Chicago Evening Post, October 2, 1868
The incredulous stranger who has heard much about the remarkable growth of Chicago, but is inclined to make a large deduction from the statements, for local exaggeration, need only come here and spend an hour or two in a ride or a walk about our streets to be compelled to admit that the whole had not been told him. Even our own citizens, who see the labor of building going on upon almost every street, do not realize its extent, because they see only scattered instances of the numbers of structures that are going up all the large area of twenty-six square miles within the city limits—to say nothing of the immense number of suburban structures which are in progress—and it is only by a collocation of facts and figures gathered by patient labor that the grand total can be raised.
The Post a few weeks since published series of articles enumerating the principle structures which, at the close of the year 1868, would be added to the city, showing that the number would not be far from six thousand, and their value not less than ten millions of dollars. Since that time the process of building has gone rapidly on; many structures have been completed, many others have been commenced, and the appearance of our streets has changed in an almost incredible manner—so that a citizen returning from his summer vacation finds himself confronted with towering business blocks and handsome residences, and costly churches, of whose existence he was before ignorant. To set this astonishing growth in clearer light, we propose to take the reader on a walk over the little area in the South Division, hardly over a third of a mile square, bounded by South Water, Monroe, Michigan avenue and Franklin streets, and by actual enumeration show him the number of business structures that are now actually in process of erection, or have been completed within very few weeks. In this we shall not go back to the numerous buildings erected the spring and early summer, for they have already become old in the Chicago manner of estimating age. Those mentioned here are in most cases such as make their newness or incompleteness known by the impediments which they place upon street locomotion. If the spectator remembers that the city proper is seven miles long and from three to four miles wide exclusive of the vast outlying region peopled by our business that the same process, in a less extensive and costly degree is going on all over it, will see that indisputable facts support our assertions, and that the growth of this city is indeed unparalleled. Subsequent articles may make similar note of the work of erection in other sections of the city.
In this little centre, five blocks long seven blocks wide, we are prepared show that there are to day in process erection, or but just completed, over fifty business blocks of from one to eight buildings each, amounting in value to nearly three and a half millions of dollars. We will take each street within the bounds mentioned and enumerate the new structures as far as possible. Some may, perhaps, omitted which should have place in the list, but the figures are very nearly complete,
Michigan Avenue.
On the west side near Rush street, a four story and basement brick building, 24×60 feet in size, has been put up for Messrs. Larned & Arnold. Its cost was $9,500, and it is already occupied.
On the east side, between Lake and Randolph streets, Messrs. Henry and Edward C. Schoelkoft and Jerome Beecher are having a block of four first-class wholesale stores built. The block is 96×124 feet, stories high, Athens stone front. It cost $90,000, and is to be completed about six weeks.
On the northwest corner of Lake street a large wholesale store is in progress for Arthur L. Rich. It is of pressed brick front, with stone trimmings, four stories high, costs about $15,000, and will be ready for use within fifteen days.
Adjoining this on the west, C. H. Cormick is erecting a store 25×130 feet size, and four stories high. Like the other it is of pressed brick with stone trimmings, and costs $17,000. The whole block be finished within fifteen days, and part it is already occupied.
Between Lake and Randolph streets is brick store, with freestone trimmings, 27x 127 feet in size, building for Thomas Hoyne, five stories in height, costing $18,000. will be completed by the 1st of December.
Wabash Avenue.
On the east side, between Randolph and Washington streets, two stores are being built for the High estate. Their size is 48×163 feet and five stories in height. They run through to Dearborn place. They have Athens stone front and will cost $70,000. They are inclosed and will be finished by the first of December.
Adjoining this block, Mr. J. K. Botsford is building a fine marble front block, five stories high, which will cost $42,000.
Adjoining this, Judge Fuller has built handsome marble front, consisting in part of his former residence, and worth, probably, $40,000.
All these fine blocks extend to Dearborn Place, having a double frontage and very great depth. One or two others are contemplated in their immediate locality, but the facts cannot be given.
On the northwest corner of Madison street and the avenue, a brick block four stories, containing four stores. fronting on Madison street, with an entrance the avenue. Cost, perhaps, $20,000.
State Street.
This street, which is destined to become the great business artery of the South Division, has made immense strides this year, and on the whole can take the palm in spect to the cost and elegance of its new buildings.
The most expensive and magnificent business edifice in Chicago is Potter Palmer’s palace, on the northeast corner State and Washington streets. It commenced in the spring and is now ready for occupancy. It was erected at cost of about $300,000, has a front of Connecticut marble, elaborately ornamented, and is in all respects the greatest business ornament of the city. A full description of it appeared in The Post a short time ago.
Diagonally opposite is the First National bank building, on the southwest corner. This is an elaborately carved marble front, will be six stories in height, and 56×85 feet in size. It will be fire proof, and is built in the most solid and costly manner, all in good taste, and forming a pleasant contrast to the plain fronts of most of our business block. The cost the structure will be $185,000. The walls are nearly up and it will be ready for occapancy before January 1st.
Adjoining on the south two immense marble-front, five-story block, separated by an alley, were completed for Potter Palmer few months ago, at a cost about $200,000.
Opposite these are the massive buildings of Frank Sturges and Peter Page, which will be five stories high and 96×16 feet in size. They are marble fronts, and the glass in the first floor will be 7×13 feet in size, The iron and stone work are particularly elegant, and the structure will cost $130,000, and will be done by January 1st. The side and back walls are up.
On the northeast corner of Madison street a small brick fruit store was completed during the summer, worth perhaps $3,000.
Near Washington, Messrs. Williams and Ferry are building fine marble front block, 48×150, and five stories high. This will, also, be an elegant block, costing $65,000, and will be ready for occupation, January 1st.
Dr. E. Judson has a marble front store going up on State, between Washington and Madison streets. This is 25×150 feet, five stories high, and is finished in first class style, cost $35,000, and will also be completed by the 1st of January.
Mr. Thomas Otis has a brick store on State street, south of Madison, that cost $15,000, and is already finished.
The Chicago market now having its first story put up, on the corner of State and Adams streets, is a little out of the space be referred to. It is being built for mentioned at the commencement, but Messrs. Schureman & Melick. The building is of pressed brick, and will cost $30,000. It is to be divided into stalls like the market upon the opposite corner, order which has proved so popular. The late the Common Council will make it necessary to take down a portion of this building on State street. It had not reached the third story in height. It will be completed by November 1st.
Dearborn Street.
The long projected theatre on Dearborn street is at length commenced, and will make rapid strides heaven ward. It is on lots No. 111 and 113, between Washington and Madison streets, on the east side of Dearborn. It is being built by Mr. D. R. Brandt, and its dimensions are 50×150 feet, and four stories high. The material is brick, the front being in brown in imitation of brown stone, with an ornate cornice. The auditorium will be 20 feet from the street, will be 50 feet wide and I00 feet deep and will accommodate 1,500 people. The entrance is to be 17 feet high and 14 feet wide, and on each side will be stores.
On the side near Madison street, is the cut stone front building of Walter Collins. It is four stories high, 40×80 feet in size and cost $16,000. It is already occupied.
On the northeast corner of Madison have risen the marble walls of the splendid Tribune building, which is one of the finest and most massive in the city. Its dimensions are 72×121, and four stories height. It is entirely fire-proof, and will cost $190,000. It will possibly be completed for occupancy by the 1st of January. Its walls are up, and the roof being put on.
Near Monroe street, Mr. T. S. Fitch has erected a brick block, 33×48 feet, and three stories high, at a cost of $6,000. The inside work is all that remains to be done.
Clark Street.
Clark street has been more highly favored with new, and at the same time elegant and substantial buildings, than in any previous year for a long tame. This thoroughfare has been noted for its rows of small wooden buildings, and it is certainly gratifying to the well-wisher of Chicago to see this class of structures giving way to the finer ones.
It is now safe to mention, as very soon to be commenced, the large addition to the Court House, which is to be built by the county, to front east upon Clark street. It will be 130 feet long and 80 feet wide, the Italian style, probably of Lockport, New York, marble, though this has not been decided upon, and will cost about $200,000. This wing, in connection with similar one on the west side, for the use of the city, will form part of the contemplated new Court House, to cost something near $2,000,000—the old central building being eventually removed. It is expected that the foundations will be completed before winter sets in.
Opposite the court house, Mr. Campbell is building a marble front store, the dimensions of which are 22×140 feet, and four stories high. It has a mansard roof, and very neat and tasty, cost $20,000, and will be finished Nov. 1st.
Near Monroe, on Clark street, Mr. E. Henshaw has a block of stores going up, 45×100 feet, five stories high, of brick, with stone trimmings, that will cost $30,000. will be ready for occupation before winter sets in.
The entire east front, between Quincy and Jackson streets, is to be devoted to block of eight stores, built by Messrs. Seth Gage and C. P. McCay. They will 60×188 feet and five stories high. They are to be of red pressed brick, with stone trimmings, have an ornamental galvanized tron cornice, and balustrade on the roof. The cost will be $125,000.
Messrs. H. & A. Keeps are building marble fronts, on Clark, near Monroe street, four stories high, each 24×96 feet, which will cost $28,000.
Two stores on Clark, near Monroe street, are nearly completed. They are built by Messrs. Page & Hunt, Henning & Speed, at a cost of $35,000. They are tour stories in height, and fifty feet wide, with cut stone front.
Adjoining the above, R. Freeman erecting three stores, 22×90 feet each, four stories high, to cost $34,000.
Also, in the same block, Mrs. Ellen Cunningham is having a marble front four-story building put up. It is 25×90 feet, costs $15,000, and, in connection with those just mentioned, makes the finest block Clark street.
La Salle Street.
This splendid thoroughfare, the Wall street of Chicago, has received wonderful improvements during the past year. Such buildings as the magnificent Union, Mercantile and Oriental buildings, the Major Block, the Otis Block, and the brick block on the northwest corner of Madison, which were completed only a few months and the work still goes on. The following fine structures are enumerated:
The West wing of the Court House be built for the use of the city, will soon be commenced. It corresponds mainly with the East wing already mentioned, but be more expensive, costing about $250,000. It will make a very handsome and imposing addition to LaSalle street.
On the corner of Washington street, splendid Merchants’ Insurance building slowly rising. Its dimensions are 96½x111 1-6, and four stories high. It will be a marble front, finely ornamented, and is be used exclusively for insurance offices. It will cost $200,000, and be finished by the 1st of June next.
Adjoining, on the north, a first-class fice for Mesers. Baird & Bradley, is course of erection. It will be five stories high, with cut stone front, and costing $28,000.
The Boone block, on the east, side, north of Madison street, is destined to be a great addition to LaSalle street. It is a marble front, and the dimensions are 53×93 feet, and four stories in height. The cost $50,000. It will not be ready for occupation until the middle of December.
The additions to Major’s Block, and the erection of Andrews’s Block, adjoining, form one of the finest blocks on LaSalle street. These edifices are near Madison street. The addition to the Major Block is of stone front, finished like the original, and cost $30,000. Andrews’s block is a continuation of Major’s, being the same style, finish and material, and cost $40,000. The two buildings make a continuous row from Madison street to the alley. The doorway in the center of the building finely ornamented, and the cap on the roof gives it a finished look.
Wells Street.
On Wells street not so much is doing, but the old frame rookeries are steadily giving place to substantial and in most cases handsome structures.
On the corner of this and Randolph streets Messrs. Sloss & Espert are erecting a building 61×127, and four stories high. The Randolph street front will be of Athens stone, and the Wells street of pressed brick. The cost is $70,000, and will be completed by December 1st. It is already enclosed.
Taking the east and west streets across the proposed section, we find some further buildings going up.
South Water Street.
Between Clark and Dearborn streets,a brick warehouse 36×64 feet and five stories high, that cost $17,000, has just been built by A. N. Fullerton.
On South Water st., between State st. and Wabash avenue, Mr. Forsyth building a store 22×125 feet in size and four stories high, of brick, with stone cape. It will be completed by January first.
Lake Street.
We find a marble front store 24×140, and five stories high, between Michigan and Wabash avenues, built for Jan. H. Dickinson, at a cost of $26,000. This is on portion of the site of the great fire last winter. It is already finished.
H. A. Kohn & Brothers have built two stores, also on the burned district, between Wabash and Michigan avenues; stone front, 66×116, and five stories high. These cost $56,000, and are finished.
Dr. J. H. Foster is building a marble front store near Wells street 10×165, and four stories high. It will cost $40,000, enclosed, and will be ready for occupation in six weeks.
Messrs. Sawyer & Butterfield are erecting a marble front store on Lake street, between Wabash and Michigan avenues, four stories high, and to cost $45,000. They will be finished in about four weeks.
Randolph Street.
Messrs. Jackson & Witkowsky are building four stores on Randolph street, near Wells street, four stories high, cut stone, which will cost $22,000. They are inclosed and will be finished in six weeks.
The Dearborn block, on Randolph, lately completed for W. A. Butters & Co., is a brick building, four stories high, 80×85 feet, costs $44,000, and is great addition that part of the city.
Washington Street.
The Mechanics’ Building Company have built a banking and insurance building on Washington street, between LaSalle and Wells street, which is stone and four stories high. This cost $40,000.
Reid’s building, adjoining the Union building, on Washington near LaSalle street, almost completed, is a fine edifice. It is a stone front, five stories high. 61×75 feet dimensions. It will be finished in the best style and costs $40,000.
Madison Street.
On Madison street, the building occupied by The Post and Staats Zeitung is almost completed. It is four stories high, and divided into two buildings—that fronting on Madison street being a marble front, finely finished, and that fronting on the Post of lice court, of brick. It is built by Rosenfeld & Rosenberg, and cost $55,000.
J. A. Morrison has nearly completed a brick block between Dearborn and Clark streets, that is four stories high.
Messrs. Andrews & Bros., have just completed a marble front store, adjoining the The Post building, 22×190 feet deep—making it the deepest store in the city. Cost $17,000.
The great structure of the Young Men’s Christian Association—Farwell Hall—has arisen from the ashes of the great fire of last winter, and the roof is now going on. The hall is 120 by 88 feet in size, of brick with stone trimmings, and will cost, on its completion, January 1st, about $120,000.
Calhoun Place.
Mr. Morrison is building two stores on Calhoun place that are of brick, four stories high, and will be completed within sixty days. Also, on Calhoun place, O. Lunt and Waite & Towne have nearly finished a block; of brick and costing $14,250.
The Inference.
When the reader has considered the immense which addition these to our business and population simple figures indicate, he will be better able to appreciate the corresponding growth all over the city, of which the business center is only a small part. And the fact these many and costly buildings are not erected on wild speculation without return, is shown by the fact that almost every one of them is rented long before its completion and in some cases before ground is broken for its erection,.
Chicago Evening Post, December 31, 1868
BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS.
Does the reader realize that since the first day of January last, residences, business blocks, churches and school houses have been erected here sufficient to constitute a city as as any two or three other cities in the State–as many as the whole number in a place like Memphis, or nearly half as many as the whole number in Milwaukee or Detroit? Yet so the architects’ books and careful computation made by different su| thorities say. Some eight thousand now structures of various kinds it is estimated have arisen in this short space of time, at cost of from fifteen to twenty millions of dollars! It is a hopeless task to attempt to enumerate a tithe of the most costly ones, but a very few may be mentioned,;
Twenty-five churches, completed or commenced, worth $10,000.
Armour & Doles’ mammoth elevator, capacity, 1,250,000 bushels; cost $400,000.
The Young Men’s Christian Association building. $130,000.
Insurance building,, near corner LaSalle and Washington streets. $52,000.
Commercial Building, LaSalle & Lake streets. $50,000.
Several public school houses costing $40,000 each or more.
Palmer’s Palace, corner of State and Washington. Nearly $500,000.
First National Bank, diagonally opposite Tribune building corner Madison and Dearborn streets.
Block of stores by Sturges, Page and others, on State street, south of Washington, near $500,000. Etc., etc., etc.
Leave a Reply