Peek Building

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Furniture Building, Boyden & Willard, Willard & Peek, Babcock, Peek & Co., W. H. Peek and Sprott & Parker
Location: 171-177 Randolph. between LaSalle and Wells
Life Span: 1853-1871
Architect:

D. B. Cooke & Co.’s City Directory for the Year 1859

Babcock & Peek

Halpin & Bailey’s City Directory for the Year 1863
Babcock & Peek, (Cyril Babcock and William H. Peek), furniture 171, Randolph.

Halpin’s Chicago City Directory for 1864
Schmaltz J. & A. (Joseph and Abraham Schmaltz,) clothing and gents’ furnishing goods ret., 106 and 173 Randolph
Peek, William H., furniture, 171 Randolph, r. 492 Michigan av.
Rankin John, auctioneer, 177 Randolph, r. 313 S. Clinton

John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867
Peek, William H. furniture and upholsterer 171 Randolph, h. 492 Michigan av.
Rankin John, with A. Lichenstein, h. 313 Clinton

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1869
Peek, W. H. furniture dealer, 171 Randolph, r. 492 Michigan av.
Liebenstein Henry H. & Co., mnfrs. furniture. 167 and 169 Randolph
Spiegel Joseph (H. Liebenstein & Co.), r. 833 Prairie av.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Peek, W. H. furniture, 171 Randolph, r. 486 Michigan av.

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1871
Sprott & Parker, furniture whol. and ret. 171 Randolph

Chicago Tribune, June 20, 1853

A SUFFERER.
By the two late fires, the family of Mr. D. Crouch was a sufferer in each case.— He kept a fruit stand, his family occupying a dwelling in rear of the store, both of which with their contents were entirely consumed, without insurance, leaving the family entirely destitute. This family had taken roots for a short time at 147 Randolph street, and were again driven out by the fire on Wednesday last, making twice in two weeks, loosing by the last fire a part of what had been given them. Mr. C. commenced business at the former place last fall, without capital, and at the time of the fire was doing well.

We are told that this is a ease worthy not only of sympathy bat of assistance. Any thing contributed for their relief, will reach them if left with Messers. Boyden & Willard, 155 Randolph street.

Chicago Tribune, February 21, 1855

DISSOLUTION.
The partnership heretofore existing between Boyden & Willard, was dissolved the first day of January last, by mutual content. Either party may use the name of the firm in liquidation only. B. H. Boyden, L. A. Willard, Feb. 12, 1855

PARTNERSHIP NOTICE.
L. A. Willard having purchased F. H. Boyden’s interest in the Furniture Business and associated with him, W. H. Peek—the Business will be continued under the name of Willard & Peek, at 155 Randolph street. L. A. Willard, W. H. Peek, Jan. 1st, 1855

Chicago Tribune, May 25, 1857

THE BEST REFRIGERATOR YET.
We yesterday examined a Refrigerator—at Messrs. Willard, Peek & Co.’s Furniture Warehouse, No. 155 Randolph street—which is certainly the best thing of the kind we have ever seen. Just now, as the warm weather is upon us, a notice of this indispensable article to housekeepers will be read with interest. We well premise by stating what almost every housekeeper must have experienced in some degree, that the principal difficulty with all refrigerators heretofore invented, is the condensation of the air upon the inside surface of the chamber, giving articles of food a musty taste and imparting, to the different articles, by means of the parting confined atmosphere, the flavor of each other. To this serious difficulty the invention of which remedy we speak is designed.

The main apartment is intended for keeping food, and in this no ice is placed. Adjoining it is a small chamber which contains the ice and is furnished with a separate lid. The air is admitted into the top of the ice chamber and passes over the ice to a sub-chamber under the ice, where the moisture is collected and the dry, cold air is then admitted into the main chamber, and passes out at an opening near the top of this chamber, as fast as it becomes heated. By this arrangement a constant stream of cold dry air passes through the larger chamber.

Mr. Schooley, the patentee of this valuable household furniture, has not sought to produce a merely saleable article, but the principle discovered by him was for an entirely different purpose. Mr, Schooley, who is an extensive pork packer Mr. in Cincinnati, was in search of some means of carrying on his business during the summer months; he wished to make his whole establishment a refrigerator, and by means of a patient and intelligent trial succeeded in doing so. The plan is simply to construct an ice house, and keep up in the latter a constant supply of dry air from the currents which pass through and over the ice. The cold air being heavier is admitted at the bottom of the room, rises as it becomes heated, and passes out through the top of the apartment; thus a stream of cold air is continually passing them through and over the pork and other meat, keeping them perfectly fresh and sweet for a longer time than is known in any other method. Mr. Schooley’s discovery was a decided success, and several extensive pork establishments in Cincinnati have been constructed by him. His refrigerator may be termed a miniature edition of his pork house, for domestic use.

As a matter of interest to themselves, we would advise every housekeeper wishing a refrigerator, to examine the one we have noticed above, confident that to see will be to purchase. Messrs. Willard, Peek & Co. have purchased the right for Illinois and are manufacturing a large number for the summer trade.

① Briggs House

② Blair Hardware

③ Furniture Building

④ Lieberstein Furniture

⑤ Metropolitan Block

Alexander Hesler Panorama, 1858.

Chicago Tribune, August 6, 1858

NOTICE.
L. A. Willard having retired from the concern of Willard, Peek & Co., the business will be conducted under the name of Babcock, Peek & Co., the firm in other respects remaining the same.

Chicago Tribune, August 6, 1858

HOUSEKEEPERS CANNOT DO WITHOUT THEM.
In weather like that of yesterday what can the careful housekeeper do without a Refrigerator that will be a preservatory of meats, fruit, &c.—in other words, without one of Schooley’s Patent Refrigerators, manufactured by Babcock, Peek & Co., on Randolph street, near Metropolitan Hall?

Chicago Tribune, August 6, 1863

RANKIN & LIEBENSTEIN
Auctioneers, 177 Randolph-st.
Glassware, &c., at Auction.
On Friday morning, Aug. 7th. at 9½ o’clock we will sell as salesroom, 177 Randolph street, packages of Tumblers, Goblets, Salts, Nappies, Sugars, Creams, Spoon-Holders, Moi-Cans, Bowls, &c., &C. Also your choice of Yellow and Rockinghaw Ware, &c. &c.
Rankin & Liebenstein.

Chicago Illustrated, July, 1866

Chicago Tribune, October 19, 1870

NOTCE.
The undersigned has purchased the stock in trade of William H. Peek, No. 171 Randolph-st., and will continue te business at the same place. He will keep for style, at reasonable price and in good variety. Parlor Chamber, and Office Furniture. Archibald Sprott.

Having retired from the furniture business, I cordially recommend my successor to my friends and patrons. Chicago, Oct. 18, 1870. W. H. Peek .

Chicago Tribune, May 24, 1874

COPARTNERSHIP.—Spiegel & Cahn.
Notice is hereby given that the undersigned have entered into a copartnership for the purpose of manufacturing and selling furniture at 222 Wabash-av. Mr. Spiegel, for many years of the firm of Liebenstein & Co., would respectfully solicit the patronage. age of his former firm.
Joseph Spiegel, Jacob L. Cahn.

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