Hotel May, Charles Kappmeier, bookseller
Location: Wells street, near Randolph st
Life Span: ~1857-1871
Architect: Unknown
- D. B. Cooke’s City Directory of Chicago, 1859
Hotel May, Gustavus May and George Glascoff, proprs, 76 and 78 S. Wells
Halpin & Bailey’s Chicago City Directory, 1863
Beckers Augustus C., City Plumbing Works, 78 S. Wells, bds. Briggs House.
Kappmeser Charles, stationery, 78½ S. Wells
- Hotel May
1858
Western Railroad Gazette. June 23, 1860
GREAT BARGAINS. -Wm. Butters of “Butters & Co.” has been cutting it remarkably fat in the way of auctioneering lately. He has cleaned out the Revere establishment, and is now engaged hard a work at “May’s Hotel” selling off its contents like “hot cakes” at extremely low figures. Household goods and furriture don’t bring as good prices at this season as earlier in the Spring or later in the Fall, but this is to the advantage of the buyer, and the seller must submit to the sad fate of being knocked down “for a song.” To-day Butters finishes May’s Hotel. Crowds bid yesterday, and crowds will get bargains there to-day.
Chicago Tribune, October 12, 1861
MIDNIGHT ALARM.
Fire in the Hotel May.
At a few minutes before one o’clock this morning, flames were discovered bursting out of the basement of the Hotel May, on Wells street, and a cry of “fire” aroused the bellman to call our department to the scene. It appeared to be a serious case at first. The fire had got possession of the bar-room, kitchen and store-room, under the hotel, filling the neighborhood for several squares with dense smoke.
All our steam fire engines were drawn to the spot, and often as they have proved their efficiency before, they never gave more signal proof of it than last night. By half past 1 o’clock the flames were thoroughly subdued, and a great calamity averted.
The Hotel May is adjacent to the Metropolitan, and was only a few months since leased by Mr. Skinner, proprietor of the latter, and brought under one management. The loss to him, and to the owner of the property, Mr. Haddock, it is impossible to estimate, except at a rough guess, An insurance, however, is good for the amount.
The lodgers in the Metropolitan were aroused, and came running out, en dishabile, bringing their loose baggage with them. The hotel was for a while a scene of great excitement, and no porters were needed to bring down the baggage that was accumulated in the hall. A fire in a large hotel is not pleasant to contemplate to those in the house.
- Hotel May, next door south of the Metropolitan Hotel.
- Hotel May
Map of the Business Portion of Chicago
1862
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