. In February of 1854, Mr. Brown sold his interest to A. H. Patmor, and until 1859 the firm was Tuttle & Patmor. In 1858 the proprietors were Martin Dodge and Hiram Longly.

Chicago Tribune, April 26, 1859

Another Land Mark Going.
We notice a large body of workmen have begun the attack on the Sherman House, and within a short time its topmost brick will seek the dust. Furniture is being mored out, doors and windows being carted off, gas-fittings being ripped out, solid masonry yielding, and soon it will have passed away from its prominent position as a landmark, and notable among the structures of our not very olden time. It is not very old by the “time card” of other cities, but in Chicago we live fast, and though it looks like a destruction of goodly property to level a building five stories high and one hundred feet long on each street front, still “the end,” that noble marble structure, the new Sherman House, will “justify the means.”

The present Sherman House was built in 1837 by Francis C. Sherman, Esq.. It was originally the “City Hotel”—it was a three story building one hundred feet front on Clark by fifty on Randolph. The late lamented Jacob Russel, Esq., who had been the host of the Lake House, took charge of this, the new and then crack hotel of Chicago, and we find by “Norris’ City Directory” published by Ellis & Fergus in 1844, “being the first Directory ever published in Chicago,’ that he was still landlord of the City Hotel in that year.

He was succeeded by Messrs. Squires & Williamson, and then the march of improvement gave it two more stories in height with an increased front of fifty feet on Randolph street and the late Mr. Rickords became its host. To
him succeeded other hosts, we do not attempt their fall list. Messrs. Brown & Tuttle, during their sway gave the Sherman House a wide and well-earned reputation.

It was only on the dawning of the latest era of Chicago hoteldom that the Sherman fell behind in the list of first class houses. It yielded only to more modern structures, with more complete appointments, and now as we have
said, it is retiring come out again finer than ever. The superb new structure to be commenced forthwith will be equalled by nothing west of the lakes. All rumors to the contrary notwithstanding, we are assured by Mr. Sherman that be has leased no part of the future edifice.

Chicago Tribune, December 29, 1859

City Improvements.
We learn that F. C. Sherman, Esq., owner of the Sherman House, has sold the beautiful residence south of this own, in Michigan Terrace, Michigan Avenue, to the Illinois Stone Company, taking in payment Joliet marble in sufficient quantity to rebuild the Sherman House, which will be commenced early in the spring. The new edifice to take the place of the present Sherman House, will be one of the most splendid for hotel purposes in the Western country. It will have a front on Clark street of about 200 feet, reaching to Couch Place, and about 100 feet on Randolph street, marble front, five stories high, and to be finished internally in the finest style of the art. Mr. Sherman retains his own splendid residence on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Van Buren street.

Chicago Tribune, April 30, 1860

The New Sherman House.
The process of taking down then old brick buildings and clearing the ground for the commencement of the new structure, is now being pushed forward with vigor by the contractors.

The size of the new building will be 181 feet on Clark st., 161 on Couch place and 121 feet on Randolph st. All of the front is to be built six stories high above the basement, leaving an open court in the centre. The west portion, 65×101 feet on Couch place, will be seven stories above the basement.

The style of architecture is the modern Italian. The fronts on Clark st. and Randolph st. will be fine rubbed Athens marble above the store fronts.

The basements will all be stone, with stone area steps leading to the basement. The sidewalks will be flagged with large stone flags, under which, the space will be devoted to coal vaults & c., for the use pf the stores and basements. The store fronts are to be open show windows, plate glass, divided by cast iron columns of the latest pattern with ornamental arch tops. As every 40 feet of the store fronts there will be large rustic stone piers.

The main entrance to the hotel will be on Clark st., twenty feet wide, and two stories high, which is finished with a large portico, supported by four large marble columns. This entrance, as well as the one on Randolph st., is to be finished with marble stairs and floors leading to the main reception halls, all of which are to be tiled with marble. The Registering counter, which is also to have a marble top, and clerk’s office, are lighted by skylights and located directly opposite the Clark st. entrance where all the arrivals by carriages, together with baggage will enter.

On the right of the main entrance is the ladies; entrance, so that gentlemen with ladies, arriving together, can enter together, and the ladies pass into the reception room and the gentlemen pass at once to the registry desk. At the south end of the main reception hall, which is 31 by 131 feet, is a public entrance from Randolph street, more particularly calculated for pedestrians and private citizens. All these entrances are in full view of the clerk’s office, on either side of which are grand stairways leading to the upper stories, one for the gentlemen and one for the ladies. Immediately adjoining the ladies’ stairway, and near the ladies’ parlors, is an arrangement for a vertical rail-car for the purpose of conveying passengers to the upper stories. In addition to this, there are two other railways, one for carrying up baggage, and the other for carrying fuel. This last passes up through the kitchen, and will be found very useful in that department. The west portion of the building, fronting on Couch place, 63 by 101 feet, is arranged entirely for the hotel. The basement, first and second stories are devoted to the culinary department, including fuel cellars, store room, larder, ice cool room, pastry and bake room, laundry, steam boilers, and drying, ironing and airing rooms, etc., with all the necessary appendages, stairways and halls sufficient to make all parts conveniently accessible. Immediately adjoining the main kitchen, and on the same floor, which is the office floor of the hotel, is the grand dining hall, 40 by 100 feet, adjoining which is the ladies’ ordinary, 25 by 65 feet, connected with the main dining room by folding doors. At the other end of the main dining hall is a private dining or tea room, 35 by 40 feet, connected by sliding doors, so that on extra occasions all three of the dining rooms can be opened together, affording capacity for dining about 700 persons at one time.

These Dining Halls are entered by three separate halls, each wide and spacious, leading from the main reception Hall.

In front of these apartments, on Clark street, and Randolph street, are the Public Rooms of the Hotel, Gentlemen’s and Ladies’ Parlors, Reception Rooms, Writing and Reading Rooms, Chess Room, Private Office, Private Bar Room, Baggage Room, Wash Room, and Entrance to Water Closet building, which is a separate round building in the hollow square or open court. The said building is to be five stories high, and made accessible from the different floors, divided proportionately for gentlemen, ladies, servants, and for the stores, all the different apartments being entirely separate on the different floors.

The private parlors on each floor are arranged with connecting chambers with dressing and bath rooms attached, and every desirable convenience.

The second floor of the Hotel is divided mainly into suites of private parlors and bed rooms, all of which are large and thoroughly ventilated. The main halls are 10 feet wide, and the others 8 feet wide, which extent to the outside walls, admitting light and a full draught or air. In addition to these and other modes of ventilation, there are large registers located in the floors and ceilings at different places of the several halls from the the first floor to the top and out to the roof.

From the main hotel floor there are four commodious flights of stairs leading to the upper stories of the house. The third floor is divided mainly like the second. The fourth, fifth and sixth are divided into smaller single rooms, which are well supplied with water and conveniences fir heating every room. Most of the rooms on the several floors are united by doors, so that two or more rooms can be used together if desirable.

The seventh story over the west portion, on Couch Place, will be used for servants’ rooms.

On the sixth floor there will be two large reservoirs for water, to supply the Hotel, which are supplied with water by force pumps.

There will be an arrangement at different places on each floor for attaching a hose in case of a fire in any part of the building.

The arrangements for cooking, heating, and washing are on a liberal scale, and steam will be used extensively for all these purposes. There are 300 rooms in the hotel portion of the building, all well lighted and thoroughly ventilated and warmed. There are 11 stores and 11 basements, fronting on Clark and Randolph streets.

In the erection and furnishing of the building the following details have entered:

The contracts for the heaviest portion of the works have been awarded ton the following persons or firms, viz:

The cut stone work and cast iron work are already nearly completed. The erection of the building will be commenced as soon as the ground area can be cleared, and progress as fast as the safety and permanency of such a work can be executed, all of the same to be done in the most thorough and permanent manner.

Chicago Tribune, May 1, 1860

THE NEW SHERMAN HOUSE.—Most obviously it should have been stated, in connection with the elaborate sketch of the new Sherman House, published in our last issue, the architect of the noble edifice is W. W. Boyington, Esq. By a revoking inadvertence this omission made our account thus far incomplete. We make the correction less forMr. Boyington’s sake than ti fill out the item of news just now deservedly prominent, as referring to an enterprising of a class and nature which is both to do honor and prove of a sterling service to our city. As an architect in Chicago, Mr. Boyington may well borrow from Sir Christopher Wren, “Si monumentum quaeris,: &c., or literally translated, if you wish to know what I have been about, look at Michigan Terrace, the new Sherman House, and blocks on blocks of marble stores and first class dwellings by the score. Mr. Boyington is a modest man and does not say all this, but the buildings themselves speak for him.

The superb new Sherman House will prove an honor alike to Hon. F. C. Sherman, and to those to whom he was entrusted its erection.

Chicago Tribune, January 4, 1861

The new Sherman House built for F. C. Sherman, commenced on May 1st. Will be opened in May of the present year. Cost $200,000: 181 feet on South Clark by 160 on Randolph street, both fronts of Athens marble. Throughout a first class structure. W. W. Boyington architect.

Chicago Tribune, July 8, 1861

Certain private enterprises are very elosely identified with general public interests, and none more so than the numerous immense hotel establishments which give a character to life in our American cities, These hotels are peculiarly our national institution, and their erection and keeping have taken a prominent place among our fine arts. To “keep a hotel” has become a phrase epitomizing a vast amount of sagacity, forethought, taste, generosity, hospitality, and, good judgment, It is not every man who “can keep a hotel,” and those to whom this gift is awarded receive and deserve high commendation.

Among the chief incidents of a year, than which none closer in money matters has been in our city, early in the “Battle Summer,” when the war on rebels and “stump-tail” banks had deranged business and given a new aspect to our ordinarily brisk city life, it will be long remembered in the annals of this period, that, despite all outward and disheartening circumstances, the beautiful and complete hotel establishment, the new Sherman House, was finished and put in full commission.

Not many years ago, as we reckon years in Chicago, of a party entering the city by stage, an elderly lady was asked where she intended to stop. Said the thrifty and economic dame, “Those who are grand will go to the Sherman House, but the————is good enough for me.” But the times progressed. A railroad came, and then another, and another, until from her centre Chicago sent out and received her teeming freight and passenger trains, to and. from, all throughout the Northwest. She grew and made wide her borders, and in her progress the Sherman House, once the haunt of “those who were grand,” to use the old lady’s phrase, fell behind in the list of hotels, and became second class.

One advantage remained to the old Sherman, its newer and more pretentious rivals could not cope with—position. Its location was par excellence the best in the city. Fronting on the public square, almost equally convenient of access from the three Divisions, this was something that was not easily overtopped.

Hon. F. C. Shermun isn’t an old man, not by no means. You may search throughout our list of active citizens, and you shall not see him surpassed among our live men, and yet he has seen one five-story hotel he has built grow old, “as a tale that is told,” and then, even in a time when trade grew sluggish in its channels, and business men looked blankly at one another, and the notes of war cam first muttering, then outspoken- just at that time Mr. Sherman had the enterprise, the sagacity, and what was more important, the capital, to avail himself of the low rates labor and material, and replace the structure he had seen grow old, with a hotel the finest in the Northwest.

Every city depends much for its character abroad upon the first impressions made upon ite visitors by its hotels, and in this respect the opening and inauguration of the New Sherman House becomes an important local event, well wortby the attention of journalists. That our citizens recognise it as such is amply tested by the fact that as we write, the whole vast pile, over the way from our office, is for the first time brilliantly lighted up through all its stories, while from the open windowe, issue pleasantly upon the summer evening the hum of voices, and the notes of song, our citizens and their dames, in eager and pleased throngs press in every direction through the grest establishment, admiring its apartments, testing the grand pianos the parlors, and making every story vocal with their presence. It is estimated that from seven to eight thousand people have visited the New Sherman on this its opening day. since 9 o’clock A. M.

But these, large as the number is, are only small share of the number who are interested to know of the Sherman and its chief characteristics, standing as it does the representative of half a million dollars in value. For these others, a brief description will be better than nothing, and is due from us.

And just let us chronicle the the fact that the Sherman, constructed of its finest building stones stands over against a building, the Court House, built not a decade since stone brought from Lockport, New York, cause in the view of the builders of that Illinois had no suitable dimension stone for public edifice. Thiek of that and then admire the Athens marble brought hither twenty chert miles by canal boat from inexhaustible quarries.

The first of May, 1860, saw the first attack for demolition opened upon the old Sherman House, and though strongly built, it melted away like a card castle under the large force of workmen employed. In the work of struction, as in the subsequent processes erection, Mr. Sherman was everywhere careful supervisor and superintendent. material was wasted that could be used in construction, none lost that could prove value in the new structnre. Vast mounds old bricks were built along the sidewalks the fronts, immense piles of lumber, culled out for a new use, were stored ready to hand, and when all was cleared away, and the broad foundation stones deeply laid, all the livelong summer the great pile went steadily up. It was all enclosed by the time winter set in, when Spring opened the present year, the completion of its interior was commenced. was finished last week. Now for a few ares. Numerical details are dry, with thermometer in the nineties. Those of readers who desire can skip them here. We chose to give them place.

The new Sherman House is six stories fronting 180 feet on South Clark, by 150 on Randolph street, the latter overlooking the Public Square. Beneath the whole building are lefty and dry basements and cellars, well-ligtted and admirable for business poses on the street fronts. The material finely wrought, Athens marble. The style plain, yet with sufficient character to answer the purposes of art, in which it stands classed as handeome and appropriate for its class structures.

A bold and striking cornice gives excellent effect to both fronts. The entire cost of the building is a little over $200,000, with the land $350,000. The furniture appointments swells the sum to a grand of over $450,000. In the erection and furnishing of the building the following details hare entered:

The portico of the principal entrance Clark street, occupying 24 feet front and stories high, is supported by four marble columns and Anteas, with richly foliated composite capitals, upon which rest a rich entablature, cornice and balcony.

There is also a separate ingress for ladies on Clark street. Also a main entrance on Randolph street. The main story or ground being occupied principally for stores on two steeet fronts, they have been finished with open fronts of ornamental cast iron els faced columns, separated every 40 feet heavy marble piers vermiculated faces in rustic points. The iron columns have carved capitals and semicircle arches spandrells supporting the frieze and cornice the store fronts upon which rests an iron in cony extending entirely the length of fronts. Both street fronts are divided three sections. The corners and divisions finished with heavy rustic drains, by means of which the fronts have a more graceful proportion than it would otherwise been The cornice also divided on into sections and finish varied at corner sections, which are decorated with bold lions’ heads, neatly carved, whilst middle sections are finished in the same general style of detail, omitting the carved faces. The upper line of the building and the divisions of the fronts, contribute to the general impression of gracefulness and classic which the structure leaves upon the mind. will

Passing through the various entrances trip before mentioned, the main floor of the house is reached by easy flights of marble of ways, the principal flight of which from Clark street, and undoubtedly excels anything of the kind in any hotel at this country. The landings of the various stairways are all in full view of the business office, which is located directly in front the principal entrance from Clark street, and creeds from the side of the spacious business will exchange, leaving a clear space in width feet, broken only by the stairways near ends of the rotunda, one flight of which is for the ladies and the other for gentlemen, both leading directly to the upper at and made of oak. There is also a private entrance from Couch place through an archway which leads to the open court. This entrance is so arranged that invalids or infirm can be landed directly from the carriage to the steam car which will be constantly in operation to convey guests from one floor to another, and thereby obviating the objections to going up long flights of stairs. The main stairways, howaver, are rendered very easy, as they have two rets between the floors. There are also two separate flights of servants’ stairways, extending the entire height of the building, making four separate flights from the bottom to the top of the building, and six flights part of the way up.

From the main reception hall there are three spacious corridors, two of which lead directly to the main dining room, 40×108 feet, ladies’ ordinary, 25×60 feet, private dining and breakfast rooms, 26×40 feet, one to the public bar and smoking and servant room, 40×50 feet, through which you pass to the billiard room on the floor above, 40×80 feet, containing ten tables. Besides the rooms on the main floor above mentioned, there is a ladies’ reception room, directly at the landing of this, with dressing room adjoining, all particularly fitted up for the convenience of ladies alighting from dusty cars or carriages. Adjoining this reception room is a large private reading room for ladies; also, a large public parlor for ladies, .25×40 feet, opening out from which is a ladies’. enclosed observation balcony, which is finished over the principal entrance on Clark street, projecting five feet over the sidewalk and eight feet back into the building, forming a room 13×20 feet, which is lighted on the front, sides and interior, and gives a full view up and down Clark street, as well as a full view into the main business hall, affording fine opportunity of viewing the busy and enlivening scenes on one of our principal thoroughfares.

Gentlemen’s Conversation Parlor. 25×40; do Reading and Writing Room, all fronting on Clark street. On this floor is the proprietor’s private office, a general wash room for gentlemen, a coat room appropriately fitted up for coats. Packages and umbrellas can be safely deposited, also a safe built into the walls of the business office. Telegraph office, News stand, and two large, spacious parlors for guests requiring business accommodations on the main floor, one of which has a large bedroom, bath, and dressing room attached. Also on the same floor, and in rear of the main dining room, are the carving room, 10x 40 feet, kitchen, 22×60 feet, dish room, 20×22 for silver, glass, china, and fruit closets. The main kitchen is supplied with one of the most complete sets of European cooking ranges, roasters, broilers, and toast and hot cake bakers that can be found in any hotel in the country, which were furnished by the celebrated house of Bramhall, Dane & Co., of New York; also large copper steam vegetable, fish and meat boilers.

The main range is 25 feet long, arranged with canopies, formed so as to catch the from the various cooking, which are connected with large funnels leading directly to the large, open ventilator which leads directly to the top of the building, 90 feet high. This ventilator is very large and open at the bottom, also arranged so as to receive the surplus heat and other fumes of the kitchen and conduct them entirely out free to the top of the building, thereby preventing the escape into other parts of the house.

The roasting is to be done before an open grate coal fire and the spits are turned by a small steam engine set in the kitchen, which secures an even roast on all sides.

The carving table is made entirely of iron, twenty feet long, with fifteen enameled carving dishes for meats and gravies, all kept hot by steam. Hot cupboards for plates are also arranged in the carving room, so that in no instance need there be any reasonable excuse for serving cold dishes or meats.

All other culinary departments are arranged on the ground floor, below the dining roomsuch as the scullery, main store room, confectionery and bake rooms, laundry, drying, ironing and airing rooms, servants’ dining room, private servants’ dining room, together with all the necessary appendages for each and every part, well fitted up.

In the basement, directly below the last named apartments, are arranged large refrigerators with extensive rooms attached for curing meats, and keeping milk, butter and fruit cool, all thoroughly ventilated. Also fuel rooms, vegetable and wine cellars, engine, boiler and steam force and fire pump, rooms and machinery for driving the steam car and other machinery of the House.

All merchandise of every description is received on Couch Place, where the scales are arranged for weighing and inspecting by the Receiver, in large and small amounts, before he certifies to the bills for payment.

The first floor above the main Hotel is divided on Clark and Randolph streets, into suites of family rooms, parlors 16×25 feet, bed rooms each side, with baths and dressing-rooms attached, large sized, and fitted up with all the modern improvements. Each room thoroughly ventilated.

The rooms on Couch Place, rear and open courts, ere divided into suites of rooms, good sized—20 feet deep, part with two windows each, and part with only one. Water is introduced into each chamber, and all the rooms are light and available.

The next floor above is divided into suites of rooms quite similar to the one just described, with water introduced and arranged in the came way.

The fifth and sixth floors are divided mainly into the same sized and suites of rooms; water, however, is only introduced on the fifth floor.

All the corridors are large, 7, 8, and 10 feet wide, well-ventilated and lighted. Nearly every room in the building, large or small, is furnished with open fire-grates and mantles. The stories are high, 16, 12, 11, 10, and 10 feet between joints. The 7th floor is all separate and away from the guests’ portion of the House. The floors are nearly all deadened and corridors carpeted, so that the movements on one floor cannot disturb those of another floor.

To the following named firms and persons is credit due for these splendid results:

With this detail, the building stands complete, and we are sure it will give our city readers satisfaction to notice that Mr. Sherman has not had, nor has he taken occasion to go abroad to find his contractors for the larger share of his outlay. The last named firm, Messrs. Lawrence, Wilde & Co., a leading and old established Boston House, have in their contract, put in carpets, furniture, upholstery, mirrors, (these last at a cost of $20,000,) and kitchen and table wares, all of a rich and excellent style and quality.

The eight elegant stores elegant stores on Clark street are occupied by Thayer, Druggist; New York and Erie R.R. ticket office; Brewster, Hatter; Daniels, Cigar and Tobacco; Michigan Southern R.R. ticket office; Sloats’ Sewing Machines; Alexander & Co., Bankers; Singer’s Sewing Machine depot. The four stores on Randolph have as present occupants, the Cincinnati Air Line R.R Co.; and Giovani Frazza, Hair Dresser. In the basement, among other business places, lovers of lager and fine Rhine wines will find Best & Co. wuth their saloons and wine vaults.

Now we come to the live occupants and managers of the establishment, and we have done. Perhaps ere this our readers have already deserted us. We think, however, they will follow us to the ending if learning, as we shall assure them, that the Sherman is in adequate hands.

Messrs. Roberts & Sherman, the latter a son of the proprietor, are the lessbes. P. B. Roberts is a successful railroad man, recently from Peoria. They have connected with its management Samuel Hawk, Esq., late of the Richmond, who can keep a hotel, and W. S. Hughes, of liberal and successful experience in the same direction, in hotels of Cape May and Philadelphia. These gentlemen are assisted by Messrs. Kellogg of Peoria,and Rice of Albany.

So passes into its place in history, and into its rank among the institutions of this city, the new Sherman House. Long may it wave.

History of Chicago; Its Commercial and Manufacturing Interests and Industry, Isaac D.Guyer, 1862

Below we present a fine view of the latest and one of the grandest Palatial Hotels in, the metropolis of the West. It is a bijou of architecture and taste, and occupies one of the best sites of any hotel in Chicago. It stands on the north side of the Court House Square; its southern aspect overlooking the park with its fountains and foliage. Chicago has long been celebrated for the extent and science of her hotel keeping. But this vast and superb structure, that lifts its marble front on the corner of Clark and Randolph Streets, in the Italian order of architecture, seven stories in height counting its basement with a front on Clark and Randolph Streets of three hundred and thirty feet, and a height of ninety-six feet from the lower floor, excels all others hither to erected in the great West. It was built by the man whose name it bears, who is one of our oldest and most esteemed citizens. Standing on the corner of two great thoroughfares, it is accessible from every quarter; and when at last it was adjudged entirely complete, with the exception of a Master, whose experience, urbanity, hospitality and taste would ensure for its guests a warm and genial welcome, Mr. P. B. Roberts consented to conduct the new Hotel. A vast sum was expended upon the house itself. It was furnished with all the conveniences and luxuries of the most princely palace. The furniture is rosewood, the curtains are silk and damask, the carpets are velvet. No improvement has ever been introduced into an American hotel, which is not found here. Those who explore it, and examine all its machinery, will find that it embraces a combination of everything that the spirit of invention, taste, hospitality or elegance could suggest. Its perfect arrangements in the halls, parlors, and suits of rooms, its attendants, its exuberant larder, and its exquisite cuisine are the admiration of every guest. As to the manner in which the hotel is kept, there is but one opinion, and although so much has been written about it, and a capricious and exacting public had been led to expect everything, yet its opening so far exceeded the expectations, that it carried the public captive.

No private establishment, however expensive, can hope to equal in these particulars the accommodations, luxury and style of this Hotel; while the table, with its unrestricted field for good breeding, and good manners of every style, is a great high-school of refinement, in which the greatest boor from the country, and the most hopeless case of mauvaise honte, gets his asperities rounded off, his awkwardness smoothed away, and the wrinkles ironed out of his character and carriage. A man or woman will learn more of the world, and of that je ne sais quoi which distinguishes the cosmopolite from the countryman, by a brief residence at such a hotel, than by making the grand tour of Europe. It is in effect a very considerable approximation towards all the advantages, improvements and economies possible in the household of a rich and refined gentleman. One can live at the Sherman House in a style of the most recherche luxury, excelling anything found in any private house on any terms, and at a rate not greater than it requires to subsist in the meagerest and most common-place manner in a solitary and out-of-the-way private dwelling.

There was a degree of elegance and refinement, of harmony and taste, and yet withal of chasteness and unostentation, that the guests seemed to feel, and certainly they acted, less as though they were in a public hotel than a private palace. While this will be a grand Mecca of hospitality, it is supposed that its Master will make it the great rallying place in the North-West for the travelers from every part of our country, and from the old world, to many thousands of whom the proprietor has many years been known, for his kind, genial and generous hospitalities. Amongtheattaches, and intimately associated with the management of this house, is Mr. S. Hawk, formerly “mine host of the Richmond House,” the man whom all the West has paid its tribute, as its most distinguished hotel-keeper, and from whom he has won golden opinions. This Hotel has all the charms of home, for it has all its elements of comfort, quiet, independence and luxury.

Chicago Tribune, January 6, 1862

W. W. Boyington, Office 82 Dearborn Street.
The Sherman House, corner of Clark and Randolph streets; six stories and basement, marble front and brick walls, for Hon. F. C. Sherman. Cost $200,000; expended in 1861, $100,000.

Chicago Illustrated, June, 1866

THE SHERMAN HOUSE is the latest and most extensive of the the many grand hotels in Chicago, and in architectural beauty and convenience has no superior in the United States.

It is situated on the north-west corner of Clark and Randolph streets. Its main front is on Clark street. The building on Clark and Randolph streets is six stories and the basement. The exterior dimensions are” on Clark street 181 feet from Randolph street to Couch place; on Randolph street westwardly 161 (including the addition.)

The building is the property of the Hon. Francis C. Sherman, of Chicago, and is built upon the site of the old Sherman House. This work was commenced May 1, 1860, and the hotel was opened for visitors, July 1, 1861. The front of the building is of Athens marble, and the main entrance on Clark street is through a portico two stories high. The entrance is up a broad and easy flight of some stairs to the grand hall. Facing the entrance is the Office, which is in an alcove, and commanding a view of all the stairs leading to the upper stories.

A spacious Hall runs north and south the whole length of the building, at an average width of 30 feet. On this floor are the Parlors and Reception Rooms, which are not surpassed in size or general convenience by any similar hotel apartments in the country. The various Dining Rooms are also on this floor. The upper stories are devoted to rooms for guests, and are so arranged that they can be used singly or in suite.

The building was open for guests on the evening of July 1, 1861.

James Sheahan

Sherman House

So Water

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