Constitution Block

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Constitution Block, Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co.
Life Span: 1872-1904
Location: Southeast Corner Monroe and Clark Streets
Architect: Otto H. Matz

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1873

Constitution Block

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co., Manufacturers and dealers in Paper, Blank Books, Stationery, Book Binders’ Stock, Tools and Machinery, 118 and 120 Monroe.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co. (Howard Z. Culver, Daniel W. Page, Michael A. Hoyne, Charles W. McCluer, Louis F. Burrell, Philo F. Pettibone and Thomas H. Brown jr.) printers, stationers, etc., 118 and 120 Monroe.

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1885
Morris John, printer, 118 Monroe

Chicago Evening Post, October 5, 1872

CONSTITUTION BLOCK.
This splendid iron block was erected on the corner of Clark and Monroe streets by seven of our prominent business men. has a frontage on Clark of 190 feet and on Monroe of 90 feet. It cost $150,000, and is justly ranked among the best buildings of new Chicago. The facades are iron and the beautiful Constitution stone.¹

The Land Owner, March, 1872

CONSTITUTION BLOCK
We illustrate, on page 40, one of the most beautiful and pleasing buildings yet designed since the fire, to be known by the good name of Constitution Block. This business palace is to be immediately erected at the south-east corner of Monroe and Clark streets, by joint owners—the Hon. Thos. Hoyne, Messrs. Larmon, Rubel, bailey, Page and Bigelow. When completed next fall, it will be the most attractive structure in that section of the burnt district. The front on Clark street 190 feet, and 90 on Monroe, adjoining the building now in process of erection by Messrs. Culver, Page, Hoyne & Co. The Clark street front presents a beautiful facade of iron and plate glass for the first story, and Constitution sandstone, from the southern part of Ohio, for the upper stories, finished on top with iron cornice, pedimented and balustraded, making a distinct front for every 48 feet. The corner on Monroe street is quarter rounded, and has an imposing portico for the main entrance to the store—all to be of iron, and handsomely ornamented. The stores are all built in such a manner that two of them—each 24 feet—can be thrown into one. The second and third stories are well arranged for offices. There will be brick fire-proof vaults in all the basements and second floor. The fourth story over the Masonic lodges, there being entrances from both Clark and Monroe streets. It is expected that the building will be ready for occupancy in September. The cost will be $150,000. Mr. Otto H. Matz is the architect.

The south 50 feet of this block, belonging to Mr. Bigelow, will be divided into large salesrooms, which, having side lights on the alley, will render them especially desirable. They will have elevators, and everything needed by business houses.

The design of this block render it one of the most attractive structures of our rebuilt city.

REBUILT CHICAGO

Chicago Tribune, March 24, 1872

Hon. Thomas Hosne has awarded the contracts for his portion of the “Constitution Block, a fine cut of which the Land Owner published in the March number. The building fronts, 43) feet on Clark street and 90 feet on Monroe street, four stories and basement. The entrance to the first floor is through a massive iron porticus on the quarter round corner. There are two lights of polished plate on the Clark street front, measuring 104 by 150 inches, the largeet ever imported to this country. The cost of this building is $45,000. The contracts for the rest of the block, 148 feet front on Clark street, will probably be signed during the week.

Chicago Evening Mail, April 3, 1873

Printing, Bookbinding, and Stationery.
Rebuilt Chicago is producing substantial monuments of business success. On the old site on Monroe street, between Dearborn and Clark streets, the great Northwestern Printing and Stationery House of Messrs. Culver. Page, Hoyne & Co. have erected a fine building, each of the five floors of which measures 105 by 45 feet. The establishment is a model well worthy the visits of our residents and friends from a distance.

The counting room and clerical desks are arranged in the best mode to conduct the immense business of the firm.

The fourth floor contains the newest and best procurable machinery for executing every variety of printing, under the able and experienced management of Mr. Charles W. McCluer. It is admitted by the trade that this is one of the largest and best regulated printing offices in the country. If “the best is the cheapest,” then this is decidedly a very cheap establishment, for we do not hesitate to pronouncemit as one of the best in the Northwestern States.

Inter Ocean, December 31, 1881

CULVER, PAGE, HOYNE & CO., 118 AND 120 MONBOE STREET.
On the 1st of July, 1872, within nine months after the great fire of October, 1871, which destroyed the then elegant new store of this firm, it was back on the old ground, well settled in the present store, 118 and 120 Monroe street. Then they supposed that the five-story and basement store, 46 feet front by 185 feet deep, sufficient for their future needs. Already their bindery and blank-book manufactory, their printing office, their lithographic department, and their copper and steel plate engraving and printing have crowded them into the lofts of the buildings adjoining on the east and west. The work done in the various departments of this firm is to be found in the offices of almost all the large firms and corporations in the West. The superior equipment of each branch of their business and the high character of the labor employed enables the firm to give that guarantee of superiority in which they have so much pride. Like all large and well-managed establishments, they turn out good work at fair prices, and the customer may rely on his order being promptly filled. As an illustration of the facilities which they possess for the prosecution of their business may be mentioned a type-setting machine, which does a large amount of work successfully. A large line of staple and fancy stationery, probably the largest in the country, is always to be found in the sales-room of Culver, Page, Hoyne, & Co.

cyclo

The Inter Ocean February 11, 1904

NEW SKY SCRAPER PLANNED.
Rector Will Erect Lofty Office Building at Monroe and Clark.
Working drawings for the new Rector building at the southeast corner of Clark and Monroe streets are now being perfected by Jarvis Hunt, with a view to begin work as soon as the present structure can be demolished. The razing of the old building will begin promptly on May 1.

NOTES:

¹ Sandstone that was purchased from the Constitution Stone Co. in Washington County, Ohio. The company closed just short of its 100th anniversary in 1970. Up until the 1960s, Ohio produced over 90 percent of the 4.5 million tons of sandstone-grindstones produced in the U.S., and Washington County led Ohio production.

NOTES:

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