Chicago Tribune, November 10, 1866
The wonderful growth of Chicago daring the past year, as well as in the years previous, though frequently commented on and admitted, cannot yet be appreciated without an examination, somewhat in detail, of the facts which show it. And although it must necessarily be impossible to arrive at exactness to any review, however careful, get the following statements and figures, which have been compiled with some labor, will give a more intelligent idea of the spirit of expansion which characterizes this city of scarcely thirty-five years’ growth.
The population of Chicago at the present time is stated from recent enumeration, to be two hundred thousand, four hundred and eighteen (200,418.), The number is large enough to content the most sanguine believer in the inevitable greatness of Chicago. Since 1837 the the population of the city has grown from 4,170 to the figures stated. In thirty-five years it has increased from about thirty at the average rate of 5,726 people per year. We have, since the city was incorporated, an increase in the valuation of property from $236,842 to nearly $86,000,000, a multiplication of value of 363 times. The receipts from taxation have increased in the same time from lees than six thousand dollars, to over $1,700,000 This increase in each regard, is unparalleled in any city East or West, excepting, perhaps, the city of San Francisco. Omaha may have such a fortune in store, but it is yet to be realized. The growth of Cincinnati and St. Louis as compared to that of Chicago, is but that of a pigmy is compared with that of a giant. They both started in the race many years before Chicago was first lifted from the prairie, and they are now behind her in the race. It is only difficult to gain an idea of their relative positions in the future es it is impossible to tell the extent to which Chicago will go in a given time. The ratio of her increase in population and wealth has been almost fabulous in the past. aud we have every reason to believe that they will be even eclipsed by the ratio of the future.
A LIST OF PROMINENT BUILDINGS.
A though it would evidently be an utter impossibility to name any, considerable number of the thousands of buildings erected in the city during the past year, still a partial idea of the amount and nature of this wok may be gained from the books of the principal architects, and the following list will show some of the better class, of buildings, with their cost, location and general style. The list, bowever, it should be remembered, does not exhibit by any means the amount of work done by these architecte, and gives no des even of the comparative amount done by each. We have merely cited such works as would best suit the object of this summary, omitting nearly all buildings which cost less than $10,000. This class would probably include eight-tenths of the whole number built. Our architects, also, have all had more or less work out of the city—some doing the most of their business for this and other places in adjoining States. One has designed for other places twenty-six churches, costing from $5,000 to $125,000 each. Two others have executed designs for the country to the value of $200,000 each, and another $240,000. One has plans amounting to $100,000, for Lafayette, Indiana . Some of the architects have not handed in a report. Then, too, by far the larger part of the buildings, especially of the cheaper class, are not designed by architects, but by the contractor or builder, who frequently is the owner himself, so that it is manifestly impossible to give anything like a complete list, even if it were desired. The examples given, with these facts considered, will be sufficient to convey a fair idea of the wonderful extent and permanent character of the growth of Chicago.
Churches.
Unity Church—Rev. Robert Collyer, pastor. This society has commenced work on a church building which, when completed, will be one of the finest in the city. It is ti be erected on the northwest corner of Chicago avenue and North Dearborn street, and will cost about $125,000. It will be of white Athens marble, rough, in the decorated Gothic style, with two towers, the spire of the highest reaching two hundred feet, and the other one hundred and twenty-five feet. The extreme outer dimensions will be ninety-six by one hundred and twenty-five feet. It will seat one thousand persons, exclusive of the gallery for organ and choir, will be lighted at the sides, and will be finished within with black walnut and cherry. It is expected to be completed in about a year. T. O. Wadskier is the architect of this splendid structure.
Ninth Presbyterian, corner of Ellis street and Wapanseh avenue. This house has recently been built, is of wood, thirty-six by sixty feet. seating 100, and cost $4,500. Messrs. Carter & Drake are architects.
S. B. Dixon has designed the following:
Olivet Presbyterian, corner of Wabash avenue and Fourteenth street, a fine brick edifice, seventy-five by one hundred and fifteen feet, with spire 150 feet high. Is to have a mastic coating. in imitation of brown stone, will be lighted from the roof, and seat 740. Begun in the fall of 1865, and to be completed December 1st. The organ is being made, and the upholstering has been ordered from England. The six windows of each side will be elaborately stained with different designs. The main entrance is in an ornamental tower eighty feet high, surmounted by the spire, seventy feet high, with handsome pinnacles at the base. The lower projects eight feet, and the entrance is by three doors, with a flight of eight cut-stone steps. The space between the building and the street will be laid out with grass plots and terraces. At night the house will be lighted by twelve Argand burners, with reflectors, in various parts of the celling. The basement will contain a hall, fifty-eight by fifty-nine feet, for the sabbath School, lectures, &c. The cost of the church will be about $15,000.
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church on North LaSalle street, corner of Chicago avenue, is now commenced and the foundation laid. This building is a part of the general design for the church for which a portion is already built and has been in use for some time. The present design contemplates a main building, eighty by eighty feet, with a spire on the southeast corner 180 leet high, and will cost complete, $60,000, exclusive of the present edifice. This building mill be of stone, in the Gothic style, and will be a very prominent feature of the portion of the city in which it is located and will take rank among the best designs of church architecture in this part of the country. E. Burling & Co. are the architects.
St. Joseph’s—A. Bauer, architect, has done the inside finish of this church, corner of Cass street and Chicago avenue. Cost, $9,000.
W. W. Boyington Is the architect of the following four structures:
First Presbyterian—A chapel and Sabbath School rooms, on Congress street. for this church, in the Norman style, and costing $18,000.
A tower for the same church, in the Byzantine etyle, costing $7,000.
Centenary Methodist Episcopal—On West Monroe street, 65 by 110 feet, rustic stone front, Gothic style, cost $50,000.
St. Mary’s Episcopal—A chapel in Cottage Grove, for this churcb, frame, 40 by 90 feel, Gothic, cost $8,000.
Olivet Baptist (colored)—On Fourth avenue, near Tyler street, 40 by 80 feet. Cost $12.000. J. M. Van Osdel was the architect and superintendent.
Eighth Presbyterion.-This church is eitnated on the corner of West Washington and Robey streets. It is built of wood, 53 by 93 feet, wih an addition in the rear of some ten feet for choir and pastor’s study, making the entire length over 100 feet. The tower will be 150 feet high. In the basement will be the lecture room, infant and Bible class room, and the entrance to both basement and main story will be on both streets. The main auditorium will be 53 by 79 feet, and wil contain 127 pews, with 575 sittings. The ceiling will be finished with a handsome design of open timber work and fresco, and the house will be, when finished, one of the finest and most commodious frame structures in the West Division, The cost will be about $25,000. G. P. Randall, architect.
Catholic.—Fuller & Armstrong have made plans for a brick Roman Catholic church on Archer road, to cost $10,000. The work hasn’t yet been commenced.
Plymouth Congregational.-This fine church is located on the corner of Wabash avenue and Eldridge court and is to be completed during the year—the walls being up and enclosed but the main and inner rooms not completed. The congregation now worship in the handsome basement. The building is 74 by 112 feet and will cost $50,000. The front is of stone on both streets, the rear being of brick. On the front are two small towers 112 feet high and terminating in stone spires. Between the towers is a massive doorway, projecting from the front, the crown of which will be surmounted by a large stone finial. The basement will contain a lecture room about 40 bg 60 feet, with Sunday School rooms adjoining; and on Eldridge court, a spacious pastor’s study connecting by folding doors with a parlor 24 by 40, with closets, cloak room and other conveniences. The main audience room will be 68 by 88 feet, with transepts on each side and an organ gallery in front, and will seat one thousand people. The ceiling will spring from the walls by fan groins, having longitudinal and transverse ribs, and the whole handsomely frescoed. G. P. Randall le the architect
School Houses.
A Catholic school building of brick, 60 by 100 feet, four stories, on the corner of Van Buren street and Fourth avenue, was devised by J. M. Van Asdel. Cost, $50,000.
A Catholic school in the Fourteenth Ward, on North Franklin street. Thie is of brick, two stories and basement, 40 by 60 feet: will cost $15,000 and will be completed this fall. Tilly & Armstrong, Lombard Block, are the architects.
A frame building on the corner of Lake and Elizabeth streets, two stories high, 66 feet front by 08 feet deep. Cost, $12,000.
A frame building on the corner of John and Walsh streets, similar to the above.
A frame building on Hinedale street, near Market. Same description.
A frame building on Douglas avenue; same description. The above four are by A. Bauer, architect.
The Wells School—this large and handsome edifice was completed in September last, at a cost (including furniture) of $43,000, for School District No. 12, and is located on the corner of Reuben and Cornelia streets. It is named in honor of the late Superintendent of Public Schools, Wm. H. Wells, Esq. It is built of brick, with stone facings: is sixty-eight feet front by eighty feet deep, and four stores high, and contains fourteen large rooms and a spacious hall, and is fitted up in the best style. A. Bauer is the architect.
Public Buildings, Halls, &c.
A new Police Station House, for the North Side, on Huron street, between Clark and Dearborn. This is to be of brick with stone facings, 40 feet by 80, three stories and basement, 60 feet from ground to ridge pole. The basement will contain cells for prisoners, the first story the police court room and offices, the second story rooms for policemen, and the upper story a large drill room. The building will cost $20,000, and is to be completed January lst, 1867.
A Sub-Station, nearly complete, on the corner of Johnson and Twelfth streets, West Side, of brick with stone trimmings, 25 by 40 feet, two stories, with basement containing cells, costing $6.000. Three stores on tbe corner of Eldridge and State streete, brick, cost $25,000. W. A. Turbur, 155 Clark street, is the architect of both the above.
Zoological Gardens and Circus for Yankee Robinson, corner of State and Washington streets, brick, 94 by 110 feet, will hold 10,000 people—cost, $8.000.
The Chicago Times building on Dearborn street corner Calhoun place. 21 by 90 feet, five stories and basement, cut stone front, plate glass windows, office finished in fresco and black walnut. Cost, $20,000. O. L. Wheelock, 77 Dearborn street, architect.
A new Theatre, on Dearborn street for Chadwick and Van Fleet, costing $40,000. It is to be of five stories, beside basements, 30 feel wide, 120 deep and 66 high, with French or Mansard roof. The theatre room is on the second floor, 60 feet wide by 70 deep, with four galleries. The material will be red brick with stone trimmings. It will seat sixteen hundred people and will be completed about next June. Tilly & Armstrong, Room 20, Lombard Block, are the architects.
The Union Passenger Depot of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana. and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroads, on Van Buren, between Griswold and Sherman streets. Italian style, costing $250,000. This depot eclipses anything of the Kind in this country, in point of size and accommodations. The front on Van Buren street will stand centrally facing LaSalle street; the tower, 90 feet high, in the centre of the front will present an imposing appearance. The two corner towers will be equally prominent, though of less size. The Mansard roofs of the towers and passenger house portion, together with the bold, cut-stone details, give prominence and relief to the great mass of the building. The office portion is to accommodate the business of both the railroads centering in the depot. W. B. Boyington, Architect.
- M.S. & N.I.R.R. and C.R.I. & P.R.R. Depot
Chicago Illustrated, November 1866
The Skating Rink, on the West Side.
The immense Freight House of the Michigan Southern Railroad, between Sherman and Griswold streets, south of the Union Passenger Depot. brick, 600 feet long.
New Bridewell.—Mr. Van Osdel has completed plans for a City Bridewell, with a front of 150 feet. The building has been deferred until next season on account of the scarcity and high price of material. It will embrace all the improvements in lately constructed Houses of Correction, and will be the most perfect of its class. The cost, with workshops, is estimated at $250,000.
Chicago Theological Seminary, to cost $100,000, and a Dutch Reformed Church, to cost $05,000, O. S. Wheelock, architect, architect, has made designs for these two buildings.
E. Burling & Co, 165 Washington street, have designed and superintended the following:
Railway Stable—A stable on corner of North Clark and Elm streets, for the North Chicago Railway Company, 252 by 150 feet, of the Norman style of architecture, and costing $50,000; a marble front store, 25 by 70 feet, three stories and basement, for B. Fientye, cost $11,000.
Hotel—A story added to the Revere House, making the whole building 100 by 200 feet, and five stories high, cost $15,000.
The Mercantile Building, on LaSalle street, opposite the Chamber of Commerce, 30 feet by 100, four stories, marble front, in the Italian style, owned by the Mercantile Building Association, and costing $30,000. The building is designed exclusively for offices, and contains twelve first-class fire-proof units; it will be heated by steam. Was commenced May 1st, and will be completed about January 1st.
Renovation and remodeling Metropolitan Hall at a cost or $2,000.
Historical Society Building.—The west wing ls now being completed. The building will be entirely fire-proof, the floors being of stone and brick. It is expected to be in use early in the spring. This wing will cost, when completed, $25,000.
Oriental Building—George E. Walker, of Ottawa, Ill.. is building on La Salle street, near Madison, a block of offices, 75 by 150 feel, marble front, in the Byzantine style, six stories,, which will cost—including the Masonic Hall which it will contain—$100,000. This building bids fair to excel any building of the kind in the city. It is thoroughly built with heavy outside and inside brick walls, and will be known as the Oriental Building. The splendidly finished Masonic Hall is for the Oriental Lodge No. 33, A.F.& A.M. Emblems of the Order are cut in the front trimmirgs of the marble work. W. W. Boyington, architect.
The Young Men’s Christian Association Buildings—On Madison street, consist of two marble front blocks, 35 and 45 feet front by 87 deep, five stories high. and costing $50,000; and a block adjoining for stores and hall, on Broadway place, 88 by 120 feet, five stories, brick front with stone trimming, costing $100,000, both in the Italian style. The two marble-front buildings are for stores and offices, and have each an entrance to the main grand hall on Broadway place. The hall building wail contain five stories, 50 by 80 feet on the new street, with basements, and lecture and reading rooms, and six society rooms on the second floor. Above these will be the main hall with two tiers of galleries, and capable of seating three thousand people. The attic will be finished off for lodging rooms for destitute young men. W. W. Boyington, architect.
Blaney Lodge—T. V. Wadskier, architect, is superintending the addition of another story to Chittenden’s Block, on east side Dearborn, between Lake and Randolph streets. This will form a hall twenty-four feet high, 42 by 63 feet, in Corinthian style, ceiling paneled, with large dome an the centre, and is to be used by Blaney Lodge. The improvement will cost $26,000, and will be completed January 1.
Business Blocks.
W. W. Boyington, architect, furnishes the following:
Bowen Brothers are erecting a block of stores on Wabash avenue, near Randolph street, 40 by 85 feet, costing $25,000, and another block of four stories, each 30 by 170 feet, costing $150,000. McKey Brothers, of Janesville, Wisconsin, are building in connection with these, a block on the corner of Wabash and Randolph street, 45 by 965 feet, costing $50,000, and another adjoining, fronting on Wabash avenue, 40 by 85 feet, costing $50,000. These buildings are all of five stories, marble fronts, in the Italian style, and together form one uniform block of 125 feet on Wabash avenue and 215 feet on Randolph street, and when completed will be by far the most extensive and elegant block of marble front wholesale stores in the city, the total cost being $250,000. J. V. Farwell is the owner of a block with stores and offices on LaSalle street, costing $12,000, both of five stories, with brick front, and stone trimmings. H. M. Willmarth, a brick marble front building on Dearborn streets, 25 by 80 feet, costing $12,000 and a similar one fronting on Monroe street, 25 by 80 feet, costing $12,000,
- Bowen Block
SE corner Wabash and Randolph
W. S. Gurnee, two stores on South Water street, brick with stone trimmings, five stories, 40 by 50 feet, costing $25,100.
Robert McCabe, a block of stores with warehouse, 150 by 300 feet, on State street, corner of Seventeenth, brick, two stories, costing $35,000.
The Union Express Company, an express freight house on the corner of Harrison and Sherman streets, 25 by 120 feet, one story and store basement. cost: $2,000.
F. & E. Jaeger are erecting on Wabash avenue near Randolph street, a brick building, with cut-stone front resting on iron Corinthian columns. It is five stories in height, with a basement, and 26 feet front by 150 deep. It is to be completed about the first of May, next, and occupied by the owners for the wholesale chins and crockery
business. Cost, $35,000. O. H. Metz is the architect.
The Star and Crescent Mills, on West Randolph street, of brick and stone, five stories and French, costing $40,000. E. Burling & Co., architects.
A great brick packing and storing house is being built near the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad crossing on State street. Architect not known.
A brick block of offices, for L. B. & J. Otis, on southwest corner of Madison and LaSalle streets, five stories, fifty-two by ninety feet, cost $35,000. T. V. Wadskier, architect.
A. Bauer has supervised the following:
A double store, 40 by 100 feet, four stories high exclusive of basement, cut stone front, in Randolph street, between Franklin and Market—$20,000. A store on State street, near Madison, with cut stone front, 24 by 120 feet, five stories—$20,000. Two stores on South Clark street, near Harrison, $6,000. A three story brick store with basement, on Milwaukee avenue near Third street, $3,000. A brick store, three stories, near same location, $6,000. Additions to the Chicago Lead and Oil Works, corner of Clinton and Fulton streets, $25,000. A brick machine shop with adjoining iron foundry, four stories high, 50 by 130 feet, on Jefferson street, between Lake and Randolph, $10,000. A store for J. D. Reilly, three stories, 24 by 80 feet, on North Claris street, $6,000.
Otto H. Matz furnishes the following:
Boot and shoe factory on South Clark street. corner of Maple, for Whitney Bros., frame building, three stories, with brick basement, engine house, &c., $15,000. Brick building, corner of North Clark and Michigan streets, three stories and basement, $20,000. Raising, remodeling and enlarging brick building, northwest corner Michigan and Clark streets, $6,000.
Tilly & Armstrong, architects, furnish the following, beside a long list of stores and dwellings under $10.000:
A block of six stores on the southeast corner of Madison and Dearborn streets, brick, four stories and basement, 120 feet by forty-eight, to be completed next summer: cost
$40,000. Two brick stores on State street, near Madison, each $16,000. Two stores on Lake street, near Desplanes, brick, $16,000. A five-story brick block on Wells street, between Madison and Monroe, $18,000.
Carter & Drake, architects, have in their list the following: Morrison’s one brick block on corner Clark and Madison streets. $56.000. In the South Davision, brick buildinge forN. Long, 3.8,000 ; B. Hunt, €14,00; B. Mornison, $19,000; Otte, #20,0A. Furbur is the architect of the following:
Three brick stores corner Eraridge and State streets, $25,000.
Tilly & Armstrong have built the following :
Red brick block corner Madison and Dearoon afreets, containing six stores, four on Medison nod two on Dearbon, four etories high, besides basement, 120×18 feet. To be commenced this fall and completed in five weeks -cost $10,000.
Two brick stores on Lake street near Desplaines, $16,000; one store on Lake street, between Union and Halsted, 57,000; one brick store, three stories, on State street, for Bowen Bros., $10,000. A similar block for Daniel Barclay, $10,000.
Morrison’e Block corner of Clark and Madison streets, brick, cost $06,00, was designed by Carter & Drake, 57 Washington street. These architects have also built among othere, a block in the South Division, for Chapin $13,000, N. Long $28,000 E, Hunt §14,000, J. Otis $20,000, &c.
- Morrison Block
Cor. Clark and Madison Streets
S. E. Loring has supervised the following: Improvements end rebuilding, Lincoln Block, corner of Lake and Franklin streets; improvements and rebuilding, store on Water street near Franklin. Three stores on Michigan avenue, near Randolph street.
A block of three wholesale stores on the corner of South Water street, fronting on Michigan avenue, 132 by 70 feet, four stores, iron and pressed brick front. Cost, $53,000. E. Burling & Co., architects.
A block of three marble front stores on State street, for Mr. Sange, each 23 by 69 feet, three stories, costing $17,000, E Burling & Co., architects.
A marble front four-story building on Washington street, 42 by 100 leet, for D. R. Hall. Cost, $26.000. E. Burling & Co., architects.
The brick block on the corner of South Water and LaSalle streets, raised to grade and improved. Cost, $10,000. B. Byrling & Co., architects.
J. C. Cochrane, architect, has designed the following:
A livery stable for Wright Brothers, corner of State and Kinzie streets; brick, with stone trimmings: cost $25,00%,
Store for Putney, Knight & Hamlin, remodeled, $11,100.
J. M. Van Osdel reports the foilowing list:
Two four-story brick stores on South Water street, between LaSalle and Wells, each 29 feet iront by 119 deep, for B. F. Sherman, $50,000,
A brass foundry for Owen Owens, four-story, 20 by 80 feet, $8,000.
Two stores for Wm. Jones, on Randolph, between LaSalle and Wells streets, cacb 30 by 165 feet, five stories, fronts of Philadelphia pressed brick, trimmings of white marble, cut in New York, the whole frescoed in the best manner, $65,000.
An office building on LaSalle street, near Madison, for Dr. Bassett, cut stone front, 50 by 70 feet, five stories, $45,000.
A block of brick buildings, corner of Canal and Randolph, four stories, 80 by 102 feet. First story for stores, upper stories finished for a hotel, $15,000. H. H. Yates one half and Messrs. Barnes and Booth each one quarter.
A block of stores, five-story, on east side of Michigan avenue, fronting 190 feet on the avenue and extending 130 feel deep, the rear fronting Central avenue, six stories high. The store on the corner of Lake streets owned by Hale & Ayer, is 72 by 130 feet, the first floor supported by 119 iron columns. It will be occupied by the proprietors with their extensive business in irons. The adjoining building, 60 by 130 feet is owned by Hall, Kimbark & Co., and will also be occupied for an iron store. Washington Smith’s two stores, 20 by 180 feet complete the block, which is of the most substantial character, for wholesale business, and cost $172,000.
A block of eight frame stores and dwellings on Twenty second street, corner of Michigan avenue, for Mr. Howes, $16,000.
Raising to grade and improving the Lincoln House, four stories, 86,000.
Raising and improving two three-story brick stores on Canal street, near Washington, $5,000.
Raising and improving Kendall’s building, corner of Washington and Dearborn streets,
$15,000.
Raising and improving block of five stores, corner of LaSalle and South Water streets, $20,000.
Raising and improving Briggs House, 80 by 150 feet, six stories, $35,000.
Leave a Reply