Tuttle, Hibbard & Co.

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Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., Hibbard & Spencer, Clark, Whitehouse & Co.
Location: 32 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.

Buel, Hill, Granger & Co.

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.

Chicago Tribune, April 24, 1855

CO-PARTNERSHIP.
The undersigned have this day formed a co-partnership under the firm and style of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co., for the transaction of the Wholesale Hardware business, at No. 45 South Water street. Nelson Tuttle, Wm. G Hibbard, George M. Gray, Frederick Tuttle.—Chicago, March 22, 1855

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.

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