Allen & Bartlett
Life Span: 1873-1880
Location: 445 to 451 W. Van Buren at Throop street
Architect:
- Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1870
Allen & Bartlett (James Allen and Murray A. Bartlett), carpenters and builders, rear 177 Throop
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1873
Allen & Bartlett (James Allen and M, A. Bartlett), contractors and builders, 443 to 451 W, Van Buren, and lumber, Laflin, s. of 22d
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1874
Allen & Bartlett (James Allen and Murray A. Bartlett) contractors and builders, office 8, 123 Dearboen, shops 443 to 451 Van Buren
Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1876
Bartlett Murray A. contractor, 443 W. Van Buren
Chicago Tribune, October 17, 1871
Allen & Bartlett,
General contractors for all kinds of brick or wooden buildings. Office on southeast corner of Monroe and Dearborn-ste. Shops and mills in rear of 107 to 115 Throop-st.
The Land Owner, May, 1873
OUR CONTRACTORS AND BUILDERS.—The Works of Messrs. Allen & Bartlett
The admiration of strangers who first gaze upon the magnificent architectural palaces which adorn our new city, is only intensified by a visit to the interior of the same elegant structures. Everything is found to be in harmonious proportion and perfect workman-ship.
To say something of the men who have contributed so much towards such a desirable result, is the purpose of this sketch.
- Our Contractors and Builders.—The Yard and Mills of Messrs. Allen & Bartlett
The present establishment of Messrs. Allen & Bartlett, of which we herewith present an illustration, had its origin in a little 14 by 16 shop on Clinton street, south of Van Buren. This was retained, however, only a year and a half, when the present site was selected and business commenced in a small way, but which rapidly increased until the first year before the fire it amounted to over $200,000.
Some of the more notable structures on which these gentlemen were engaged just previous to our terrible calamity, were the west wing of the court-house, the Shepherd block, in which was located the office of The Land Owner; Central Union Block, Boone Block and Gales Block in Wabash avenue; a portion of the Clifton House and the Open-Board, Exchange Block, Leander Reed’s Building and the beautiful Honore Block. But it was immediately after the fire that the resources of the firm were put to their severest test. They point to the following specimens of their handiwork as seen in the long list of handsome buildings, many of which have already appeared in The Land Owner. With characteristic energy they completed the Central Union Block, corner Market and Madison streets, in the unprecedented short time of ninety days. Boone Block was commenced and finished almost as rapidly, and then Jarvis Block, Judge Landsing’s on South Water, Leander Reed’s Building on Wabash avenue, the famous Honore Block, which is acknowledged to be the handsomest finished building in the city; another Honore Block, corner of Michigan avenue and Adams street; Tuttle & Bros.’, the beautiful collonade buildings of Peter Page, Williams & Ferry’s in the same row, Springer Block, the old City Hotel Block, the substantial corner buildings of the Robbins Estate, Merchants’ Building, corner LaSalle and Washington streets, Peter Page’s mammoth block, southwest corner Wabash ave. and Washington st., Quinlan Bros., Block, opposite the Court-house, the new Clifton House, of which they are part owners, and many other fine structures of less note. To accomplish such vast amount of work, amounting as it has to over three-quarters of a million of dollars, must require most extraordinary facilities, and a visit to their complete and well-appointed establishment demonstrates how it was done.
The specialties of Messrs. Allen & Bartlett are fine carpenter and wood work and stair building. Some beautiful specimens of the latter may be seen in the Times building and D. B. Fisk & Co.’s store. In connection with their present establishment, this firm own a large lumber yard on Laflin st., south of 22d st. They have handled since the fire over ten millions of pine lumber, besides large quantities of hard wood. Their planning mill is replete with the finest machinery and everything is arranged with order and exactness, with every requisite for a successful carrying out of any building enterprise. Some idea of the business of this firm may be inferred from their pay-roll which amounts to from $3,000 to $5,000 per week. In addition to their extensive contracts on public buildings, Messrs. Allen & Bartlett are erecting three beautiful residences on the South Park Boulevard, which are models in architecture, and will be for sale.
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