Hale & Ayer Block

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Building Name(s): Hale & Ayer Block
Life Span: 1866-1871
Address: 74, 76 and 78 Michigan av., southeast corner of Lake
Block and Subdivision: 11, Fort Dearborn Addition
Architect: John M. Van Osdel

John C. W. Bailey’s Chicago City Directory for 1867

Hale, Ayer & Co.

Morse, Loomis & Co.

Pixley, Hall & Kinsey

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Hale, Ayer & Co., (Samuel Hale, John V. Ayer, S. G. Taylor, George W. Hale, H. C. Phillip, B. Ayer and Charles B. Hale), iron nails, spikes, etc. 74, 76 and 78 Michigan av.
Morse, Loomis & Co., (Charles A. Morse, S. W. Loomis and ————,) clothing and furnishing goods, whol. 74, 76 and 78 Michigan av.
Pixley, Hall & Co., (B. F. Pixley, T. W., J. G. and H. R. Hall) wool com. mers. 74, 76 and 78 Michigan

Chicago Tribune, November 10, 1866

J. M. Van Osdel reports the following:
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.

Chicago Evening Post, April 25, 1867

The Wholesale Trade – Competition with Eastern Markets.
Within the past few years the wholesale trade of Chicago has been gradually withdrawing from its old location on South Water street, and has chosen for its site the lower portions of the handsome, eligible, roomy avenues, where now may be seen the most imposing, elegant superstructures—the cream of the business architecture of the city. Prominent among these stands the magnificent block on the southeast corner of Lake street and Michigan avenue, the second and third floors of which are occupied by Messrs. Morse, Loomis & Co., a wealthy standard firm who have established themselves as wholesale dealers in clothing and furnishing goods. Occupying the second and third floors of Nos. 74, 76, and 78 Michigan avenue, these gentlemen have prepared themselves to transact in their line the heaviest business west of New York or Boston. Messrs. Morse, Loomis & Co., importing their own stock and manufacturing their own goods expressly with reference to the Northwestern trade, would seem to be warranted in assuming the lead in the matter of the best ready-made clothing, and the greatest inducements in the way of prices to retail dealers. Their goods are made up with the greatest care and precision by the most skillful operatives in the country, and the prevailing styles and fashions are adopted and adhered to with a fidelity creditable to a first-class merchant tailor establishment.

This experienced, reliable firm, in establishing themselves in Chicago, have taken a position certain to attract attention throughout the West. They are making a speciality—a leading feature in their plan of operation—the offering to Western dealers terms and prices directly in competition with Eastern markets, the consequence of which will be that buyers will find it manifestly to their interest and profit to deal with Morse, Loomis & Co. That they are taking these measures to augment an important branch of our wholesale trade, is unquestionable that their liberal, enterprising efforts may be crowned with success to themselves and benefit to the city, every citizen must heartily desire.

The spacious warerooms occupied by Messrs. Morse, Loomis & Co. are admirably adapted for the display of their vast stock of clothing and furnishing goods—the latter forming no inconsiderable item in their trade. and being, from the particularly advantageous terms offered, worthy of the consideration of dealers. A portion of the lower floor of the establishment is divided into neat, tastefully fitted up offices for the transaction of their immense business; while in the rear of the building a ponderous steam hoisting apparatus has been erected. No dealer in clothing and furnishing goods should fail, during his stay in Chicago, to visit the mammoth concern of Morse, Loomis & Co., Nos. 74, 76 and 78 Michigan avenue.

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