Otis Building

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Otis Building, North American Building I
Life Span: 1872-1911
Location: SW Corner State and Monroe, 156-162 State street
Architect:

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

Smith & Nixon

Lyon & Healy

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1876
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State
Lyon & Healy, 162 State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1877
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State
Lyon & Healy, (George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy), pianos, organs and musical merchandise 162 State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1880
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State
Lyon & Healy, (George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy), pianos, organs and musical merchandise 162 State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1887
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State
Lyon & Healy, (George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy, Robert B. Gregory and Charles N. Post), pianos, organs, music and musical instruments, etc. 162 State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1892
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State
Lyon & Healy, P. J. Healy, pres; Charles N. Post, v. pres; R. B. Gregory, treas; J. P. Byrne, sec; pianos, organs, music and musical merchandise 156 to 162 State. Factory W. Randolph and Bryan pl.

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1899
Otis Bldg.—Madison sw. cor. State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Otis Bldg.—70 Madison sw. cor. State

Lakeside Business Directory of the City of Chicago, 1907
North American Bldg.—160 State

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1911
North American Bldg.—40 S State

Chicago Weekly Post, October 10, 1872

OTIS BLOCKS.
The Otis Brothers are among the many capitalists of Chicago who are placing abundant means in improvements. On the corner of State and Monroe Streets is located one of their finest, the largest front, 120 feet, being on Monroe, and the other one 96 feet, fronting State street. is of Athens stone, smooth finish, plain style, but very white and pretty, four stones and basement high, with handsome cornice and worth $75,000. It is occupied and about completed.

On the corner of Madison and La Salle, just south of the Bryan Block is another Otis block with much the same appearance and about the same dimensions. It corresponds well with the many elegant structures in its vicinity. It is worth about $80,000, is completed and fully ocenpied.

Chicago Tribune, February 18, 1872

Judge L. B. Otis is about to put up, for stores, on the corner of State and Monroe streets, a four-story and basement building, with an elegant front of gray or red sandstone. The size upon the ground is 196×120. The corner store will be double, 48×120, the ceiling supported by handsome columns.

Chicago Tribune, October 9, 1872

SMITH & NIXON—LYON & HEALY.
Like the star Epsilon, in Lyra, this house is a double double, the two firms of Smith & Nixon and Lyon & Healy baring adhered touch other faithfully through much prosperity and some misfortune, ever since they first joined heads in our midst in 1861. Since that year they hare been burned out twice, the first fire being Sept. 4, 1870; the last, one year ago to day. But though they were thus doubly affected, they were both in first-class financial condition after the great fire, and promptly paid all their liabilities at maturity, without asking for extensions. We may here note that Mr. Nixon’s fire-proof building, then nearly finished, was the only one that paced successfully through the flery ordeal of Oct. 9, 1871

These firms are Northwestern agents for the celebrated Steinway pianos, for the almost equally celebrated Burdett parlor organs, and for the musical publications of Oliver Ditson & Co. They have represented these ever since their establishment here eight years ago, and the thousands of our citizens who knew them in their magnificent quarters on the southwest corner of Washington and Clark streets can attest the popularity of the two firms, while the many instruments they sold there are still sounding their praises in all part of the great West. Those instruments are their own best recommendation, and mere words of praise, however strong, are poor indeed when compared with the ravishing sounds emitted by these chefs d’aeures of the manufacturers’ skill.

Lakeside Monthly, October, 1872

The building shown in this engraving is a plain, substantial structure, situated on the northwest corner of State and Monroe streets. It is built of Athens limestone or marble, the material which, before the great fire, composed, almost universally, the fronts of the best buildings. The four corners of which this is one, will compose one of the most important business centres of the city; having on the diagonally opposite corner the vast pile which is to constitute Potter Palmer’s great hotel, while on the corner next south is the elegant and palatial block of E. S. Pike, which will be second to no building of its size in the city. The building is owned by Judge L. B. Otis. The whole of the upper floors, having a frontage of 50 feet on State by 120 on Monroe, with one of the stores on the first floor, having fronts on both streets, will be occupied by Messrs. Lyon & Healy, music dealers. These gentlemen commenced business in 1864, on the southwest corner of Clark and Washington streets. On the first of January, 1870, they removed to the southeast corner of Washington street and Wabash avenue, where they became the victims of the fire which destroyed the Drake & Thatcher Block, in September, 1870. By this disaster all their stock was swept out of existence. The next day they reestablished themselves at No. 150 Clark street, where the great conflagration overtook them. Since that event they have occupied the Christian Church, on the southeast corner of Sixteenth street and Wabash avenue. On the anniversary of the fire, these gentlemen resume their business in the block above described. The Burdett organ-factory, in the North Division, which was an establishment under the patronage of this firm, was destroyed, but has since been rebuilt. Messrs. Lyon & Healy represent the Boston house of Oliver Ditson & Co., and supply the Western trade very largely, even as far as the Pacific coast.

Messrs. Smith & Nixon, who occupy rooms in the same building, are the agents of the Steinway piano.

Chicago Evening Post, April 23, 1873

Mesers. Lyon & Healey will please take down that immense fire brand sign which they have just put up on the Otis building, corner of State and Monroe streets. The Police Commissioners have been sharp enough to see it, and have sounded the keynote.

The Commercial Advertiser, March 7, 1878

In all the multifarious lines of business carried on in this great mart of trade and commerce there is not one department that is more ably and successfully conducted than that indicated by the caption of this article. Our merchants in this branch are known all over the country for their indomitable energy, unbounded enterprise, discriminating judgment, and conscientious integrity. They fully appreciate their position and advantages and their relations to the magnificent commercial area which is open to them. By the liberal exercise of that spirit of pluck and perseverance which is so characteristic of the representative Chicago merchant, they have succeeded in making our favored city the chief distributing depot on the continent for musical instruments and merchandise.

Having a desire to learn how this trade is prospering and as to the prospects for spring business, we lately called upon the well-known firm of Lyon & Healy, where we found Mr. Lyon disposed in his characteristic gentlemanly manner to impart information on the subject in question.

This enterprising house, one of the largest in the world, has been established in Chicago some 13 years, Mr. Lyon himself having been for a long period previously in the same business in Boston, where he introduced the world-famed Steinway pianos 22 years ago. By fair and honorable dealing and excellent management, their business has been worked up to mammoth proportions, having steadily increased from year to year. Their trade last season aggregated $550,000, and averages better this year than last, and they are from day to day selling goods in new territory, indicating the expansiveness of the trade centering in Chicago. While they have probably as large a retail patronage as any house in this line, they likewise transact a very heavy wholesale business in all sections of the great Northwest, considerably East, West to the Golden State, and are branching out in other directions.

Lyon & Healy occupy a fine, spacious structure on the northwest corner of State and Monroe streets, comprising five floors filled with an immense stock of books, sheet music, musical instruments of every description, and a complete assortment of the thousand and one articles appropriate such an establishment. The basement floor is devoted to the jobbing trade in music books of all kinds. On the street floor is the sheet-music department. Of the two articles mentioned, they carry a $125,000 stock and supply the trade generally.

The second floor is a magnificent music salon, artistically adorned and frescoed, measuring 50×120 feet, unsurpassed, if equaled, by any like apartment in this country or abroad. Here is a splendid stock of grand, square and upright Steinway pianos (of which this firm are the General Northwestern Agents), J. & C. Fischer pianos, and Burdett organs. The fact that their sales of Steinway pianos are increasing at the rate of 100 a year is good evidence that the best instruments are appreciated. It goes to show that the public are tired of cheap and unserviceable pianos, that are about as musical as tin pans, and have concluded that it is economy in the long run to select the best in the market Steinway’s having this enviable reputation, the profit upon which, we may say right here, is not one-third that is made on the almost worthless pianos with which the country is flooded—pianos whose only recommendation is their showy cases, that may answer for ornament but not for use.

On the third floor is the wholesale department for small goods, including every variety of band instruments, violins, violoncellos, guitars, flutes, banjos, etc. They are the largest direct importers of such goods in the West, and have received as high as 40 to 50 cases in a week. Their annual sales in this department reach $150,000. Catalogues and price-lists of all their goods will be furnished on application. The fourth floor is devoted to the manufacture and repairing of drums and other instruments, and here is also the pack ing room, all the floors being rendered accessible by a powerful elevator.

Such is a brief outline of the several departments of Lyon & Healy’s grand Music Emporium—an honor to the busy Western metropolis, and showing what can be achieved by the putting forth of persistent effort and the exercise of the aggressive spirit of enterprise.

Inter Ocean, February 14, 1880

A Sketch of the Musical House of Lyon & Healy, One of the Foremost Firms in the Country.
It seems almost incredible. yet it ix a well-authenticated fact—a statement which can be proved by the figures, If necessary—that there is in Chicago a musical firm which does as much business as any in New York.

The writer refers to Messrs. Lyon & Healy, who are known throughout not only all of America. but a large part of Europe as well. Less than twenty years ago this firm was in its infancy. At its start it met with the strongest opposition from the old established houses in New York and the West. In these years of brisk competition they have not only outstripped most of those who sought to crush the rising young firm, but have seen many firms pass out of existence No one has an idea of the magnitude of the musical business of Chicago, and especially of this house, as the great distributing medium of the musical business in the Northwest, until they actually investigate the extent of the business done by the firm.

New York at present may boast a higher stage of artistic development than Chicago. It may have finer picture galleries, more complete halls and opera houses, and. perhaps, the standard of taste is higher there than here, because New York is the great center of the arts, as well as of business generally, in the United States. It is the Paris and London of America. But if it is the center of artistic development, it cannot claim to be the center of musical trade. There is not a house in New York that does a larger musical business than Lyon & Healy, and this is another feather in the cap worn by Chicago. The Chicago postoffice is more extensive as a distribution point than that of New York. There is not a larger dry goods house in New York than the firm of Field, Leiter & Co. of Chicago. And why not?

Is the natural question: Why cannot Lyon & Healy compete with the New York firms, and even surpass them? This firm not only do the largest musical business, but they are the most complete musical establishment in the country. They have the first choice of the best goods in their line, and control extensively in this country the products of many of the old manufactories of France, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. They have the enterprise of all large Chicago business firms. Every rear a representative of the house visits Europe, in search of novelties and the latest improvements in musical instruments, and also to superintend as well the construction of new models for musical instruments. A member of the firm generally exercises a supervisory care over this branch, and he will be known without giving prominence to his name. He is one of the most prolific inventors in this branch of art that lives to-day, at least in this country His improvements upon many musical instruments, as well as his inventions, are widely known; and that the firm enjoys this distinction, which, it may be said, is possessed by few, if any, firms in this country, gives it rank, prestige, and advantage that few American firms can boast. To give the reader some idea of the magnitude of the business done by this large establishment, whose store, it must not be forgotten to mention. is located at Nos. 162 and 164 State Street, it is only necessary to state that their aggregate annual sales do not fall far short of one million dollars. And the records of the Chicago Custom House for the past year show that the importations of Lyon & Healy are equal to seven times those of the next largest Chicago importer, and exceeds the combined importations of all the musical houses of Chicago in the proportion of three to one. This seems to be proof enough to satisfy anybody, and also to convince everybody that the house is not only the largest in Chicago, but exceeds all other similar firms in the country in the size and variety of business transacted.

And what, the reader will ask, are the reasons for this gigantic growth in this special branch of industry? They are plain to the observer who chooses to penetrate beyond the superficial crust of appearances. In the first place, there is the rapid growth of musical art in Chicao. Since 1874 there has been a great stride in cultivation of music. Any one who chooses to investigate is struck by this fact. The number of pupils studying vocal music, studying instrumental music, studying composition, is almost beyond comprehension, and, of course. this greatly increases the business of s musical house so extensively popular among the people of this city as Messrs. Lyon & Heals are: and it may be looked upon as the inevitable result of favorable circumstances. The next reason, and one which largely remains with the firm itself, is that it always has striven hard to maintain a high reputation for honesty and for fairness and enterprise. Scarcely behind this reason are these: The fair and equitable manner with which all customers are treated, the care in the selection of goods suitable to the wants of the trade, and, above all, the practical, as well as theoretical, knowledge of the details of the business in which the members of the firm have been engaged since early youth. Add to these, the fact that they strive to place their roods on the market at the lowest price consistent with a superior quality of the articles. These are the reasons for the success of this firm: these are the reasons that have actually forced the firm up to the highest round of the commercial ladder, so that, to-day where twenty years ago there was not an importer of musical goods west of New York, this house imports more musical instruments, employs more men, pays more taxes and duties, sells more goods, and occupies a larger area of storeroom than any other musical jobbing house in the land.

These facts are a sufficient commentary on the enterprise of Chicago, on the growing cultivation of its people, the progress of musical art in our midst, and last, but not least, on the extensiveness of the business done by Lyon & Heals, and the high character of the firm.

Messrs. Lyon & Healy have recently published elegantly illustrated and descriptive catalogues of the various musical instruments sold by them, which will be mailed free to all applicants. Should any subscriber to The Inter Ocean feel an interest in any musical instrument, let him or her write to the firm, state its name, and the proper catalogue containing the desired information shall be promptly mailed.

Inter Ocean, April 3, 1894

FRANK BROS. TO MOVE.
They Secure the Store Soon to Be Vacated by Lyon & Healy.
Frank Bros., the prominent dry goods merchants, have secured a lease of the spacious and elegant premises which are about to be vacated by the music firm of Lyon & Healy. The well-known building, Nos. 156 to 162, presents a frontage of ninety-six feet on the best business part of State street, and is of immense depth and floorage. It will be thoroughly remodeled and adapted for the dry goods business. Messrs. Frank, however, will not occupy it for a year to come, their lease dating from May 1, 1895, for a term of years.

The floor space of the building, consisting of four foors and basement, amounts to 35,000 square feet, which, coupled with its advantageous position, makes it a very impregnable business citadel. In fact its advantages have been most. strikingly demonstrated by the success of Lyon & Healy. When the music firm started business at that corner twenty-two years ago they occupied only a frontage of twenty-five feet; their business has grown so that the big premises will now accommodate only half their stock of musical instruments, and hence their transfer to Wabash avenue. As both the premises and location are specially suited for a department store there is every reason to believe, that Messrs. Lyon & Healy’s successors as tenants will reap a similar rich reward for their enterprise.

Chicago Tribune, December 28, 1898

Frank Bros., the State street department store firm, went into liquidation yesterday. The members called in James B. Forgan, Vice President of the First National Bank; G. E. Armstrong of the H. B. Claflin company, Wiliam Meyer of William Meyer & Co., and E. Price of F. Butterfield & Co. of New York, to act as an advisory committee of liquidation, and suggest the best plan of speedily disposing of the business.

It is the intention of the firm to sell out the business as speedily as can be done advantageously. The Franks will place all the money now in their hands and what comes from the disposition of the stock in the First National Bank to the credit of the firm’s liquidation account. It will be held in trust for distribution among the creditors on the first day of each month beginning Feb. 1, 1899. The entire plant will be disposed of, it is expected, by April 1.

A letter which the firm has addressed to the public states:

We have worked under many disadvantages. Four years, ago we moved into our present quarters, expending in moving, reconstruction, improvements, and equipping over $100,000. We took a lease at about $85,000 per annum. We were unable to make enough to pay this rent, although at the time we rented out a number of departments to reduce the cost. All except three of them have since been absorbed by us. We obtained a reduction of $13,000 per annum, which expires May 1, 1900. One of the prominent mercantile agencies has treated us in a merciless manner, greatly affecting our credit.

The firm is now preparing a statement of its assets and liabilities, and it is the intention to go ahead and take an account of the stock now on hand, so as to be able to tell definitely whether the assets will meet the liabilities. This is being done in accordance with the advice of J. B. Forgan, who suggested to August Frank yesterday that such action would meet with the approval of the creditors, who would allow the firm to proceed with the liquidation in the manner proposed. The several claims against Frank Bros., held by manufacturing firms, probably will not be pushed further in the courts.

Chicago Tribune, July 15, 1899

The Committee on Buildings and Grounds of the Board of Education learned yesterday that it was being robbed gradually of an entire building, the Otis Block, State and Monroe streets. Architect Mundy reported that already three elevators had been carted away without the knowledge or consent of the School board; that so much of the steam-heating plant had been taken that what was left was of value only as scrap iron; that the roof was going the way of the elevators, and that prompt action must be taken to prevent the destruction of the building. The committee was dazed and asked the architect to say it over again. Then the matter was referred to Attorney MeMahon, who will report to President Harris, after making an investigation.

The building, which was occupied formerly by Frank Bros., was surrendered to the School board by L. B. Otis some time ago. After the failure of the firm the contents of the block were sold. One bill of sale was secured by a man named Fox. When the watchman refused to let him into the building recently he complained to the board. Mr. Mundy then began his investigation, which resulted in the discovery announced yesterday.

Chicago Tribune, July 16, 1899

Inquiry at Otis Building.
Attorney D. J. McMahon 1s investigating the removal of elevators, steam heating plants, and sprinkling plants from the Otis Building, State and Monroe streets. This property was recently relinquished by the original lessee from the Board of Education, L. B. Otis. Frank Bros., the dry goods merchants who failed, had a sublease from Mr. Otis. Whether under the lease Frank Bros. had permission to construct and operate elevators and other apparatus and then remove them from the building is a matter that is being investigated by Mr. McMahon.

Chicago Tribune, December 20, 1910

Another great building is planned for the central district. It will be erected by Louis M. Stumer, Benjamin J. Rosenthal, and Louis Eckstein at the northwest corner of State and Monroe streets.

The structure will front ninety-six feet on State street and 120 feet on Monroe street. occupying the ground on which the present North American building stands, which name it will bear. It will be nineteen stories high with three basement, and will be a fitting addition to the group of buildings that already make Monroe and state streets two of the most noteworthy streets in the city.

The building is to be 260 feet high the maximum limit nixed by the new
ordinance passed by the the city council.

Cost Is Put at $1,500,000.
The building which will cost in excess of $1,500. was designed by Holabird & Roche work of construction will begin next May to enable the lessees to comply with the terms of the ground by the board of education.

The building will be uo to date in all its appointments. The first story will De nineteen feet high and the second fifteen feet from the third to the seventh, inclusive, the stories will be eleven and twelve feet high, and all will be adapted by reason of convenience of location, character of neighborhood, light, quality of elevator service. and other interior appointments for mercantile shops and office uses.

The basement will contain a high class restaurant, reached by its own staircase from an entrance at the corner of State and Monroe streets.

The subbasement will be an adjunct of the main floor stores. The sub-subbasement, in addition to the space devoted to heating and mechanical plant, will provide an unpacking room for the font use of the several upper story tenants and sundry storerooms for rent to individual tenants.

There will be nine elevators in all. Space equal to five floors already has been rented and the owners expect the entire building will be under lease upon its completion.

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