1846-1849 Buildings
Life Span: 1846-Various
Location: Several
Architect: John M. Van Osdel and others
Norris’ Chicago Directory and Business Advertizer, For the Year, 1844
Buildings Erected in Chicago in 1844
A block of four fire proof brick stores, on South Water street between Clark and Dearborn; each 20 feet front and 120 feet deep, four stories; built in the most substantial manner; owned by P. E. W. Peck, Allan Robbins, Jobn High, Jr. and H. H Magie; cost $13,000. Builders, A. H. Heald, mason; P. L. Updike & Co. and Shephard & Johnson, builders; Van Osdel, architect and superintendent.
A block of five brick buildings on State street, between Lake and Randolph, each 20 feet front by 50 deep, 3 stories; 1st story for stores, 2nd and 3rd stories for dwellings. The fronts of these buildings are beautifully arranged, and being faced with the Milwaukie pressed brick, are considered one of the best blocks in the city. Cost $8000; owned by George Smith, Esq.; built by Peter Page, mason, Campbell & Butler, builders, Van Osdel, architect and superintendent.
Messrs. Denker & Borges have erected a splendid 4 story brick building on the triangular lot at the junction of Lake and South Water sts. This building fronts 54 feet on Lake street and 72 feet on Water st, with circular corners to connect the two fronts; the balcony, with fancy cast iron railing, extending around the entire building on Lake and Water streets, together with the peculiar style and arrangement of the windows, projections and pannels in the brick work, makes this building decidedly the handsomest in the city. Cost of the building $5,500; Robert Malcom, mason, Alex. Loyd, builder, Van Osdel, architect and superintendent.
Near this building Mr. Allan Robbins is putting up a substantial brick store 4 stories high, 20 feet front and 100 feet deep, running
Norris’ Business Directory and Statistics of the City of Chicago, For 1846
The City extends about three and a-half miles on the lake, and two and a-half miles west. The streets run parallel and at right angles to the lake, and are of suitable width. As many as twenty blocks are compactly occupied by buildings; and three-fourths of the limits are more or less built upon. There are 32 large brick-blocks, three and four stories in height, containing from two to four buildings, and numerous blocks of wooden buildings. The dwellings are constructed of brick and wood, but principally of the latter material. They number some very beautiful and tasteful residences.
The public buildings are less numerous and less worthy of notice than they will be a few years hence. The best buildings at present are our churches, hotels, and commercial houses. The churches are many of them very fine specimens of architecture, costing from $5,000 to $10,000. Our hotels, in point of size and facilities for accommodating the traveling public, deserve especial commendation. In connection with these may be included two college edifices; two large, brick school-houses; the museum; etc.
Chicago Illustrated, June, 1866
- Lake Street from this view will be readily recognized by any one who has ever visited Chicago. It is represented east from State street to the Great Railroad Depot.
At the south-east corner of State and Lake streets is the City Hotel, a celebrated hotel in Chicago in former days. It is the only one of the comparatively small buildings of former times that has not been replaced by the stately and costly edifices which adorn the other parts of the street.
James W. Sheahan, Esq.,
June 1866.
1867 Edwards’ Directory of the City of Chicago
- The Stiles Burton’s City Hotel was built in 1848, designed by John M. Van Osdel.
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