Hibbard & Spencer II

Hibbard & Spencer II
Location:Michigan ave., between Lake and Randolph
Life Span: 1867-1871
Architect:

Edwards’ Annual Directory in the City of Chicago, for 1867

Hibbard & Spencer

Edwards’ City of Chicago Directory for 1870-71
Hibbard, William G. (Hibbard & Spencer), r. 851 Prairie av.
Hibbard & Spencer (William G. Hibbard and F. F. Spencer), hardware, tinplate, &c. 92 and 94 Michigan av.

PRE-FIRE HIBBARD HARDWARE HISTORY
1855 Firm of Tuttle, Hibbard & Co. founded on March 22. Store at 45 Water street.
1857 Fire destroys stock. Business resumed at 32 Lake street.
1860 Move to larger quarters at 62 Lake street.
1865 Firm name changed to Hibbard & Spencer.
1867 Business in larger quarters at 92-94 Michigan avenue.
1871 Stock burned in the Big Fire; business carried on temporarily in Mr. Hibbard’s dwelling house.

Chicago Tribune, January 27, 1867

A MODEL SAFE.-There is now on view in the new stores of Messrs. Hibbard & Spencer, Nos. 92 and 94 Michigan avenue, one of the largest and most elegant safes it has ever been our fortune to see. The safe was made expressly for Messrs. Hubbard & Spencer by Maynard Brothers of No. 47 State street, and it is a work of which both parties may well feel proud. Its weight is nearly five tons, and to those not knowing the magnitude of Messrs. H. & S.’s business it would seem ridiculously large for any one firm. Inside of the safe is a burglar-proof box, guarded by one of Yale’s Combination Locks, which are considered by many bankers to be the beet and most secure of all locks used.

Business men will be interested in inspecting this mammoth safe. The Yale lock is a wonderful piece of mechanism.

Chicago Tribune, October 9, 1872

Hibbard & Spencer
The firm of Hibbard & Spencer, located at Nos. 92 and 94 Michigan avenue at the time of the fire, were very heavy losers, having a very large stock in the five stories of their double store, the whole of which was ruined. But they owed comparatively nothing, and commenced to pay their bills as presented, on the fifth day sifter the fire. The firm erected a frame building on the late front within twenty days, at a cost of $20,000, and commenced business the moment it was ready for occupancy, though, of course, on a smaller scale than previously. From that time to the present their business has increased, steadily, but rapidly, till it is now not far from 60 per cent greater than a year ago.

Hibbard & Spencer have recently removed into their new building. Nos. 30 and 32 Lake street, on the corner of Wabash avenue, where they have much better accommodations than ever. They have six full stories, including the basement, each 48 feet front by 140 fees in depth, the whole fitted up in substantial manner, with especial reference to the facilitating of business, and fitted with a most magnificent stock that is certainly not excelled, if equaled, on this continent.

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