Chicago Evening Mail, June 10, 1873
—Mr. Henry M. Smith, of the Tribune, and several other prominent gentlemen, are canvassing the subject of a grand central market, to occupy the block bounded by Adams, Fifth avenue, Franklin and Jackson streets. The gentlemen interested will visit Europe, and look at the m del markets there.
The Land Owner, July, 1873
THE GREAT MARKET ON THE OGDEN BLOCK.
(See Frontispiece.)
On the first page we give a bird’s-eye view of the present and prospective development of that portion of the South Division between Clark street and the river, south of Monroe street. This quarter already has its possible future forecast in the three principal structures completed and in process of erection—the magnificent Government building, the Pacific Hotel, and the Lake-shore & Michigan Southern and Chicago & Rock Island Depot. West of these are several squares which, before the fire, were covered with wooden buildings and occupied by the meanest class of tenants and avocations. The property has long been held by old residents, the real estate map showing that in this neighborhood years ago William H. Brown, Chas. Walker, Messrs. Ogden d Sheldon, M. O. Walker, and others of the ground tier of Chicago real estate owners, made selections predicated upon the future growth of the city. It is however only development that can make a future for real estate, and this whole section without timely action would inevitably drift back to slums and cheap manufacturing property. This is all the more likely from the fact that other older quarters have been handsomely rebuilt since the fire, and the demand for mercantile purposes is really less in this section than before.
It is in discussion in quarters where the discussion means business to establish at once a new era and new locality for family and provision marketing. The block chosen when made entire by the vacation of Quiney st. and the alley occupies the square of 400 by 350 feet bounded by Adams, Fifth avenue, Jackson and Franklin sts., as seen in our illustration, the whole of which it is proposed to cover with a grand market house structure, the character of which our cut sufficiently declares. An artesian well will be sunk for the abundant water supply a well-kept market requires. The central section of the building of 100 feet, crossing the centre of the market and supported by open brick arcade below, will give a large hall for armory purposes. The entire main floor will be open and filled with stalls some 180 in number, which will be none too many for the fruit, meat, poultry, vegetable, butter, eggs, tish, and general family supply trade of the city, for the first time now likely to be centralized, and give a character to its entire neighborhood. The central locality gives assurance of this, access being alike easy from the South, West, and North Divisions, and from all the great hotels and restaurants, and alike central to the great passenger houses and freight depots. The movement is one that will be heartily welcomed by all interested in market supplies, especially by our leading caterers who now ride a daily circuit of seven miles among the scattered sources of supply. Scarcely less valuable will be the new system to the smaller local huckster and grocery establishments, which will welcome heartily a new centre of the provision trade.
The Armory Hall will be a feature for which our city has waited, and must, until something of the kind is realized, defer the creation and maintenance of city military organizations. The hall will be 100 feet wide by 200 feet in length, plain and undecorated, save by the possible gun racks and uniform cases of the military, features that will not detract from its use for faire, festivals, conventions, aud similar occasions of concourse.
The market system of Chicago twenty years ago, was far better than it is at present, for at that time there were public market-houses, one in each of the three divisions of the city. Tho buildings, however, were all of them small and cramped, and their localities were invaded by street changes with little regret on the part of the public, who welcomed open trade without realizing the disadvantage that has grown year by year in the wide extension of the city. One authority, worthy and competent in such matter, asserts that the creation of a great central market-house of adequate size would save to consumers, if time and distance be considered, a very handsome percentage on the present cost of supplies. The estimated outlay for the market building is from $150,000 to $200,000, the foundations and piers being calculated for a structure of an imposing character when the development of that quarter warrants the further investment.
Chicago Tribune, April 1, 1874
The general market project contemplated for the Ogden Block has been abandoned.
In 1908 a new Grand Central Market building was constructed, but the business failed and was leased to Sears, Roebuck and Co. to manufacture automobiles,
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