Wheeler & Wilson Building

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Wheeler & Wilson Building, Schlesinger & Mayer, Staedter
Life Span: 1873-1958
Location: 155 State (31 S. State Street, adjacent to Schlesinger & Mayer Building II).
Architect: TBD

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1876

Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machines

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Schlesinger & Mayer, State se. cor. Madison and 108 W. Madison

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1907
Staedter Robert Co. furs 155 State

The Land Owner, September, 1873

STATE STREET THE “RUE DE LA PAIX” OF CHICAGO.—FARRAR & WHEELER’S BEAUTIFUL BUILDING, WITH A FEW FACTS CONCERNING A GREAT LOCAL INDUSTRY.
State street is now the cynosure of all eyes. From its beginning at the river southward to Van Buren st., it has developed into the most beautiful thoroughfare in all Chicago, having the grand Palmer House at the corner of Monroe street, with its graceful corner dome marking its central attraction. Travelers say that no street in the world can show such grand facades in the space of a half dozsen blocks, and thousands of people testify to the truth of their assertions every day, by flocking in crowds to admire the long line of beautiful buildings, spread out like a panorama to their gaze.

One of the most notable buildings in this street of beautiful architecture, and the one that elicits probably the most praise, is that recently erected by Messrs. Farrar & Wheeler, at No. 155.

The Building Externally.
Our artist has given a fine representation of this building on our double page, but it is simply impossible in simply black and white, to show the effect of the light upon the front, whose different shades of red, white and dark green polished granite contrast so exquisitely with their back ground of finely cut Buena Vista sand stone, itself relieved in turn by brilliantly colored encaustic tiles, the large openings being set with highly polished French plate glass.

The design of the front is a richly treated renaissance facade, the details having a Neo-Grec feeling. The first story is divided into three openings by finely-polished deep-red Scotch¹ granite pilasters, resting on mellow deep colored American green granite, rusticated and richly polished, the pedestals standing on plain dark Quincy granite. The caps of the columns, which are as beautiful as rare in delicacy of design, support the cornice above. The lintels of the windows rest on sand stone jambs which serve as a background for the rich colors of the granite.

The two centre columns of the second story are also Scotch red granite, the side pilasters being of sand stone. At about one third of the height of the columns is an exquisite band of carved sand-stone. Springing from the capos of the columns and pilasters are chaste brackets projecting beyond the face of the building and carrying the facia, on which are cut in raised letter the name of the machine “Wheeler & Wilson,” encircled with a neatly molded label. At each end are tastily wrought sand-stone vases. From the centre project rich brackets upholding a pretty sandstone balcony, having at each end vases of the same design.

The main columns and pilasters of the third story are of sand-stone, with a rich ornament engraved in the centre. The smaller columns supporting the lintels of the openings are of polished red granite.

The fourth story pilasters are of sand-stone, with an enrichment worked on the face, the centre columns being of deep red polished granite, while the smaller columns supporting the lintels of the windows, which are beautifully moulded, are of green polished granite.

The fifth story is subdivided into six openings, the arches all resting on granite columns of complementary colors. The cornice above is beautiful in design and detail, the ornaments being sand-stone, well-cut and relieved. Above the cornice, spanning the whole distance of the centre bay or compartment, is a segmental facia on which is cut in raised letter the name of the firm “Farrar & Wheeler;” at the ends are beautiful vases; the whole effect being heightened and crowned with a bronze figure. The whole of the cornice, strange to say, is of stone, and not galvanized iron, now so much in vogue.

The whole facade sparkles with its brilliant colors, and charm with its delicacy of detail. Its exquisite proportions stamp it as a conception of genius, and fascinate the eyes of all passers-by on State street, now rapidly becoming our Rue de la Paris in the beauty of its architecture and the extent of its business. To render the whole structure complete, it is covered with Garry’s Patent Iron Roofing, and the rear is provided with fire-proof iron shutters. The iron work was furnished by the Union Foundry.

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The Building Internally.
Internally, the building is provided with a water-balance elevator and steam heating apparatus, while danger from fire is lessened by hose on each floor communicating with the elevator tank on the roof, holding 4,000 gallons. The books and valuable papers of the house are protected by strong and perfectly constructed fire-proof vaults. The stairways, cases, counters and desks are of black walnut, enriched with tiling in delicate colors. Everywhere the utmost care was paid to the construction, the workmen being carefully watched in every detail. The doors are all fitted with Sargent & Greenleaf’s locks.

Business of the House.
Th interior views of the office and salesroom, made from actual sketches by Mr. Wallis, as also the accompanying view of the warehouse, testify to the magnitude of the business done. Messrs. Farrar & Wheeler employ twenty-five bookkeepers, besides a large force of adjusters and packers. The sales of the house in 1873 amounted to nearly two millions of dollars. This enormous trade has been done entirely with the family machine, which is so universally known and admired for its beauty, quietness, and speed, as well as for the excellence of the work executed upon it, and has been due to the great improvements which have been made chiefly at the suggestion of Western agents, within the past three years.

These improvements have also received the highest commendation at Vienna, as shown by the following cablegram, sustaining the award at Paris of 1867:

Messrs. Farrar & Wheeler, Chicago, Ill., U. S.

J. O. Woods

Such ringing words all the way from Francis Joseph’s capital, were received with pride by Messrs. Farrar & Wheeler, who naturally rejoice to see the machine they represent thus covered with honors in competition with the world.

For five years past, however, the Wheeler & Wilson Company have seen the great value of the heavy manufacturing trade, and have bent their energies to the task of furnishing a rotary hook manufacturing machine which should excel others in speed and excellence of stitch as rotary motion does vibratory. This machine has at last been perfected and exceeds the most sanguine expectations first formed, and must largely increase the present trade.

A Citizen’s Pride of Chicago.
In concluding our walk with our artist through this building, we cannot but express much pride that we are of Chicago, where such princely establishments can exist. Extreme (we have no other front in Chicago equalling it in many respects); internally it is a busy hive of industry, managed with careful and enterprising judgement. Our merchants certainly deserve great credit for their untiring energy, which has lead them, as in the case of this house, to a brilliant success.

Chicago Tribune, October 10, 1873

THE WHEELER & WILSON SEWING-MACHINE.
The Wheeler & Wilson Sewing-Machine Company have in their booth a collection of machines doing a vast amount of work. For instance, the power in the building has been applied to the “family” and No. 2 machines, which are running at the rate of from 1,000 to 2,000 stitches per minute on actual work. They are manufacturing also at the Exposition a sea of car drapery for the Pullman Palace Car Company, and shirts, harness, pads, and plenty of other work of a similar character. Their No. 6 manufacturing machine, lately introduced, is meeting with an immense sale among shoe and harness-makers and woolen-goods manufacturers. The Wheeler & Wilson machine received, as is pretty well known now, the only recommendation for the grand diploma of honor. A similar distinction was conferred upon them at Vienna, where they received not only the medals for merit and progress. but also the only recommendation for the grand diploma of honor. These awards, however, are only a few among the many achieved by the Company. In the middle of their booth is a magnificent full case, gold-plated machine, which is greatly admired. The machines are operated entirely by ladies from the different manufactories of the city, among which are those of E. Jennings & Co., and Van Rensselaer & Co. Last evening their office, No. 155 State street, was illuminated from the first to fifth floor. In the window was noticeable a mass of metal labeled, “Our stock in trade, Oct. 9, 1871.” This was the remains of half a dozen machines taken from the ruins of the office No. 100 Lake street after the fire. It takes thirty bookkeepers to look after the business of this office.

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Chicago Tribune, July 24, 1875

THE WHEELER & WILSON,
The Chicago headquarters of this old and favorite Company are at No. 155 State street.

The agency is held by Messrs. Arthur Farrar and Samuel H. Wheeler. In the matter of leasing machines and selling them on the attenuated-payment system now in vogue, these gentlemen have pronounced opinions.

They claim, and prove, that it is the worst. thing the companies have to contend against; that their own firm is money, out by it, and that they would gladly see the plan of cash trades adopted by all the leading sewing-machine houses. They are ready at any time to discontinue the whole lease system, and to do as dealers in nearly all other kinds of staple goods are forced to do: sell for money down, and nothing else. Formerly there was money in it, $20 being paid down and $10 per month, but lately between the small payments and losses by sharpers the margin is entirely eaten up.

Tho associations of Messrs. Farrar and Wheeler with their patrons have been mainly of the pleasantest possible order. Dealing in one of tho best makes of the most useful machines known to human kind, they have bees able to furnish their customers, at all times, with a perfect article.

In addition to this, by extending to poorer purchasers tho benefits of the time plan, they have afforded thousands of worthy people the needed opportunity to become permanent owners of machines, These people are living grateful refutations of the proposterous charge that there is aught of wrong general public in this method of trade. The cases of persistent dishonesty, however, have been so frequent and continuous that the losses to the Chicago and Northwestern agency of tho Wheeler & Wilson Company by the lease system quite overbalance the profits of the same. The only money really made is in cash trades. The agents naturally feel decidedly indignant and consider it a flagrant outrage when, in addition to actually losing money in order to accommodate the poorer classes, they are berated on account of mythical swindling.

The Wheeler & Wilson sewing machine is conceded by the dwellers of two hemispheres to be a chieftain among its fellows. Its grand features are that it in light running, rapid, quiet, handsome, and durable. It sews with the rotary hook lock-stitch—a method which has stood exacting tests for years all over the world.

The Company has lately introduced to the trade a manufacturing machine for tailors, shoemakers, and others. This combines the excellence of the rotary book with the advantages of take-up machines. Though this new variety has been before the public but a comparatively brief time, it has mot with an unprecedented success. Those needing o straight-needle, easy-running, manufacturing machine will do well to give this a careful inspection. The advantages or a large bobbin without a shuttle, and an under tension that can be regulated while the machine is in motion, will be appreciated by every operator.

Inter Ocean, December 30, 1880

Messrs. Schlesinger & Mayer, the old-established and well-known dry goods merchants on the West Side, have, with a view to extending their business and reputation, determined to open an establishment on the South Side, on the thoroughfare where ladies bent on shopping most do congregate, State street to wit. This step is noteworthy for various reasons. It involves an important real estate transaction and denotes in many ways the commercial prosperity of the city.

The firm which has adopted the motto, “As usual, the leaders of popular prices,” will locate its new store in the premises lately known as the Wilson Sewing Machine Building, at the southeast corner of State and Madison streets. They have secured a five years’ lease, and will have the premises ready for occupancy at an early date. The building is an elegant five story and basement marble front structure. It has a frontage of eighty feet, with a depth of sixty-five feet, and surface ot 5,200 feet. The five floors, therefore, kive it a total capacity of 26,000 feet.

It is the intention of Messrs. Schlesinger & Mayer to make the establishment one of the finest retail dry goods emporiums in the country, and, further, to aim especially to possess the best lighted enlesrooms of any similar palace in the city. From what they have done on the Wess Side, where they now have two establishments, the principal one on the corner of Madison and Peoria streets, there is no doubt that they will carry out their intentions to the letter, and add another to the many gigantic dry goods stores in the vicinity of their new place.

The Wilson building is to be thoroughly over-hauled, remodeled, and fitted up at an expense of $25,000, to make it what its new proprietors consider a first-class place of the kind should be. The entire front and
sides of the whole building, from cellar to garret, will be of French plate glass, which bids fair to insure the thorough lighting of the sales-rooms. A passenger elevator erected at a cost of $5,000, and another trifle of $4,000 represents the estimates for five French plate glass. Add to these figures the amount of cash required to stock and run such a mammoth place, and it will be seen a small fortune is involved. The early opening promised will be looked forward to with a great deal of interest, as it should be, as such undertakings are creditable alike to the city, the citizens, and the promoters of the enterprise.

Chicago Tribune, August 6, 1905

Chicago Tribune, July 24, 1910

STATE STREET—An interesting transaction in State street property was closed during the week when Adolf Kraus disposed the of the land at 155 and 372 State street to Victor and Joseph M. Well, and as family ties entered into the deal, the former being a son-in-law of Mr. Kraus, the consideration was not disclosed. The consideration in the deed was $1.

No. 155 State street is in the very heart of the central business district. It includes a plot of ground fronting west 26 feet and having a depth of 83 feet. It is 86 feet north of Monroe street and is improved with a six story and basement building erected many years ago.

Mr. Kraus nought this property in 1900 from Samuel Wheeler and the heirs of Arthur Farrar for $240,000, which was at that time considered a big transaction in State street property. In 1902 he leased the land to David Meyer and Henry Siegel for ninety-nine years at an annual rental of $18,000 equivalent to 4 per cent on $450,000 and 7½ per cent on the figure at which he purchased the property.

Bernard Baumgarden, a State street merchant, has just rented the building for a period of fifteen years from May 1, 1911, through E. F. Keebler & Co., at an aggregate rental for the term of $500,000. This property adjoins Carson, Pirie, Scott Co.’s retail store, and Mr. Mayer, who erected the building which that store now occupies, was at the time a member of the dry goods firm of Schlesinger & Mayer, and the intention was to add the Kraus lot to Schlesinger & Mayer’s store. The lease to Baumgarden establishes a gross rental valuation of $1,333 a front foot and $16 a square foot. The board of review valued the property at $270,000, of which $17,500 is in the building.

Chicago Tribune, May 30, 1956

As far as our research has shown the following is the roll call of Loop buildings built in in 1872, the first year after the fire, and are still standing.

There are six more buildings, all very narrow, whose ground floors have been modernized but the upper floors generally appear neglected:
115 N. Wabash av.
20-22 S. State st.
31 S. State st.²
33-35 S. State st.
21-33 S. Wabash av.
25-27 S. Wabash av.

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¹ According to the Oxford English Dictionary, in England, “Scotch” was the “the prevailing form” from the late 17th century until the 19th century, though “Scottish” was used in more formal writing. But in the 20th century, the word “Scotch” fell “into disuse in England as well as in Scotland.

² The last reference of 31 S. State Street was in 1958.

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