Tuttle, Hibbard & Co.

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Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., Hibbard & Spencer
Location: SE corner State and Lake
Michigan ave., between Lake and Randolph
Life Span: 1855-1871
Architect:

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859-60
Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., (Nelson Tuttle, Frederick Tuttle, William G. Hibbard and George M. Gray), hardware, 32 Lake

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863-64
Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., 62 Lake

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1866
Hibbard & Spencer (William G. Hibbard and F. F. Spencer), importers and whol. dealers in hardware, 62 Lake

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1867
Hibbard & Spencer (William G. Hibbard and Frank F. Spencer), hardware, whol. 92 and 94 Michigan av.

Edwards’ City of Chicago Directory for 1870-71
Hibbard, William G. (Hibbard & Spencer), r. 851 Prairie av.
Hibbard & Spencer (William G. Hibbard and F. F. Spencer), hardware, tinplate, &c. 92 and 94 Michigan av.

PRE-FIRE HIBBARD HARDWARE HISTORY
1855 Firm of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co. founded on March 22. Store at 45 Water street.
1857 Fire destroys stock. Business resumed at 32 Lake street.
1860 Move to larger quarters at 62 Lake street.
1865 Firm name changed to Hibbard & Spencer.
1867 Business in larger quarters at 92-94 Michigan avenue.
1871 Stock burned in the Big Fire; business carried on temporarily in Mr. Hibbard’s dwelling house.

Weekly Chicago Tribune, March 5, 1857

TREMENDOUS CONFLAGRATION.-FIVE DWELLING HOUSE, BREWERY, CANDLE FACTORY, BARNS, &c. IN RUINS.-Loss, $350,000.-One the most disastrous conflagrations which has visited our city, broke out Monday morning in the eastern end of the five story brick block at corner of South Water and State streets. The fire originated as nearly as we could learn in Hale’s chair factory. The alarm was sounded as soon as possible, but owing to the unfavorable hour of the morning and the difficulty of procuring water, the flames spread rapidly and gained for the time of mastery.

The building in which it originated was occupied by Dix, Sinclair & Harris, wholesale grocers, who have lost their whole stock. They estimate their loss at $25,000, insured for $15,000. The third story was occupied by James H. Hubbard Co., dealers in gloves and furnishing This firm had just taken possession of the having purchased last week, of the former pant. Their loss is $12,000, insured $9,500. All their papers, books, &c., were lost. The chair factory, where the fire broke out, belonged Messrs. Hale & Co., and the whole stock was consumed. Their loss must be nearly $5,000, no insurance.

The fire by this time became almost uncontrollable and rapidly found its way into the adjoining store of Messrs. Tuttle & Hibbard, wholesale dealers in hardware. Their whole stock was consumed, Their stock must be near as we can ascertain worth about $150,000, insured nearly $122,000. During the burning of this store, the fire became so intense as to heat the heavy iron window shutters almost to a white heat, snapping them like flax. The beat and falling walls rendered the exertions of the firemen on Water street of no avail.

The store of Messrs. Jewett & Root, the next the block, was also totally consumed. They all their stock, which consisted of stoves. Their loss is $50,000, insured for $25,000. Messrs. Jewett & Root are dealers in Buffalo, and the branch of their business in this city was carried on by Spencer, their agent. The above value of stock according to their invoice on the 1st of January.

The fire in this direction was finally subdued by the untiring exertions of the firemen, but not the adjoining store of Messrs. Norton & Co., wholesale grocers, was thoroughly drenched water. Messrs. Turrill Haven removed the of their stock, and their damage is very slight. This block of buildings was owned by John Atwater, Esq., of Cincinnati; and Mr. Beers, of Chicago.

The ware-house opposite of A. T. Spencer & Co. was in imminent danger, but by a constant stream of water upon it for nearly two hours, was preserved.

The next building adjoining on the easterly side, was a dwelling house owned by Mrs. Carney. The walls of Messrs. Dix & Co.’s store fell upon it, crushing it to the ground and burying in the ruing a boy-a son of Mr. Joseph Ryan. It was nearly an hour before he was released, but almost by a miracle, he escaped unhurt with the exception one of his arms being injured. The inmates of the house had barely time to escape with their lives—reaching the curb-stone of the sidewalk just as the walls fell. Mrs. Carney’s loss will reach $5,000. Nothing was saved, not even clothing. Daniel McIlroy, Esq., who boarded at the house, loses about $1,500. He was untiring in his exertions, and it was to his instrumentality that many of the inmates of the house are obligated for their safety.

The next building was a brick store, occupied by James O’Neil and Ostheim & Co., liquor dealers. Mr.’O Neil loses all his stock, valued at about $80,000. No insurance. Mr. Ostheim’s loss was trifling, some large packages of cigars being damaged somewhat by water.

The fire from this point spread to the brewery of Mr. O’Neil, in the rear on the alley leading from Wabash avenue to State street. The brewery was a stone building, owned by Mrs. Carney; a large quantity of ale and beer, 1,000 bushels of malt and considerable barley were consumed. A barn adjoining, owned by Mr. Doyle, was next consumed. Loss about $500. The most of the stock was removed. Johnson’s candle factory was also burned. We have not been able to learn the loss.

On the south side of the alley, the American House took fire, but was speedily quenched. Loss by fire and water $800 to $1000. A small building occupied by Mr. Sloan as a medicine manufactory was slightly damaged. The new iron fronts on Lake street were subjected to a very intense heat for over three hours. The store occupied by Hunt & Wiggins, in this block, was damaged somewhat by fire and water.

The origin of this terrible fire is unknown.

The above losses are correct as far as we could ascertain in the excitement which prevailed. It was a disastrous blow to the business of Water street, but from the known energy of the sufferers it will be but temporary.

Chicago Tribune, February 28, 1865

HARDWARE AND METALS.
Messrs. Hibbard & Spencer, No. 63 Lake Street.
The well known firm of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., so long identified with our Western trade in hardware and metals, has dissolved partnership. The Messrs. Tuttle retire from the business, the house has changed hands; the firm will be in future “Hibbard & Spencer,” being composed of Mr. W. G. Hibbard, the second member of the late firm, and Mr. F. F. Spencer, who for ten years past has conducted the establishment of Messrs. Jewett & Root of this city.

The change merits more than a pasting notice. The firm which has now dropped into the domain of the past was one of the few pioneers of that wholesale system of business which has now attained such colossal proportions in our midst. When, ten years ago, the house opened its stores of wrought mineral wealth to the public, Chicago had just begun to grow; and though a center to which a portion of the West looked for its supplies, it filled the demand with a very small bill. But there were those who saw that that demand was destined to a rapid increase The members of the firm of Tuttle, Hibbard A Co. were among these, and determined to do their share of the building up of the now magnificent fabric of our Chicago trade. How well they have succeeded, the constantly-increasing circle of their business connections, and the annually-multiplied extant of their sales, will attest, while the safe basis on which their operations arc conducted is shown in the fact that when others were forced to contract their circle of action, or ceased altogether, this firm always exhibited a steady increase, a healthy vitality.

The new firm succeeds to the business in the hope. and with the confident expectation, of being enabled to achieve a still higher position for the house than it has yet attained. The members bring with them a long and varied experience—one extending over periods of great fluctuation in values, and change in requirement. They commence with a much larger circle of business acquaintance than was possessed by the old firm; they have a capital ample to meet all the probable—we had almost said, “all the possible”—demands to be made on it for employment; and they will renovate and enlarge greatly their stock and means pf supply. And joined to all these they commence with that invaluable stock in trade, the confidence of all who know them, a confidence to be acquired only by years of constant honor in the fulfillment of all engagements, a clear business record, without one spot or stain.

We do not therefore need to ask for the new firm a cordial reception at the hands of the community—that is already accorded. It needs to say nothing more than that the change is made, and that while the retiring members are falling back on their bard earned competency, Messrs. Hibbard & Spencer are pressing forward to fill the breach thus made. The business will be continued at the old stand. No. 63 Lake street, on the corner of State. Their stock of general hardware, cutlery and metals will be, as heretofore, unexceptionable in quality, and will be still larger in variety and fullness. They make their bow to their numerous friends this morning.

Chicago Tribune, January 27, 1867

A MODEL SAFE.-There is now on view in the new stores of Messrs. Hibbard & Spencer, Nos. 92 and 94 Michigan avenue, one of the largest and most elegant safes it has ever been our fortune to see. The safe was made expressly for Messrs. Hubbard & Spencer by Maynard Brothers of No. 47 State street, and it is a work of which both parties may well feel proud. Its weight is nearly five tons, and to those not knowing the magnitude of Messrs. H. & S.’s business it would seem ridiculously large for any one firm. Inside of the safe is a burglar-proof box, guarded by one of Yale’s Combination Locks, which are considered by many bankers to be the beet and most secure of all locks used.

Business men will be interested in inspecting this mammoth safe. The Yale lock is a wonderful piece of mechanism.

Chicago Tribune, October 9, 1872

Hibbard & Spencer
The firm of Hibbard & Spencer, located at Nos. 92 and 94 Michigan avenue at the time of the fire, were very heavy losers, having a very large stock in the five stories of their double store, the whole of which was ruined. But they owed comparatively nothing, and commenced to pay their bills as presented, on the fifth day sifter the fire. The firm erected a frame building on the late front within twenty days, at a cost of $20,000, and commenced business the moment it was ready for occupancy, though, of course, on a smaller scale than previously. From that time to the present their business has increased, steadily, but rapidly, till it is now not far from 60 per cent greater than a year ago.

Hibbard & Spencer have recently removed into their new building. Nos. 30 and 32 Lake street, on the corner of Wabash avenue, where they have much better accommodations than ever. They have six full stories, including the basement, each 48 feet front by 140 fees in depth, the whole fitted up in substantial manner, with especial reference to the facilitating of business, and fitted with a most magnificent stock that is certainly not excelled, if equaled, on this continent.

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