Singer Building II, also known as Field Leiter & Co Building, Marshall Field Building
Life Span: 1879-1905
Location: State and Washington Streets
Architect:
Chicago Tribune, January 17, 1878
Since Monday last Mr. George R. Mackenzie, Vice-president of the Singer Sewing-Machine Company, has been in this city looking after the rebuilding or selling of the remains and site of what was recently Field and Leiter’s retail establishment, at the northeast corner of State Washington streets. There have been negotiations for the sale of the property to Field, Leiter & Co., but it seems that no agreement could be reached, and this morning the rebuilding of structure will be commenced by the Singer Manufacturing Company, and a better and finer building will be put up than existed before, and one thoroughly fire-proof.
Chicago Tribune, November 3, 1878
The Singer Building.
As the Singer building approaches completion it shows itself to be the finest structure ever put up in this city, and is said to be the handsomest dry-goods store in the world. The stores of Paris, while more ornate, are not so large nor so well built. The cost of the new building, allowing the value of the brick and stone and iron saved from the fire, will be $500,000. This, of course, does not include the ground. The whole structure is absolutely fire-proof. The floors are of brick, laid in arches between iron joints. Over the brick there are layers of cement, felt, and cement, again, on which is laid the flooring of Georgia pine. All the openings in the floors for elevators, light shafts, etc., are so protected that any one floor may be flooded with water to the depth of several inches without spilling ove on the floors below. The roof, a most important point, and one too often the weakest in buildings that claim to be fire-proof, is built like the ceilings. except that, instead of the flooring of Georgia pine, there is on the top a pavement of brick. Wherever one steps on the roof his feet touch back. There is no fire trap in the Mansard roof. This is built of iron filled in with brick. All the iron columns are enveloped in circular fire-brick, between which and the iron an air-space of two inches has been left. Outside of the fire-brick, plaster is put on and molded in the style of fluted Corinthian pillars. Two noticeable differences between the former and present buildings are the addition of a story, and the removal of the skylight towards the north wall, where its light is needed most. The building is 150 feet on Washington by 160 on State, and stands 127 feet from the sidewalk to the top of the tower, six stories high. The interior is to be decorated and frescoed at a cost of $10,000.
Who are to be the tenants of this business palace? That is one of those things that no fellow can find out, because it has not yet been settled. Negotiations are in progress in two directions, both with Chicago dry-goods houses. The building will be finished by Jan. 1, and will then be occupied by whichever house can see the most money in it, and, probably, pay the most money for it.
Singer Building II
Chicago Tribune, March 1, 1879
New York, Feb. 28.—The sale of the Singer Building, Chicago, to Field, Leiter & Co., was effected yesterday evening, and the latter firm take immediate possession of the property. The sum paid for it, as it stands, free from lease or incumbrance, was $750,000. Mr. Edward Clark, President of the Singer Manufacturing Company, said to your correspondent this evening that the Company was glad to dispose of the property this way, having previously offered to sell it to Field, Leiter & Co., who were in the best position to own it. “Immediately after the lease to Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. had been recorded,” Mr. Clark continued, “and Field, Leiter & Co. were thus convinced of what they had not believed probably,—that the building was in reality rented,—the former tenants began negotiations to purchase.
They sent W.H. Jing, an eminent lawyer and the counsel of the Singer Company in Chicago, to this city to see if terms could not be made. Field, Leiter & Co. offered to buy the building subject to the lease to Carson, Pirie Scott & Co., and wanted a price set upon it. A figure was named, and the firm replied they they would accept the offer provided the lease was removed/ The Singer Company said this could be done, and Mr. King went back to Chicago, the offer being held open till he could consult with his clients.
The result of this consultation was, that Field, Leiter & Co. made a higher offer for the building than any amount named by the Singer Company, provided the lease could be removed. Finally, the firm telegraphed Mr. Clark to know on what terms they could be had free from the lease. After consulting with the parties here who controlled the matter yesterday morning, Mr. Clark replied by message that the sale could be completed for $750,000.
Last evening a dispatch was received from Field, Leiter & Co. accepting the terms, and closing the sale. The Singer Company hold that this sale puts Field, Leiter & Co. into possession of the finest and most complete store-building in the world. Thus the whole matter of the Singer Building is settled satisfactorily to all parties concerned, after months of negotiation.
The Inter Ocean, April 29, 1879
FIELD, LEITER & CO.’S OPENING.
The mammoth dry goods establishment of Field, Leiter & Co. has moved into its new quarters in the Singer Building, and yesterday the firm held its annual spring opening. There was a grand display of of goods and drapery, and the occasion was eagerly grasped by the lovers of “shopping” to make a day of it. The lower floor is taken up with general dry goods; the second with suits, clothes and worsteds, and the remaining three floors were reserved for manufacturing. The management of the opening was under the direct superintendency of Messrs. Fowler and Muir. M. Leiter being East. Mr. Field devoted a few moments of his time to the opening in the early part of the day.
Singer Building II
After the remodeling due to the addition of the John Crerar Library in 1896-97.
After a fire in 1877 destroyed the first Singer Building, Singer almost immediately started to rebuild. While Field and Leiter were still operating at the Exposition Building on Michigan Avenue, they did want to return to their prime State Street location. However, Singer demanded $700,000 for the building and Leiter refused to pay over $500,000. Leiter felt that Singer would not get a better offer. He was wrong.
There were rumors of New York establishments such as Arnold Constable and Lord and Taylor were interested in the building, but one deal did happen. The industrious Scotchmen from Amboy, Illinois who headed the firm of Carson, Pirie and Company signed a lease. Field was in New York during this time, but returned in time to thwart the plan. He upbraided Leiter for not carrying through the plan for moving back to State Street. At the conclusion of the fuss and fury, Field and Leiter got the store, but they had to pay not only the $700,000, the Singer officials asked for, but an additional bonus of $100,000 to Carson and Pirie to give up their lease.
By April, 1879, customers were lining up to another Field and Leiter State Street store. Two years later, Marshall Field bought out Levi Leiter and the first Marshall Field and Company store was christened.
Chicago Tribune, January 27, 1881
Such an idea as the dissolution of the firm of Field, Leiter & Co. probably never entered the brain of the average Chicagoan until it was fait accompli yesterday afternoon, because their retail goods palace on State street, their immense wholesale store on Madison street, and their extensive stables and warehouse accommodations wee marks, ever before the eyes of the public, of solidity, stability, and performance. Nor will any of these things be affected by the change in the firm, for the entire business in all its branches and details will be carried on exactly as before, except, perchance, the new firm will endeavor to surpass the old one, if it be possible, in building up the metropolis of the Northwest. In another way, the change may prove an incalculable benefit to Chicago, because the withdrawal of Mr. Levi Z. Leiter from active business in the dry goods line, he will have leisure to turn his attention to other branches of business, which will be stimulated by his capital, untiring energy, and business sagacity and experience, while the dry goods business will continue to prosper and extend under the control and guidance of the remaining members of the late firm of Field, Leiter & Co.
L.Z. Leiter and Marshall Field commenced their business lives in Chicago, with the firm of Cooley, Wadsworth & Co., or rather its successors, Cooley, Farwell & Co, of which firm L.Z. Leiter was head book-keeper, or office manager, while Marshall Field was the superintendent of the merchandise department, Cooley, Farwell & Co. were succeeded by John V. Farwell, Marshall Field, and Levi Z. Leiter, under the firm name of Farwell, Field & Co. Soon Messrs. Field and Leiter withdrew from this firm and formed another copartnership with Mr. Wilton Palmer, under the firm name of Field, Palmer & Leiter. Mr. Palmer withdrew from the business, and the firm of Field, Leiter & Co. was formed, with the following as partners:
Marshall Field, Levi Z. Leiter, Lorenzo G. Woodhouse, Henry J. Willing, Joseph N. Field, and Henry Field. About three years ago Mr. Harlow N. Higinbotham was admitted to a partnership.
On 1861 Messrs. Field and Leiter were clerks in the house of Cooley, Farwell & Co. Yesterday, scarcely twenty years after, they were the senior partners in in one of the largest and most prosperous dry goods houses in the world, and one of the two retires from the active prosecution of business with millions which he can call his own. The name Field, Leiter & Co. has been a synonym for push, purpose, grit, straightforward dealing, and general mercantile honor for nearly twenty years, and almost unparalleled success has attended it. With such a prestige, Marshall Field & Co. cannot fail to continue to advance toward the position of the leading dry goods house in the United States.
THE STORY OF THE CLOCK.
Chicago Tribune, November 24, 1897
Commissioner McGann has called the attention of the Law department to the complaint filed in his office by Alderman Coughlin against the large clock being erected in front of Marshall Field & Co.’s store at State and Washington streets. Commissioner McGann requests the Law department to supply him with an opinion as to whether or not there is anything in the city ordinances forbidding the hanging of a heavy iron clock from the second story of a building. The clock which is causing the trouble is a large iron one, weighing about 500 pounds. It extends over the sidewalk about nine feet.
The original clock as shown in 1904 on the Singer Building II (1878-1905).
Chicago Tribune, November 24, 1897
Commissioner McGann has called the attention of the Law department to the complaint filed in his office by Alderman Coughlin against the large clock being erected in front of Marshall Field & Co.’s store at State and Washington streets. Commissioner McGann requests the Law department to supply him with an opinion as to whether or not there is anything in the city ordinances forbidding the hanging of a heavy iron clock from the second story of a building. The clock which is causing the trouble is a large iron one, weighing about 500 pounds. It extends over the sidewalk about nine feet.
Chicago Tribune, November 26, 1897
The immense clock, with four great dials, which has been erected at the corner of Marshall Field & Co.’s building at Washington and State streets is attracting much attention. It is almost cubical and is hung from the cornice at the second story by ornamental iron work. Projecting as it does, several feet clear of the building, it will be very conspicuous, especially at night when it is lighted from within. There is no scarcity of timekeepers along the busy thoroughfare.
In 1902, Daniel Burnham’s 13-story Beaux-Arts building went up next door at State and Randolph; its near-identical mate to the south (replacing the second Singer Building) followed in 1907. The original Marshall Field Clock can be seen installed on this building in both photographs.
THE CRERAR LIBRARY
Chicago Tribune, November 16, 1896
Among the events of the new year in Chicago will be the opening of the John Crerar Library. The exact date has not yet been decided upon, but every effort is being made to get the books in readiness for the public by January.
The library is to be on the sixth floor of the new Marshall Field Building, Wabash avenue and Washington street. This entire floor has been remodeled and fitted up with all appropriate libraqry furniture and appurtenances.
Inter Ocean, January 17, 1897
JOHN CRERAR LIBRARY.
The John Crerar Library can really be said to be prospective only, inasmuch as nothing has been done beyond planning. John Crerar died in Chicago, October 19, 1889. His commercial ventures had been successful, and after devising liberal bequests to his relatives, friends, and public charities, he left the remainder of his estate in trust for the establishment of a public library. The amount so left Is estimated at two and one half million dollars. Messrs. Norman Williams and Huntington W. Jackson were appointed by the will executors of the estate, with power to add to their number for the management of the library. The only stipulations in the will restricting the executors in the formation of the library were that it should be In the south division of the city and that trashy novels — particularly French novels — should not be admitted to the shelves. Only a few steps have been taken up to the present time. Having obtained the passage of an act by the General Assembly authorizing the Incorporation of boards of trustees for the management of libraries provided for by will, 11 well-known gentlemen were chosen, who, with the executors, organized under the new law. They have decided that the library shall be for reference only; that it shall be a purely scientific library, and that only the income from the main bequest shall be used for all expenses. This amount is estimated to be about $100,000.
The John Crerar Library
Reading Room 1
Marshall Field Building
About 1898
Founded by John Crerar and J. McGregor Adams ca. 1868, Crerar, Adams & Co. was a leading supplier to the railroad industry. In 1889, John Crerar died at the home of his good friends, Norman and Caroline Williams. Crerar had made his fortune as a partner in the firm of Crerar, Adams & Company, the largest railroad supply concern in the Midwest. He also helped finance and promote George Pullman’s new Palace Car Company. Crerar was a lifelong bachelor and had no direct heirs, and made numerous generous bequests, the largest of which was set aside for the creation, construction, and maintenance of the John Crerar Library.
THE EVOLUTION OF STATE & WASHINGTON
Left to Right: Field Leiter & Co. 1868-1871
Singer Building I 1873-1877
Singer Building II 1878-1905, (Crerar Library added 1897)
Marshall Field’s & Co. (Macy’s)
1905-Present
Singer Building II
NE Corner State and Washington Streets
Robinson Fire Map 1886
Volume 3, Plate 9
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