Singer Building I, also known as Field Leiter II
Life Span: 1873-1877
Location: State and Washington Streets
Architect: E. S. Jennison
This building was built on the same site as the Field, Leiter store (1868-1871) on the corner of State and Washington. It has a State Street front footage of 140 feet and was a six story building with one one basement.
In 1873, Field and Leiter occupied the Singer Building because they heard that A. T. Stewart, New York’s prime merchant, was interested in the building to open a branch store in Chicago. Field and Leiter then signed a three year lease announced:
We shall remove our Retail Business to our new store, State and Washington Streets, on Monday, Oct. 6
On the rainy night of 14 November 1877, smoke rose from the roof of the store and the building was in ashes by the end of the day. The Chicago Tribune said:
The destruction of St. Peter’s at Rome could have aroused an apparently deeper interest than the destruction of this palatial dry goods establishment. It is questionable whether the death of the Pope or the burning up of the Vatican could have excited a keen local interst…This was the place of worship of thousands of our female fellow-citizens. It was the only shrine at which they paid their devotions.
In just two days after the fire, Field arranged with the managers of the Inter-State Industrial Palace (Potter Palmer among them), to rent the huge structure as a temporary store for $750 a month. The Exposition Store opened on 27 November, just ten days after the fire.
Singer Building I
In Process of Erection at the Southeast Corner of State and Washington Streets, Field, Leiter & Co.’s Old Site
The Land Owner, June, 1872
The Land Owner, June, 1872
THE SINGER BUILDING, CORNER STATE & WASHINGTON STREETS.
This grand structure, the foundation being laid, and which is to be completed notably the most elaborate and expensive
Singer Building I
Singer Building I
NE Corner State and Washington Streets
Robinson Fire Map 1886
Volume 3, Plate 9
THE EVOLUTION OF STATE & WASHINGTON
Left to Right: Field Leiter & Co. 1868-1871
Singer Building I 1873-1877
Singer Building II 1878-1905
Marshall Field’s & Co. (Macy’s)
1905-Present
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