Search Results for: chicago chronicle

Baker’s Theatre , Havlin’s (1889), Tivoli (1896), Adelphi (1898), Columbus (1901), Wabash (1914)
Life Span: 1887-1943
Location: 1838 S. Wabash
Architect: TBD

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Columbus Theatre

Chicago Tribune, July 28, 1889

Havlin’s Theatre, on Wabash avenue near Eighteenth street, opened last evening with a performance of Lecocq’s comic opera, “The Pretty Persian; or, The Hullah’s Bride.” The opera is the one which has been adapted and is now being played by Francis Wilson’s company under the title of “The Oolah.” The opera as given at Havlin’s is an English adaptation by I. W. Narcross Jr., and it is claimed that this is the first complete representation of the opera in English. The company is the Norcross opera company, with Miss Laura Bellini, formerly with the “Gypsy Baron” company, as prima-donna. She is supported by Misses Lila Blow, Hattie Harvey, Messrs. Burt Haverly, Stuart Harold, I. W. Norcross Jr., Ed Vanvegten, J. C. Abdil, etc. The company gives a pleasant performance of the opera, playing it with a good deal of spirit, though under conditions. which were rather disheartening, as, in consequence of the heavy storm, there was water in the dressing-rooms of the theatre to the depth of fifteen inches, and the players effects had to be removed to rooms in the upper part of the building. Three feet of water in the cellar rendered the electric light plant useless and recourse was had to gas, which fortunately was unaffected by the flood. Notwithstanding the storm an audience of fair size was present at the opening.

The theatre has been newly decorated and, with the handsome stage settings of the different scenes, made an excellent impression. The costumes are new and supply many bright bits of color. The chorus is effective and produces a good body of tone in the finales, besides contributing a fair amount of action.

Rand, McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views and Guide to Chicago, 1893

Havlin’s Theater, South Side, on the west side of Wabash Avenue, between Eighteenth and Twentieth streets, was built to spare residents the long and uncomfortable trip on a slow and rattling cable. This theater ruined its originator, Mrs. Baker, before it was opened to the public. It is large, and presents attractive plays, and as an old favorite it is well worth visiting.

Columbus Theater, 1903

Chicago Chronicle, August 2, 1896

OPENING OF THE TIVOLI
New South Side Resort
The new Tivoli theater (reconstructed and remodeled from Havlin’s), Wabash avenue and Nineteenth street, will be opened to the public next Saturday evening. The public opening, however, will be preceded by a special “first night’ performance to an audience of about 1,000 specially invited guests on next Friday evening, Aug. 7. The opening of the “Tivoli” will constitute the news event of the week in theatrical circles and much interest is felt in the fortunes of the new- house, especially since it is the first theater in Chicago to be run upon the Koster & Bial New York plan, which permits of serving refreshments all through the house. For years past the expediency of maintaining a first-class theater upon this plan in Chicago has been the theme of theatrical gossip, and in the new “Tivoll” the experiment is at least fairly started. For size, lines of sight and other necessary adjuncts of a popular auditorium the house will creditably compare with any theater building, and with exits and entrances on all sides it can be kept most agreeably cool. The remodeling of the building has completely transformed it into an entirely different theater from the former Havlin’s. Adjoining the theater proper, and reached from the main balcony, is a large and well-appointed cafe, where refreshments and supper will be served. The service of refreshments, both In the theater and the cafe, is a feature of the “Tivoli” which will be most strictly looked after. Another new feature here, but similar to the Koster & Bial programme, 1s a popular concert which is to follow the regular performance every evening from 10:30, or about that, until midnight. It is stated that the orchestra will be an unusually good one, in charge of Selli Simonson as musical director, assisted by Banks Cregier as concert director.

The remodeling and decoration of the house has been an expensive undertaking, but it has resulted in one of the most attractive theaters in the country, possessing a handsome interior elaborately treated in white and gold, which will doubtless light up effectively. The “Tivoli” is to be devoted to comic opera and “Girofle-Girofla” is the opening attraction, with a chorus of fifty voices and orchestra of twenty five picked musicians. Mlle. Nina Carritte, formerly of the Carl Rosa opera company, and who came to the United States under contract to Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau, is the prima donna soprano of the new company, which includes Payne Clark, formerly tenor of the Tavary company; W. H. Stewart of the Bostonians; Charles Bigelow, as leading comedian; Myra Morrella, Grace Milton, Bessie Fairbairn, etc. The sale of seats commences at the box office tomorrow morning.

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Young Women’s Christian Association (Y.W.C.A.) Hotel

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Y.W.C.A. Hotel, South Michigan Hotel
Life Span: 1895-2010
Location: 830 South Michigan Avenue
Architect: John M. Van Osdel II

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904
Young Women’s Christian Assn. Bldg.—288 Michigan av.

Y.W.C.A. Hotel
1895

Chicago Tribune, March 12, 1895

The corner-stone of the new Young Women’s Christian Association Building—the home to shelter hundreds of stranger-girls in the days to come—was laid yesterday afternoon with interesting exercises. Mrs. Leander Stone, the President of the association, placed the box in its resting place, having spoken these words:

moneyless, with all respectable places walled against her entrance. May the doors of this new home stand open. ever beckoning the wanderer to safety and repose. So we lay this corner-stone to a building devoted to the working girls of Chicago. In the words of the constitution, its purpose is to promote the moral, religious, intellectual. and temporal welfare of women, especially women dependent upon themselves for support. May the benediction of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rest upon the home, its inmates and supporters.

Dr. Benson Makes an Address.
Prior to the ceremonies a luncheon to participating ministers. their wives, and members of the Young ‘Women’s Christian Association Board was given at temporary headquarters, No. 291 Michigan avenue, which is immediately south of the new building. The program was given in the parlors, adjourn. merit to the new building being made for the final ceremony. After a scriptural reading by the Rev. Mr. Rouse and a vocal solo by Miss Fleming Dr. P. S. Henson was introduced to speak. He said in part:

This is an occasion of profoundest interest. It is the latest. the noblest work of applied Christianity. It was Napoleon who said. ‘The want of France is mothers.’ Today the want of the world is homes. It any one needs a home it is the stranger-girl bravely battling for bread in a treat city. In all the years I do not believe there will arise a greater monument than the building around whose foundation we stand today.

Bishop Cheney spoke as follows:

In the British Museum an old scrap of paper, yellowed with age, reads: ‘Aug. 16, 1669. Received of Samuel Simmons in full. John Milton.’ This was the value placed by Samuel Simmons on “Paradise Lost.” As the judgment of that book has been reversed so has the estimation of woman. During the time of the Re. man Empire she was the toy of man: today she carries oil from men the honors of the universities. The need of today is homes for girls. For years I have been impressed with the fact that the tendency of Christianity seems to be the care of young men. How many ministers preach courses of sermons for young women, think you! It seems to be taken for granted that women have reached buch a high standard that they are free from temptation. The building whose corner-stone is to be laid today is testimony that young women do need shelter and guidance.

Hard to Rescue the Fallen.
The Rev. Mr. Herbert, the new pastor of Oak Park Church, said it was bard to rescue the fallen.

“It is infinitely better to do preventive work,” he continued, as does the Young Women’s Christian Association.” Answering the complaint made that the ground purchased by the association was too expensive he said: “Nothing is too good for the work of keeping young women unspotted.”

The greatness of the occasion was declared by the next speaker, Dr. William M. Lawrence, to be in the beauty of the spirit which inspired the home for young women. The Rev. Mr. Harris was of the opinion that the women of the association crystallized more gospel in the laying of the corner-stone than the ministers of Chicago could do in twenty-five years.

The Rev. Mr. Milner of Armour Institute referred to a man interested in an extensive refuge who said: “It will pay if it saves one boy.” A friend asked if the statement was not extravagant. “Not if the boy is my son,” was the rejoinder. On the same principle the new building, however costly, will pay if it saves only one girl.

“I am glad,” he concluded, the home is to be on a Christian basis. The Sunday riot of girls belonging to the State Home for Juvenile Offenders is evidence of an attempt to run a refuge on a heathen basis.”

Addresses were also given by the Rev. W. B. Riley and the Rev. Gow, after which Mrs. Stone with a few simple words consigned the box to the corner-stone. Prayer was offered by the oldest minister in Chicago. the Rev. Luke Hitchcock, and the benediction was pronounced by the Rev. J. H. Barrows.

Commodious and Elegant Structure.
The new building is to be a commodious and elegant structure of seven stories and a basement. It will be equipped with all modern improvements and surmounted with a roof garden. The home, to be completed next October, will cost $125,000. Designed as a permanent as well as a temporary home, it will be equipped with everything that will aid woman’s development physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually. At a nominal cost all these advantages will be accorded the self-supporting girl.

The officers of the association are: President, Mrs. Leander Stone; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. W. W. Aliport, Mrs. A. L. Coe, Mrs. AV. W. Wilcox. Mrs. J. G. Parker, Mrs. I. K. Hamilton, Mrs. F. B. Myers: Recording Secretary, Mrs. A. S. Chamberlin; Treasurer, Miss M. E. True.

Chicago Chronicle, February 22, 1896

Far, far from the home of the lonesome boys the Young Men’s Christian Association building on La Salle street is the home of the lonesome girls, the fine new building of the Young Women’s Christian association at 288 Michigan avenue. The new home of this association was christened last night with “frappe” that aided not in keeping out the chill of the outer air. Today it will be thrown open to the general public and a continuous reception will be held. After that the 100 young women who are at present taking advantage of the opportunities of the association will be allowed to rest in quiet.

The opening reception last night was for the members of the association and those who have contributed in the slightest to the erection and furnishing of the seven-story hotel for that is what it is. Three hundred people were present and they included a host of the city’s society leaders. In the auditorium on the second floor they listened to five-minute speeches by the following ministers: Drs. Thomas Henderson Hurst and Ray Dr A Canfield invoked the prayer and the audience united in reading Psalm 23. Besides these exercises there was a song by Miss Lettie Davis and a violin solo by Miss Taylor who are boarders in the home The young ladies were enthusiastically applauded.

After the exercises the audience was invited to inspect the building and spent an hour or more in admiring the cheerful and tasteful way in which the rooms were furnished and in listening to the music of a violin quartet. At intervals the visitors encountered large bowls that looked strange in their environment but were found to contain interesting temperance beverages. This part of the entertainment was in charge of Mrs Ellsworth Gross and she was assisted by Mrs Madison Kennedy and Misses Caroline Fisher. Florence Hutchinson, Marion Martin, Lillian Gillette and Jean Hill.

A prominent feature of the building is a marble bust of the president of the association Mrs Leander Stone, who if she were a man would be called a veteran. She has given sixteen years to the service of the association and has won the love and esteem of her associates to such an extent that the presidency is probably hers for life.

The new home the Young Women’s Christian association contains about 300 apartments for boarders each room being furnished at the expense of some member of the association parlors furnished by various churches and a gymnasium a kitchen and a laundry furnished by churches or ladies interested in the association. The three parlors on the main floor were furnished respectively by the People’s church, St Paul’s Universalist church and Plymouth church.

The seven-story red brick and terra cotta Young Women’s Christian Association Hotel (located at 830 South Michigan Avenue) was designed by Chicago architect John M. Van Osdel II, nephew of prominent Chicago architect John Mills Van Osdel II. construction of the property was completed in 1895.

The late 19th century hotel is one of the oldest Y.W.C.A. buildings in the country, and was the first to be built in the City of Chicago. the Y.W.C.A. originally used to house working women newly arriving in the city following the 1893 World’s Fair. located near the Illinois Central railroad station and within a reasonable distance to the heart of the loop, It was was designed to take advantage of views along Michigan Avenue and the lake, with projecting triangular bay windows on the top floors and a renaissance inspired loggia dressed in ornamental terra cotta on the second floor.

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Architectural drawing of the Y.W.C.A. Entrance
1895

Chicago Tribune, December 11, 1925
By Genevieve Forbes Herrick.

Cyrus H. McCormick yesterday translated into enduring form the devotion to girls work which, his wife, Harriet Hammond McCormick, manifested until her death five years ago, when he, with his two sons, Cyrus and Gordon, gave to the Young Women’s Christian association of Chicago, for the immediate construction of a ten story memorial building at the northeast corner of Dearborn and Oak streets.

At the conclusion of the local board meeting yesterday morning. Mrs. Hermon B. Butler, president. announced the gift, and read the letter from the chairman of the International Harvester company which had accompanied it. The letter read in part:

The building, as designed by Berlin and Swern, architects, is to be built on the cross plan. with four wings extending from the center and leaving 1 triangular spaces for courtyards and gardens. Private rooms with the latest equipment will be available for more than 500 girls. A special section will be devoted to the housing of transient guests.

Lecture rooms, gymnasiums, club rooms. dining halls and a large solarium will provide a variety of facilities for study. recreation and entertainment.

Miss Theresa A. Clow, director of the Y. W. C. A. residence at 830 South Michigan avenue, who will be director of the new building, yesterday called attention to one more feature of the plans. It is a private model kitchen and dining room where a girl may cook and serve a special dinner to a caller who chances to be fed up on cafeterias. Work is scheduled to start on the new residence in the early spring. Ultimately It is planned to build a series of subsidiary homes, from the Income derived from the main building, but the main- building will continue to be the “mother” house. It will probably be called the Harriet Hammond McCormick Memorial Temple.

Chicago Tribune, November 3, 2009

If South Michigan Avenue’s so-called Streetwall, a strip of historic buildings on the western border of Grant Park, must be weaker, at least maintain its impressive facade, a preservationist and residents say.

The city and the owner of a seven-story property at 830 S. Michigan, known to preservationists as a historical gem for its impressive attention to detail on one of the oldest YWCA buildings in the country, are trying to figure out how to best deal with the long-deteriorating building.

The owner, Michigan 830 LLC, has filed an application to tear down the structure, a move that some in the area say is a shame given the rich history of the building. Last week, nearby residents, along with staff from Ald. Bob Fioretti, 2nd, attended a court hearing in which the city was given a Nov. 12 deadline to come up with a plan for the structure. Exactly what those plans are have yet to be revealed.

The building was designed by John M. Van Osdel II—nephew of prominent Chicago architect John Mills Van Osdel—to fit in line with some of the nearby extravagant hotels of the time. Construction of the property was completed in 1895.

Instead of having the look of a typical charitable organization, the YWCA building was lavishly ornamented with brick and terra cotta and used to house working women newly arriving in the city, said Jim Peters, president of the nonprofit advocacy group Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois, which placed the structure on its endangered landmarks list last year.

The roof of the former YWCA building has several holes. The rest of the abandoned structure, built in 1895, is also in disrepair, Among the problems are loose or rotting bords in the walls, water damage, collapsed walls and large holes in the ceilings, court records show.

Now, the building is dilapidated, abandoned for at least 20 years after having been a hotel since 1929, Peters said. Although saving the integrity of the entire building seems too costly at this point, Peters and others would like to save the facade, now hidden by scaffolding, to keep with many of the surrounding historic buildings. The strip of buildings is known to some as South Michigan’s “Streetwall” and encompasses buildings on Michigan between 11th Street and Randolph Street.

“We’d love to see the building be rehabilitated. But it may be beyond that point of no return,” Peters said.

The city’s Department of Buildings lists several problems with the structure in a complaint filed last year with Cook County Circuit Court’s municipal department, said Jenny Hoyle, a spokeswoman for the city’s Law Department. Violations include accumulating debris, holes, breaks, loose or rotting boards in the walls, extensive water damage, collapsed walls and large holes in the ceilings, court records show.

Peters said that if approached, Landmarks Illinois could conduct a study to further examine options.

The building’s owner could not be reached for comment Friday.

Andy Pierce, an assistant to Fioretti, said it is too soon to tell what will become of the lot if it is demolished.

Underneath shabby gray-blue paint is gorgeous red brick, parts of which are now exposed to show the facade’s original charm. “Young Women’s Christian Association” still reads in a faded white outline above the doorway.

Peters said great attention was paid to the design of the facade, including the triangular-shaped bay windows on the upper two floors. They are designed in such a way as to allow a person to look north and south on South Michigan, a detail not often found on buildings, he said.

The design also has a mix of Italianate and Flemish-derived details, and the second floor featured an open-air loggia, where residents could sit in a secured area and enjoy the lake’s breezes, Peters said.

“It was very much in the style of a large-scale residential building. The idea was to dress it up, make a very fancy place for what was considered low-cost housing,” Peters said.

Harvey Choldin, 70, a retired University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign sociology professor, moved into a neighboring condo in the former Crane Co. Building at 888 S. Michigan in 2002 after the structure went under a desperately needed makeover.

When he was growing up in the 1940s and 1950s, he said, few people dared to live in gritty downtown.

“When I was growing up, I came here for the Field Museum or the aquarium. But it wasn’t much of a place to live,” Choldin said.

But he was excited to find his condo now, in the middle of downtown’s action, where one could easily shop, take in the opera, and where the lake was easily accessible.

Although the residents at 888 S. Michigan cannot see their neighboring building without trying, if one leans over the ledge of the complex’s rooftop patio, several holes and crumbled brick can be seen scattered about the roof next door.

The vacant building was a draw for taggers who used the property to deface another building nearby. Last year, Choldin said, vandals broke into the YWCA property and used the access to tag graffiti on the wall of the Johnson Publishing Building on the other side. The damage has since been over.

Choldin accepts that not much may be done to completely restore the YWCA building, but he said completely demolishing it would ruin the balance of the historic neighborhood.

“It would be like someone with a really nice smile with one tooth missing,” Choldin said.

Gayle Veltrop, 56, an artist and technical writer who lives on the eighth floor of the Crane Co. Building, said that if used creatively, the old YWCA building could be a prime location for boutiques or restaurants that already dot much of the historic strip.

“If you look, everything else is all rehabbed — and then you have scaffolding on that building,” Veltrop said. “It is a nice neighborhood. … The more this area is redone, the more the place stands out.”

Y.W.C.A. Hotel
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map
1906

The Fair Department Store II

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The Fair Department Store
Life Span: 1897-1984
Location: Northwest Corner State and Adams Streets
Architect: William Le Baron Jenney and William B. Mundie

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Fair (The)

The Inter Ocean, September 12, 1897

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Chicago is not to be outdone in the matter of big stores. She now claims the largest store in the world. A giant structure of terra cotta and steel, towering majestically, head and shoulders over any of its kind on earth, the crowning glory of twenty-two years of typical Chicago push, pluck, and energy. The ambition of the proprietors of the Fair, to have the largest store in the world, is at last realized, and in a way the city may well be proud of. No handsomer or more substantial building can be found within its gates. Not only in size and magnificence is the new Fair a marvel, but it is also a record-breaker from the point of rapid construction.

With characteristic enterprise its proprietors determined to accomplish a feat in rapid building never equaled before. As far as can be ascertained, it is estimated that the erection of this building consumed a little more than half the time previously taken in the erection of any building of similar construction. An idea of the marvelous rapidity with which the work was pushed can be formed by the time taken to build the last section, 143×140 feet, nine stories and basement, on the corner of State street and Marble place.

On May 24 last excavation was begun and finished on June 21. On June 24 all concrete piers were finished and ready for foundation stools and basement columns; 4,125,600 pounds of structural iron was erected in twenty-four days; 185,000 square feet of fireproof tile arches were set in twenty-one days; 400 steel columns were fireproofed in five days; 1,846,000 feet of flooring were laid in eleven days; 40,000 square feet of polished plate glass were set in five days. Nine stories of elevation, including all terra cotta courses, including 400,000 brick, were set in thirteen days; 60,000 square feet of plastering was finished in nineteen days; five elevators were consstructed in twenty-nine days; 20,000 square feet of roofing were done in three days; 5,000 wagon-loads of sand were used in making mortar, and an average of 1,000 men were employed every day. Jenney & Mundie are the architects.

To the George A. Fuller company is due the credit of this wonderful performance. They have again demonstrated that they beat the world in the matter of fast building, the Fair building breaking all previous records for fireproof construction.

To execute the order for the iron construction the great plant of the Carnegie steel works set aside all other contracts and put their entire force working on the iron for the Fair building. The principal subcontractors who contributed to this lightening work for the George A. Fuller Construction company were the Pioneer Fireproof Construction company, who furnished the fireproof material; the Northwestern Terra Cotta company, who furnished the terra cotta; H. S. Tobey, plastering contractor; the Winslow Bros. company, who furnished the ornamental iron for the building; the Crane Elevator company, who furnished the elevators; Adams & Kimbark furnishing the electrical plant, E. Baggott the plumbing, and John Davis the steam pipes.

The Fair building as it appears now. The view as from the southeast corner of State and Adams streets, overlooking both frontages, that of State street, from Adams to Marble place, and that of Adams street, from State street to Dearborn street. The block of ground in the very heart of the best portion of the shopping district. All the transit lines of the city are ready of access, North, South, and West Side cable lines passing the building on three sides. It will be observed that while the structure is an architectural creation, the needs of trade, adequate light, and convenient entrances, have been most carefully conserved. The building represents the very latest development of steel fireproof skeleton construction. It is worth of note that the pioneers in this movement, Jenny and Mundie, designers of the first building, of the kind in the world, are the architects for the Fair. Their success in this building has been notable.

Weight, 797,000,000 Pounds
In order to appreciate the magnitude of this work, and the skill with which it was executed, it must be taken into consideration that the enormous amount of material was handled on the busiest part of the busiest street in Chicago, and that in carrying on the work the business of the Fair was practically undisturbed. Some idea of the immensity of the entire building can be obtained from the enormous amounts of materials used in its construction. The total weight of the building is estimated in the neighborhood of 797,000,000 pounds; the following quantities having been used:

Ten boilers and ten engines, with a total of 1,500 horse power, are required to run the big electric light, heating, and elevator plants. Thirteen series arc dynamos produce 845 arc lights, four Westinghouse incandescent direct connected dynamos feed 8,000 incandescent lights. Eleven passenger and seven freight elevators are in the building. The entire store will be equipped with the Grinnell automatic fire system, making the spreading of a fire an impossibility. Thousands of gallons of water would pour down from the pipes in the ceiling if ever a heat of 150 degrees would reach them.

Interior Fittings
In this great store there are over 31,700 feet of counters. Think of it! Nearly six miles, or seventy blocks of counters. There are two immense light shafts in the store, 47×55 and 47×51 feet, respectively, permitting a flood of daylight to enter the store. In fact, the store is bright as day everywhere. In all, 1,587 big windows keep things light and bright. The great ceiling, eighteen and one-half feet high on the main floor and fifteen and one-half to thirteen and one-half high in the upper floors, permit an abundance of fresh air and light, as well as producing a large and grand effect, unequalled anywhere. The aisles are unusually wide, insuring the comfort of customers. Four large stairways lead from the basement to the upper floors. Spacious toilet and waiting-rooms are on the second floor, as are also a nursery and writing-room, as well as a sickroom for customers who may be taken ill in the store at any time. No expense has been spared with an eye to the accommodations of customers.

The show windows are a sight in themselves. Think of a stretch of 650 feet of plate glass, behind which all kinds of merchandise are artistically displayed. The corner window on State and Adams streets is said to be the largest show window in the country. The Fair is a city in itself, employing 3,000 employes. Sixty wagons and 200 horses are used in the delivery of goods. In fact, a volume could be written about this grand structure, and when one looks back at the small beginning of the now largest store in the world the story of its success is even more marvelous than the magnitude of this building. No words can too highly sing the praises of the progressiveness of its proprietors. No sudden influx of capital has made this store great. Its progress has been of its own making, steadily and constantly forging ahead, a succession of successes. By dint of tireless energy, keen foresight, putting their shoulders to the wheel, and paying strict attention to their business, and their business only, they have scored one of the most wonderful successes in the history of the mercantile world. A brief history of the Fair is apropos.
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Early History of The Fair
In the fall of 1875 The Fair was established by E. J. Lehmann in a small, one-story store, 16×80 feet, sixteen feet north of the corner of Adams street on State street. The original space occupied by the Fair was therefore but 1,280 square feet. The total capital was less than $1,000. A diminutive department store, the stock was composed of jewelry, notions, pictures, chinaware, and some articles of hardware. The policy was to buy and sell for cash only, and to sell for less than prevailing prices elsewhere. Quick sales at small profits was the motto. It was here that odd prices originated; by asking a uniform small profit on all goods, it made off prices a necessity as well as a novelty. Before this time an article which a merchant bought, for instance, for 5 cents would be sold at other stores for 10 cents. The Fair sold the same article for 6 to 7 cents.

Following the panic of 1873 the Fair started when there was a great demand for cheap goods and low prices. It did not take people long to discover that it opaid them to buy here. If they bought an article which did not please them, they could bring it back and have it exchanged or get their money back, as they desired, which at that time was an unknown accommodation. The small store prospered, so much that in 1877 the next store north on State street, with a sixteen-foot frontage, then occupied by a milliner, was acquired, giving a total of thirty-two feet frontage on State street. In 1878 the store south on the corner of State and Adams street was taken in, this store at that time being operated by McNamara’s candy store. This gave to the Fair a State street frontage of forty-eight feet. Immediately afterward two vacant stores on Adams street were acquired, giving total frontage of forty-eight feet on State street and 140 feet on Adams street, a growth of five and one-half times its original size in a little more than two years and a half. New lines of merchandise were constantly being added to this stock, and by this time the Fair sold a little of everything. The next year, 1879, W. F. Nelson’s paint store and Magner & Winslow’s meat market, having a frontage of forty-five feet on Adams street, were added to the Fair.

First Large Stock Purchase
Then it was that the first large stock was bought, that of Stein’s dollar store, which doubtless will be remembered by many who were familiar with State street in those days. The stock was over $50,000, and was sold at the sheriff’s sale to the highest bidder. The Fair secured it. It was a daring purchase, but proved to be a big success. The stock was sold at low prices and created a great deal of talk. The business increased faster than ever. The demand for more kinds of merchandise and larger assortments were so pressing that in 1880 a five-story and basement stone front building, forty-six feet on State street, then occupied by James P. Dalton’s house-furnishing store, was leased. This was the first high store the Fair occupied, all the balance were only one-story high, with no basement. Adjoining the Faiur stores on Adams street wasa block still fresh in the minds of many Chicagoans, built by Marcus Stearns, during the panic of 1873, when there was a demand for cheap stores and flats. it was known as the Economy block. It contained eight stores on Adams street and ten stores on Dearborn street and eighteen flats above these. One by one the Fair began to occupy these stores and flats, until in 1884 it had absorbed the entire Economy block, and acquired an additional 165 feet of frontage on Adams and 190 feet on Dearborn street. Among these stores was Alexander Bros.’ restaurant, which was purchased and occupied by the Fair.

In 1885 another large stock was bought, that of the Famous, then doing business on the northwest corner of State and Quincy streets.

The store had been closed by the sheriff; the stock was immense. Once more the Fair was fortunate in securing a great quantity of general merchandise, far below the market value. The sale of this stock proved even more successful than the first big purchase, and added greatly to the Fair patronage.

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Incorporation of the Business
In 1886 the business had attained such large proportions that it was decided to merge it into a corporation. The capital stock was $200,000, Otto Young becoming one of the incorporators, and from that time on taking an active part in the direction of the business.

An amusing incident is chronicled of Mr. Young’s first large purchase. In 1887 a merchant named Sherik ran what was known as The Bankrupt Store, at the corner of State and Marble place, immediately adjoining the Fair stores. He failed, and the stock was ordered sold by the court. It was but a few minutes before the sale that Mr. Young heard of it, and, going in without knowing the value of the stock, bought it with the leasehold for $40,000, and went back to the Fair to draw the check. While he was drawing the check his partner, Mr. Lehmann, asked him what it was for.

“To pay for the Sherik stock and lease.”

“What is it worth,” asked Mr. Lehmann.

“I do not know, and I don not care,” was the reply, which almost threw his astonished partner off his feet.

“You are paying $40,000 for it, and do not know what it is worth?”

“Yes,” said Mr. Young, as he signed the check.

“What is the meaning of this?” asked Mr. Lehmann.

“It means that the lease is worth that much,” said Mr. Young, as he walked out. Just how much the lease is worth Mr. Young does not say, but he realized $75,000 for the stock and got the lease for nothing, adding a five-story building, with forty-eight more of State street frontage to the Fair.

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Full Block Secured
Then there remained but two stores in the entire block not controlled by the Fair, occupied then by Estey & Camp’s piano house and Grant’s coffee store, with a frontage of forty-six feet. The continual growth of the Fair made it a necessity to secure these stores, and in 1888 they became part of the Fair, and thye desire of the proprietors to spread the business over the entire block was at last realized. The growing business made an increase of the capital necessary, and in 1888 the capital was increased to $500,000. The growth from 1888 to 1890 was phenomenal, necessitating an increase of capital to $1,000,000 and the formation of plans whereby more selling space could be obtained.

It was in this year that the idea of obtaining long leases in the ground and erecting a substantial mercantile building became operative. A ninety-nine-year lease was secured from the Marcus Stearns estate for the entire Economy Block, 190 feet front on Dearborn street by 165 feet on Adams street, on which the Fair was erected, in 1891, the first section of the new completed building, a magnificent nine-story and basement modern fireproof department store. Despite this great acquisition of space, it became apparent soon after that nothing but a building covering the entire block would prove adequate for the constantly growing business. Long leases were secured for the additional property, and on Dec. 28, 1896, the wreckers began demolishing the old buildings on the corner of State and Adams streets.

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Business Never Interrupted.
During the entire rebuilding the business of the Fair continued uninterruptedly, and they have, during the entire time, kept open State street entrances. When the wrecking began on Dec. 2 the entire State street corner and all the low buildings on Adams street back to Marble place were torn down, leaving nothing but the five-story brick building on State street and Marble place. Long covered runways are constructed on all floors joining this building with the Dearborn street one, and while the throngs of shoppers were trading inside, above and below them and on all sides the work of construction was going on.

A most remarkable piece of work was accomplished in the transferring of the stock from the old five-story building to the new corner. Up to 6 o’clock in the afternoon of Dec. 26 business was being conducted in the old building as usual. There were no indications that a great transformation scene was about to take place. At 8 o’clock Monday morning, Dec. 28, the new corner was open for business, all the departments and stocks were in their proper places, the old building was deserted, and the passers-by saw only an empty, gloomy structure, already in the course of demolition, once the pride of that part of State street. The entire stock had been moved, counters and shelving placed, and the entire store cleaned and ready for business in a day.

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Stocks and Assortments Enlarged
In the new building the stocks and assortments have necessarily been greatly enlarged and include everything necessary to clothe man, woman, or child from head to foot, or to furnish the house from top to bottom. The departments are distributed as follows:

The light, airy basement is devoted to the sale of house furnishings, hardware, and woodenware, these mammoth departments occupying the entire space.

On the first floor, near the Adams and State street entrances are jewelry, watches, clocks, silverware, cutlery, drug sundries, optical goods, and stationery. Toward the center of State street, at the extreme front, are the ladies’ gloves, ribbons, handkerchiefs, vellings, neckwear, notions, embroidery, laces, and trimmings. Back toward the immense lightwell the greatly enlarged silk, velvet, black and fancy dress-goods departments will be found. Toward the North State street entrance are the linens, leather goods, and a series of special bargain squares. Toward the center of the store and in front of the elevators are the candy and soda departments.

A little further back are the hosiery, books, stationery, and umbrellas. Along the Dearborn street front are shoes, blank books, office supplies, men’s furnishings, drugs, hats and caps, cigars and tobacco.

On the second floor will be found the immense cloak and suit, fur, millinery, fancy goods, and ladies’ and children’s underwear departments. Also the bicycle, sporting goods, hair goods, horse goods, and men’s and boy’s clothing.
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On then third floor are the pictures and frames, trunks and satchels, china, crockery, and glassware, stoves, musical instruments, artists’ materials, toys, willowware, and Japanese goods departments. On this floor is also found the restaurant, with a seating capacity of 400, where a general and very excellent bill of fare is served; also the kitchen and steam laundry.

The fourth floor is devoted exclusively to the sale of furniture, carpets, rugs, curtains, upholstery, and wall paper.

The fifth floor is occupied by the mammoth grocery department, and also for lunchrooms and cloakrooms for the hundreds of employes.

On the sixth floor are the carpet fitting and sewing-rooms. All carpets are sewed by electricity. Five yards of heavy Brussels, Axminister, or Wilton, or velvet carpets can be sewed in one minute, and the stitch is far stronger and more even than handwork, that could not be done in ten times the time. On this floor is also the mail-order department and a number of reserve stock rooms.

On the seventh floor is the receiving-room, a busy place, indeed. Hundreds of cases of merchandise from all parts of the world are received and handled here daily. Seven freight elevators and a corps of men are kept continually busy bringing goods up and down from different floors. The balance of this floor and entire eighth and ninth floors are used for reserve stock rooms. Great quantities of merchandise of all kinds must be kept in reserve at all times to be drawn on from the retail floors as needed.

Of Historical Interest
It is interesting to note that one-half of the property on which the Fair stands was at one time owned by Marshal La Valette, a marshal under the first Napoleon, who later on became Postmaster General of France. In 1837 he sold the half block, 190 feet on State street by 185 on Adams, along with the entire block now bounded by Jackson and Adams streets, Fifth avenue (Wells Street), and Franklin street, for $9,000. The value of these two pieces of property today is no less than $4,000,000.

In 1871 Marcus Stearns, who for many years had owned the other part of the Fair site, 190 feet on Dearborn street by 165 feet on Adams street, determined to offer at public auction this piece of property. Accordingly he scattered circulars broadcast, announcing that on Tuesday, October 10, 1871, there would be sold at public auction, in Stearns’ subdivision, as he called it, valuable central property. The circulars pointed out the fact that across the street was the postoffice, the famous Bigelow house, and that Potter Palmer ran a magnificent hotel but a block away. W. A. Butters & Co. were named as the auctioneers. The sale promised a big attendance, but on Oct. 9, the day before the time set for the sale, the big fire came roaring along, and there was no more thought of auction. In after years, as Marcus Stearns saw this property increase in value, he must indeed have congratulated himself that the fire prevented him from parting with it. What was worth hundred is worth many thousands today.

First Block on Fair Site.
The first brick building in Chicago, and built of the first brick made in Chicago, was erected on a portion of the Fair site at about where No. 75 Adams street is now. It was a one and and half story house, about twenty feet square. The bricks were red. The man who made the brick was Henry S. Lapham, now living, a resident of Branch county, Michigan.

Early in the spring of 1833 he came to Chicago with a man named Ingersoll, who had been to Detroit in search of a brickmaker. He was an agent for Mr. Nobles, who was about to start a brickyard. Arrived here, he found three frame houses, three places where goods were sold, and a number of loghouses, occupied by French traders and half-breeds. Mr. Nobles abandoned the idea of brickmaking, but a man named Tyler K. Blodgett, who had thought of the same business, but had given in up (concluding two yards could not be supported) now agreed upon terms with Lapham as foreman of his yard. This was located on the north bank of the main river, about forty rods east of the North branch (Dearborn and Clark Streets). They readiy found clay. They made their brick in much the same manner as at present, except they were molded by hand. There being no bridges, the bricks were conveyed across the North branch to the now West Side, then across the South Branch to the now South Side, the workmen constructing their own bridges of bents covered with poles. The first owner was Mr. Blodgett, then Mr. Bond, last M. C. Stearns. It stood until the big fire claimed it for ashes.

The Fair School
The Fair gives to its cash girls the advantage of attending school. Every morning from 8 to 10 a hundred or more cash girls may be seen on the third floor, in the southwest portion of the restaurant, going through their exercise, the same as they would in any public school. Reading, writing, spelling, grammar, geography, history, and arithmetic are taught. A competent teacher has for five years had charge of the class. Any girl who has not had the opportunity to avail herself as thoroughly as she might of our public-school system is allowed, upon coming to work at the Fair, to pursue her studies very much in the same way as if she were in school. It is doubtful if any school in the land can produce such a studious, attentive class. In deportment and scholarship they rank high, and many a teacher in the regular schools would be proud of such a class as this. Every year at the regular school closing time these children hold their closing exercises, have recitations, singing, etc., invite their parents and friends, the same as is done in the public schools. In fact, they go their non-working cousins one better, as on that day the management provides them with all the ice cream and cake they can eat, and eat they do.

The Fair believes in the progressive system. As soon as any of these girls can be promoted to wrappers, it is done; then they are made inspectors; afterward clerks. The proficient then become heads of stocks, and are then in line for assistant buyerships; and cash girls in the Fair have become buyers.

The shipping-room of this vast establishment is a sight. Here it is that mountains of merchandise come every day for delivery. Clock-like regularity alone prevents this great accumulation of goods becoming mixed up. Everything works as smoothly as if only occasionally a sauce pan or dress pattern came in. The ushers, as they are called, roll the goods in on big trucks from the various departments and distribute them in the north, south, east, or west rooms, as the destination calls for. A “caller” is ready to sing off the name of the article and name and address of the purchaser to the bill clerk, who enters them on the drivers’ delivery sheet. Another man is ready to place these goods, after they have been entered in this particular driver’s bin. At regularly appointed hours the drivers gather up their loads, secure a duplicate copy from the entry clerk of all goods charged to them, assort their load, and out they go.

As said before, a volume could be written about the greatest store in the world. Food for thought can be found in almost any point. Chicago may well be proud to claim it as hers.

General Conclusions
There can be no question but that the Fair had a great deal to do with building up State street. By its enterprise in constantly attracting so many people to its location, the Fair attracted many merchants to this vicinity, thereby creating a demand for adjacent property, and adding greatly to its value. Before the Fair commenced business, things were pretty quiet on this part of State street, but iun a few years it became the busiest part of this great retail thoroughfare.

Fireproof Magazine, June, 1905

ENLARGING THE FAIR BUILDING, CHICAGO
That the steel skeleton fireproof building is flexible has again been demonstrated, the word “flexible” in this instance meaning that the building can be readily and easily enlarged and altered. The Fair building, occupying half of the block between State, Dearborn, Adams and Monroe streets, has been recently enlarged by the addition of two stories, which were constructed without in any way interfering with the business of the store or exposing the building to damage by storms, although the work was carried on in Chicago’s worst building seasons, i. e., winter and spring.

The original designs for this building contemplated 16 stories above the street level, excepting on a small part of the lot which had been leased.

From the very beginning the Fair has enjoyed what may be called a career of expansion, demanding flexible buildings. From a small store it has gradually grown to be one of the largest and most successful in the country. The property was originally covered with a large number of small buildings from two to six stories in height, each occupying a small piece of ground. As the business increased adjoining buildings were occupied, openings
were cut through walls and difference in floor levels made up with steps or inclines. When the present building was determined upon the owners concluded that they could not afford to vacate but a small portion of their old premises, and that only for a short time, hence it was determined to build in sections, and that as rapidly as possible. It was this very condition that proved the steel skeleton and hollow tile construction flexible . The floating or spread foundation and basement columns were completed under the old buildings, which were then vacated and three or four stories of the new building were then completed and occupied as salesrooms and the upper stories and other sections hurriedly built and completed. Each completed tile arch floor served as a roof for the lower stories, and as soon as one story was completed it was occupied.

The following list will show how many changes have occurred since the commencement of the present building:

All of these operations required changes in the structure, which were made simple owing to the steel skeleton construction. The last operation was probably the most interesting because of the novelty of raising a roof of such large area and because the entire new space acquired was constantly kept inclosed. with a temporary inclosure. The raising of the roof was accomplished in two sections, partly because all of the space could not be occupied by the workmen at one time, and partly because it was thought better time could be made if the work was done in sections. The roof was disconnected at the center in a north and south direction and the east half raised first. The drums and cribs (built up with house-raising blocks) were set at the sides of the columns and the weight distributed over the floor beams and girders by means of wood and steel beams. When the roof had been raised sufficiently to allow the ninth story columns and the tenth story floor beams and girders to be set in place, the cribs and drums were set upon these beams and girders and the raising continued. The loads were distributed according to the strength of the connections at the ninth floor girders. On the street sides blocking and cribs were used in the eighth story to distribute some of the additional load of the terra cotta cornice upon the eighth floor steel. The exterior walls in the ninth story were removed to allow of the steel columns being disconnected and raised with the roof. Wood lookouts were built out from the ninth floor—a wood inclosure built out over the street and the sides were extended as the roof was raised. The vertical members of this inclosure extended above the top of the cornice and were anchored back by means of wood
ties with a loop around each upright, allowing the tie to raise and still act as an anchor. The terra cotta cornice, which weights 2,500 pounds per lineal foot, was
raised intact, although it was the original intention to take it down and reset it in its
permanent position. The old brick and terra cotta was used in the new work except where it had been damaged in the removal.

The walls of the interior courts were inclosed with wood, same as the street and alley walls, and all elevators and stairs protected with plank barricades and coverings .

The west half was handled in a similar manner, except that the old top story columns were left attached to and raised with the roof.

The following figures will show the weight raised and the time used in raising:

East Half.
Size, 190×195 feet; court, 47×62 feet.
Weight of roof, 75 pounds per square foot. Weight of cornice, 2,500 pounds per lineal
foot.
Total weight of roof, 1,800 tons.
Number of cribs, 192; screws, 591.
Additional drums in eighth story for outside walls, 48.
Scaffolding commenced January 10.
Raising commenced January 21.
Ready for ninth story columns and tenth story steel January 31.
Started raising for next story February 13.
Roof in permanent position February 21.
Commenced removal of cribs and setting of tile arches February 23.
Commenced removal of inclosure March 12.

West Half.
Size, 190×165 feet; court, 70×55 feet.
Weight of roof, 35 pounds per square foot.

Weight of cornice, 2.500 pounds per lineal foot.
Total weight of roof, 1,000 tons.
Number of cribs, 180: screws, 535.
Additional drums in eighth story for outside walls, 32.
Commenced setting cribs February 28.
Commenced raising March 11.
Ready for ninth story cribs and tenth story steel March 20.
Started raising for next story March 29.
Roof in permanent position and commenced setting balance of steel April 5.

Material was hoisted at one point on Adams street and from an overhead platform in the alley and was let down through an opening in the roof.

It was found necessary to use considerable care and ingenuity to carry on the work of raising on exactly perpendicular lines, and in order to be able to determine how the work progressed a number of plumblines were kept suspended and the variation noted at intervals.

All of the old steel that was uncovered was found practically free from rust.

The general contractors were the Wm. Grace Company, who engaged L. P. Friestedt Company for the raising and shoring. The architects were Jenney, Mundie & Jensen. The sectional drawings show the method of raising.

Illustration No. I shows a view of the building taken from the corner of State and Adams streets. The difference in color clearly indicates the old material that was left in place and the new work that was added.

The cornice and frieze were lifted bodily. The large pilaster caps were taken from the old work and reset. This picture was taken immediately after the outside scaffolding for the east section was removed and shows the scaffolding and in-closure for the west section at the time the roof of the west section had been raised about 12 feet.

Illustration No. 2 shows a view of the interior of the east section at the time when the roof had been raised to within 3 feet of its permanent location. It show’s the original ninth story columms suspended from the roof and also illustrates how the cribbing was distributed around the columns and on the steel of the new tenth floor.

Illustration No. 3 is an interior view in the east section and shows how the cribbing was distributed around the columns and the means of bracing and tying the cribbing. It also shows a new column set in place at an angle ready to slip in under the old column when it reaches the full height.

LEFT:

RIGHT: The Fair celebrated their 42nd year in 1917 with four bands playing in their store.
E. E. Sheets on the main floor, State Street side.
Paul Biese on the main floor, Dearborn side.
Ralph Foote on the third floor, Adams Street side.
Charles A. Lawrence in the restaurant on the seventh floor

Chicago Chronicle, October 25, 1897

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Announcement of the purchase of The Fair Store by S. S. Kresge (K-Mart) on March 17, 1925.

The Daily Herald, October 24, 1963

After Easter, the State Street Fair store will be converted to a Montgomery Ward store with modernization of external appearance as well as interior conveniences, R. L. Daly, Ward district manager said.

AFTERMATH

In 1900, when annual sales were about $8 million, the store had nearly 3,800 workers; by the 1910s, floor space reached nearly 800,000 square feet. The Fair had 5,500 workers, making it one of the largest employers in the city. During the 1920s, the Fair was purchased by S. S. Kresge & Co., the Detroit-based dime store chain (which would eventually become known as Kmart). Under the new ownership, the Fair opened a branch in Oak Park in 1929; during the 1950s, it added locations in Evergreen Park and Skokie. In 1957, the Fair was purchased by Montgomery Ward, a larger Chicago-based competitor.

One more Fair Store would open, at Randhurst Mall in 1962. However, the Randhurst store would also be the first converted to the Montgomery Ward nameplate, in August 1963; the other locations would convert to the parent company’s name plate in 1964. The flagship building on State Street was closed and demolished in 1984.

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Mecca Hotel, Mecca Flats
Life Span: 1892-1951
Location: 3360 S. State Street
Architect: Edbrooke & Burnham

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1903

Mecca Flats

Chicago Tribune, September 12, 1891

Work will be commenced this morning on the largest apartment house ever planned in Chicago. This immense structure will be known as the “Mecca” and will occupy the south end of the block bounded by Thirty-third, Thirty-fourth, State, and Dearborn streets.

The building will have a frontage of 266 feet on Thirty-fourth street and 234 feet on both State and Dearborn streets. It will be four stories in height and will cost, finished and equipped, $600,000. The structure will contain ninety-eight flats and twelve stores. Its outside appearance will be quite striking. The facing of the building will be of Roman pressed brick with stone and terra cotta trimmings. The bays will be of brick and terra cotta trimmings. The bays will be of brick and terra cotta, and no galvanized iron or similar material will be used in the construction. The arrangement for the building to provide for the number of flats given above is unique. The building will in fact be almost a double structure.

It is in the form of two wings, separated by a central court sixty-six feet wide and 152 feet deep. This court will open out to Thirty-fourth street through a handsome arched carriage entrance. A driveway around this court will inclose a miniature park. The State street wing will include twelve stores, opening on the street, as well as four and seven room suites fronting on the street and the interior court. In the center of each of the wings will be a covered light court, 33×170 feet, surrounded by balconies at each story, connected by four main stairways. The arrangement will resemble that of the Chamber of Commerce rotunda. From these rotundas will be entrances to every apartment in the block. There will be five entrances, two on Dearborn, two on State, and one on Thirty-fourth street. The servants’ entrances will be from the alley and from the street entrances.

An elegant interior arrangement has been planned by the projectors of the building. The basement will contain heating, lighting, power, and artificial cooling plants. The parlor of each flat will have a bay window, and hardwood sideboards will be placed in every dining-room. The kitchens will be furnished with gas ranges and refrigerators.

Some idea of size of the building can be obtained from the following figures:
Each floor of the entire building will contain one a half acres of floor space. The four floors will represent six acres of space. Ninety-eight flats, with five occupants to each flat, would represent a population of nearly 500. This would be sufficient for a fair-sized village. Ninety-eight cottages would cover each lot in two five-acre blocks, and with twelve stores would outrank many a rising suburb.

The history of the chain of transactions which led up to the present enterprise is interesting. The land was transferred by George W. Henry to H. C. Hullinger. Dennis Netling & Co. sold the fee if this property to J. P. Song and Frank Ray for $200,000; H. C. Hullinger took back a 99-year lease at a 6 per cent rental based on the above valuation. George F. Montgomery organized the “Mecca” company and purchased this leasehold. Plans for the building were drawn by Edbrooke & Burnham and the contracts for the erection of the block have been let to Shields & Cook.

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Chicago Tribune, October 19, 1892

Busy Times at the Hotels.
The big Mecca Hotel, with 700 rooms, will be open tonight for the reception of guests. Nearly everything has been engaged there and it is doubtful if any hotel ever had such an opoening in the matter of rush and crush as the Mecca will have tonight.

Inter Ocean, May 20, 1892

The lease of the Mecca Apartment House, at State and Thirty-fourth streets, goes to the Standard Hotel Association. The terms are ten years at $60,000 per year.

Mecca Promotional Brochure, 1892

There was a time when an inn was all a traveler required, if it provided a cot to lie upon and enough provender, be it ever so plain, for horseback and foot travel sharpened the appetite and made the meagre fare appear as nectar for the gods.

Very different are the public demands now. Beds are desired, true; but they must be of the finest springs and mattresses, eider down quilts and spotless sheets. The frame must be artistic, of fine woods or metal. The surroundings must accord. Axminster, Wilton velvet, or Moquette carpets, elegant hangings, chairs so comfortable that they woo the soul to sleep, pictures adorning the walls and expensive window hangings, screening the couch from the searching rays of the morning sun. Adjoining must be the bath, perhaps not ” of milk,” or perfumed air, but arranged with every sanitary care, hot and cold, complete, luxurious, enticing.

No fire must heat in winter, but steam or hot water must be conveyed in pipes, to provide an even temperature; then if a semblance of fire is desired to please the eye, a blazing gas log occupies the grate.

None of the delicious abandon of the long table, with the steaming roast or “potage” in the center, with the host in white apron and the guests surrounding him is now seen, but the viands must come from the kitchen prepared in the latest French style, and be served by sable waiters in spotless costume.

We can no longer climb to our rooms, but must be transported thither by luxurious elevators; every convenience for the toilet must be at hand in general washrooms, the office is now a dream of architectural elegance, the writing and reading rooms richer and more luxurious than former Ducal palaces.

Interior Atrium in the Mecca which served as the Ladies’ Parlor during the Columbian Exposition.

It is needless to tell of the numberless hotels in Chicago. It is superfluous to state that their accommodations will be taxed to the utmost during the six months Festival for all the Earth, that will be opened to the public in Chicago the first of May, 1893. What we have to do with in this article is not the general accommodations furnished by the city hostelries, but of one that comes within the requirements of any modern traveler, combining all and more than the accessories of comfort and luxury enumerated above.

THE MECCA.
Mecca is the chief town of the Hijaz, in Arabia, and the great holy city of Islam. located about forty-five miles (or two camel marches) east from Jedda, on the Red Sea. The population is variously estimated at from 50,000 to 75,000 in the seasons of pilgrimage, which follow so closely upon each other that one is scarcely ended ere another begins. To this day the inhabitants of Mecca live by the “hajj,” or letting rooms and providing for the comfort of pilgrims.

Thus the elegant hostelry which is to provide for the comfort of “Pilgrims to the World’s Fair,” is most appropriately named, and by those who stop there will be fully and pleasantly remembered, as would the ancient prototype to the earnest devotee.

The Hotel Mecca is located upon the block running from State Street to Dearborn Street, taking in a full block on Thirty-fourth Street.

Architecturally this beautiful hotel differs from any other in the United States. It is but four stories high, covering a considerable portion of Mother Earth and rendering the danger from fire, which is a matter to be considered in overcrowded sky-scrapers, almost unworthy of thought.

As one enters one of the main entrances on the State Street side, he is within the “gates of Mecca.” Long vistas of beautiful architectural effect, heightened by beautiful decoration, make one pause and admire. The interior courts running the full length of the mammoth building, two in number, are inclosed, surrounded with corridors, and with roof affording light to every part by day and brilliantly illuminated by electric lights, both arc and incandescent, at night. These rotundas are well adapted for the purposes for which they will be employed.

The one on the State Street side, where we pause first, is the office, writing rooms, general lounging quarters for gentlemen, and a magnificent promenade. The office is elegantly fitted up with every convenience and luxury known to the hotel world. The in-closed portion is of marble, with ample room for registering guests, while the facilities afforded the clerks, cashiers and office employees are in keeping with the magnitude of the house.

The same sized court extends north and south on the Dearborn Street side of the hotel, and this one is beautifully embellished with growing plants and tropical flowers. A magnificent Moquette rug extends from end to end of the waxen floor and to the very edges of the mosaic tiling which surrounds the area. This rug can be readily removed and one of the finest dancing halls in America is disclosed with its polished surface, where in the delights of the dance the fatigues of the day can be quickly forgotten.

A beautiful park, flower garden and handsome fountain belonging to and being a part of the Mecca, is an attraction that is afforded by no other hotel in the city.

Now what of the rooms? They are so built as to be furnished to guests either en suite or singly, every room having good light and pure air, and a bath with hot and cold water at all times. The finish throughout is of quarter-sawed oak, tiling and marble. The bell service is of the very best, with return call and automatic fire alarm. Each room in this vast house, numbering over seven hundred, is provided amply with incandescent lights and gas.

The furnishing of the whole hotel is of the very best. None of the rooms have been slighted, and no cheap articles have been introduced to fill up. Everything is modern and of the best quality and everything in the house is new, never having been in use prior to its introduction to the public in the Mecca’s delightful apartments.

Steam heat is furnished in every room in the house whenever required.

It was intended at the outset to run the hotel strictly upon the European plan, but the numerous requests of coming guests have caused the owners to prepare one of the most complete dining rooms and culinary departments of any hotel in the city and fully in keeping with the character of the house. The cuisine is of the very best, and the chef is a man well known in hotel circles as a man of ability in that line and gives sufficient guarantee of the perfection of the edibles and their preparation to tempt the palates of the thousands of visitors which this hotel will entertain during the coming season.

The Mecca has beyond question the finest office accommodations for telegraph, long-distance telephone, messenger service and Union rate ticket office in the West.

Notwithstanding the unusual attractions offered at this hotel the prices have been determined upon, and are so moderate that they will not create a distressing vacuum in any guest’s purse.— The Hotel Gazette, New York, October 22, 1892.

The Inter Ocean February 19, 1893

Plans have been drawn for an addition of one-story to be made to the Mecca Hotel at the corner of State and Thirty-fourth streets. It will be chiefly of glass and cost about $40,000. The addition to the Dearborn street wing will be used as a dining-room and kitchen, while the addition to the State street wing will be used as a roof garden. The National Editorial Association will establish headquarters at the Mecca next May. The Mecca management has contracted with a band of seventy-five musicians from Guadeloupe, who will furnish music in the grand court of the hotel every afternoon.¹

The Inter Ocean, May 17, 1893

The hundreds of newspaper men from all over the country who are quartered at the Mecca Hotel, at State and Thirty-fourth streets, devoted the earlier hours of yesterday to enjoyment and sight-seeing, with a view of unlimbering themselves after the fatigues of travel. They are a jolly sociable crowd and took readily and with zest to the many programmes of entertainment designed to make their stay in Chicago pleasant.

All through yesterday the rotunda of the hotel did duty as a big reception parlor and Secretary Joseph M. Page and his associates of the executive committee had a busy time making the visitors acquainted with one another and dividing them up into the little excursion parties which had been arranged for the purpose of affording the editors and their friends opportunities for visiting the World’s Fair.

The arrangements made for the comfort of the visitors could not have been better. The entire hotel is at the disposal of the Editorial Association. Every new arrival was met at the door with a cordial hand shake and invited to make himself at home, which, with the instinct of a true newspaper man, he proceeded to do instanter and without superfluous pressing.

Delegations Make Calls.
The several suites of the hotel were apportioned on geographical lines between the delegations of the different States. Large placards, displayed in the hall, proclaimed the whereabouts of the State headquarters. Ths arrangement greatly facilitated the offices of good fellowship. Formal calls could be made collectively or individually—Ohio knew where to find Florida without any unnecessary trouble, Rhode Island had non difficulty when she wanted to look in on Kansas or one of the Dakotas, and so on., As the formula, “Not at home,” had no place in the social canons of the editors, the result was as happy as could be desired, and the rooms of the different delegations were the scenes of uninterrupted merry-making.

There was always a particularly happy crowd to be found in the temporary home of hospitable California. The men from the Bear State had brought with them a generous cargo of the products of the favored Pacific slope. Scipio Craig, of the Redlands Citograph; J. A. Filcher, of the Auburn Herald, and other genial Westerners dispensed the hospitalities, and there were oranges, pears, figs, dates, and the choicest of native wines and cigars galore for all comers.

The shrewd Californians utilized the occasion for publishing to all whom it may concern what their beautiful State can produce. Their room was artistically decorated in pampas grass, wild oats, and barley and beautiful polished panels of native woods. They exhibited phenomenal limes, peaches, and potatoes, some of the latter being seven and eight pounds in weight and as large as the average baby in size.

All Praise Chicago.
As the evening advanced the rotunda of the hotel wore an animated appearance. The groups returning from the exposition were telling one another and those who remained at home of the wonderful things to be seen at Jackson park. All spoke in terms of unstinted praise of Chicago and The Fair. By degrees the groups of delighted conversationalists became smaller and in a short time the talking was left to the ladies. The gentlemen had retired to their temporary sanctums, and by 6 o’clock 1,000 editorial pencils were writing 1,000 editorial letters to as many papers scattered north, south, east, and west throughout the United States, all booming the big show in the great White City by Lake Michigan.

The day was a pleasant one for the visitors, but it was only an earnest of the many days of enjoyment awaiting them. Today at 2 o’clock the delegates and their friends will visit the Turkish village and enjoy the drama as it is interpreted in Moslem theatres. Buffalo Bill has sent a cordial invitation extending the hospitality of the Wild West show and of his Indian tepee. The Specatorium company has asked the editors to view the model of their big show. Thus evening the editors will be tendered a reception at the Auditorium by the Illinois Women’s Press Association. To-morrow, as the guests of the citizens’ committee, the editorial association will be taken over the South Side “L” road to Jackson park, and thence in a whaleback boat on a lake excursion to Lincoln park. The boat en route will be anchored for a short time near where the Yattaw hostelry used to float, when the editors will be afforded the opportunity of enjoying a good view of Chicago and a capital luncheon simultaneously. To-morrow night “America,” at the Auditorium, will be shown to visitors. On Friday night there will be another boat excursion, when the delegates will see the World’s Fair illuminated.

These are only some of the attractions designed to delight the editors. Arrangements have been made by many friends to make the two weeks’ stay of the delegates a pleasant one. The editors themselves have prepared an elaborate programmed for their convention, from which it may be opined that their stay will also be one of profit.

Chicago Chronicle, July 5, 1895

Three determined but unsuccessful attempts were made to burn the Mecca apartment building, Thirty-fourth, State and Dearborn streets, last night.

The work was so clearly that of an incendiary that Fire Marshal Mahoney called on Lieutenant Bonfield of the Stanton avenue police station for a detail of police to guard the building, and a dozen officers were sent to the scene with instructions to remain on guard until relieved by other officers.

The greatest excitement prevailed among the members of the eighty families occupying the apartments in the building, and during the earlier part of the evening thousands of people gathered on the State and Thirty-fourth street sides of the building, momentarily expecting to see flames break from some of the many windows of the big building.

First Seen in the Basement.
It was just 7:38 o’clock when a watchman saw smoke issuing from a basement window on the Dearborn street side of the building. Through the window a small blaze could be seen, burning briskly, and a fire alarm was at once turned in. Marshal Mahoney and engine company No. 16, in charge of Captain Foley, were the first to arrive on the scene. The flames had not yet gained much headway, and a stream from the engine sufficed to put an end to all damage.

Marshal Mahoney and Captain Foley then made a careful examination of that portion of the basement where the fire had been discovered. They found that an unused closet had been selected as the place for kindling the fire. A box two feet square had been placed in the little room and filled with excelsior. On top of this had been piled a lot of old newspapers and a quantity of fine kindling. The flames had nearly destroyed the box, and had ignited the wood wainscoting when extinguished.

It was clearly the work of an incendiary, but no one had been seen leaving the base-ment. and Marshal Mahoney concluded that the fire bug must be in hiding in the base-ment. A search was made through the place, but no track of the guilty party could be found, and the fire companies were ordered back to their stations.

The clanging of the fire gongs and the cries of fire had thoroughly aroused the neighborhood. The 500 persons who call the big building home rushed from their rooms pell mell through the hallways and down the stairwavs to the street. Many picked up smaller articles which they regarded the most, and throwing them together in bundles lugged them with them to places of safety, leaving the more bulky articles to be destroyed by the fire, which they thought would consume the building.

Second Blaze Discovered.
It was exactly an hour later and the fire. men had only fairly returned from the first fire and the excitement among the tenants of the building had only partly subsided, when another blaze was discovered in the basement on the Thirty-fourth street side of the building. Another alarm was turned in and the arrival of the fire department the second time threw the occupants of the building into a state of panic. Men, women and children ran through the halls and into the street terror-stricken, now believing that the building was surely to be consumed. A few minutes’ work, however, sufficed to check the blaze.

On the Thirty-fourth street side of the building is a deep court, which forms the immense structure into the shape of three wings. The second fire had been started in the basement, under the wing farthest removed from Thirty-fourth street. An examination disclosed the fact that a pile of inflammable material, similar to that used on the Dearborn street side of the building, had been made and ignited. It was close to the boilers and steam plants and against a board partition, which was charred and blackened by the flames.

Police Were On Guard.
This second attempt was made while the police were on guard, and was so bold and determined that Marshal Mahoney and the frightened occupants of the building were thoroughly aroused.
Another search was made through the big, dark basement for the fiend responsible for the fires, but, as be-fore, no trace of him was found. Marshal Mahoney finally gave up the hunt, and, cautioning the police officers to be more vigi-lant, returned to his quarters at Thirty-first and Dearborn streets.

Many of the tenants refused to be reas-sured, and would not return to their apart-ments. They stood about the street in knots talking of the events of the night. Some of the braver ones ventured into the big building and patrolled the corridors, suspiciously eyeing any stranger who ventured near geeking for information.

Third Effort Was Made.
At last the fear began to wear off and some of the tenants returned to their flats, but they were not long to remain there. As if timing his work to the minute, the incendiary started a third blaze at just 9:37 o’clock. This time it was in the basement, but on the State street side, near the north end of the building. An unused closet was again used as a receptacle for the inflammable material. Two boxes, such as are used for shipping canned goods, as be-fore, were filled with excelsior and old pa-pers. The miscreant evidently intended to make a success of it this time, for a large quantity of pine boards had been broken in small pieces and piled on top of the excelsior and paper and against the wooden partition.

The work, however, was not well done, for only the material in one of the boxes had burned when the flames were discovered, and a third alarm of fire sent in. The crowd had put out the fire before the arrival of the department and before further damage than the charring of the board partition.

Searching for the Fiend.
It was now a certainty that the originator of the three fires was concealed somewhere in the basement, and before the police were given time to act a dozen of the male tenants of the building, headed by John O. Seys, a newspaper man, had rushed into the basement, determined to find the intended destroyer of their homes and property and make short work of him if found. They searched in the vicinity of the third fire, but were at a disadvantage, as the basement was very dark, the only light being furnished by a lantern carried by one of the parties. The immense basement contains numerous out-of-the-way corners and narrow passage-ways, and the man-hunters were necessarily handicapped in their hunt.

Suddenly, while the searchers were in the north end of the basement, the noise of footsteps was heard on the hard, cement floor some distance to the south of the searching party. A rush was made in that direction and the hunted man was heard to break into a run and was then heard ascending a stairway. There all trace of him was lost. The entire basement and building was thoroughly searched by the police, firemen and citizens, but no one upon whom suspicion could be fastened was found.

Big Police Guard Placed.
The search was finally abandoned, and Marshal Mahoney again returned to his station, taking with him the charred boxes and other evidences of the incendiarism. Before leaving the scene, however, the marshal again called upon Lieutenant Bon-field for additional police guard, and more officers were sent to the scene. All during the night a large body of police patrolled the big building on all three sides, and closely questioned everyone who sought to enter.

Notwithstanding the presence of so many policemen numbers of the tenants were so thoroughly alarmed by the incendiary fires that they refused to return to their flats. Especially was this true of those occupying apartments on the upper floors of the build-ing. Long after midnight many of these were gathered in small parties in the corridors on the first floor or were on the street assisting the policemen in the work of guarding the structure.

After the third attempt at arson Marshal Mahoney was seen at the engine-house at Thirty-first and Dearborn streets.

Marshal Mahoney Talks.
“It was the boldest attempt at incen-diarism that has ever come under my no-tice.” said the marshal.
“Whoever started those fires was evidently well acquainted with the construction of the building and knew what he was about. From the fact that the three fires were discovered on the three different street sides of the building it is evident that it was the intention of the incendiary to start all three at or about the same time and have the entire basement a mass of flames before the fire department could reach the scene The scheme failed to work and thus the building was saved from damage. Had the original plan been carried out there is no doubt the fire would have been a bad one and would have resulted in heavy loss of property and possibly loss of life.”

The building is owned by P. J. Sorg, the big tobacco dealer of Middletown, O., and J. W. Sturtevant is the agent of the building and Mr. Sorg’s personal representative. Mr. Sturtevant was at the building last night, and to a reporter for THE CHRONICLE said that the building and the ground on which it stands are the sole property of Mr. Sorg.

“The building is valued at $500,000,” he said, “and is insured for $150,000 or $175,000.
The three fires were undoubtedly of incendiary origin, but who could have started them I am at a loss to say. There are ninety-one flats in the building, and eighty of them are occupied. The tenants are all highly respectable people and above suspicion

“The property was in litigation for a long time, but the ownership was fully determined some time since by the courts and I do not believe that feature enters in any way into the attempts at arson. We shall endeavor to find the guilty party and a close watch will be kept in the future to guard against simllar occurrences.”

Queer Connecting Incident.
One little incident which was called to mind by the fires last night was revealed by occupants of the building. H. G. Moore, proprietor of the Rialto laundry at 3342 State street, occupies a flat on the Dearborn street side of the Mecca building. Ten days ago an attempt was made to burn Mr. Moore’s barn, in the rear of his laundry. The fire was put out, but a few days later the torch was again applied and the barn and a horse were burned. Two nights ago a barn on Thirty-fourth street, belonging to a Mr. Goldstein, was also burned by an incendiary. The first blaze last night was started directly under Mr. Moore’s flat and the police thought there might be a connection between the fires and that they were kindled by an enemy of Moore.

The Mecca building was constructed in 1892, was built for a hotel, and used as such during the world’s fair. It is a five-story brick, fronting 200 feet on State and Dearborn streets, and extending the length of the block east and west. The first floor on the State street side is occupied by stores, the remainder of the building being fitted for flats. The ground was owned by Mr. Sorg and the lessees found the building a losing venture and a long litigation followed its opening as a hotel. It was finally secured by Mr. Sorg on the foreclosure of a mortgage, and was refitted for an apartment house.

map

Inter Ocean, February 2, 1912

The Mecca, said to be the largest apartment building in the West and one of the largest in the country, occupying 234 feet frontage on State street at the northwest corner of Thirty-Fourth, extending through to Dearborn street, has been acquired by Franklin T. Pember of Granville, N. Y., from Benjamin H. Wallace at a consideration said to be around $400,000. 8. A. French & Co. represented the purchaser.

The building is a four story and basement structure containing fourteen stores and 191 flats, yielding a gross rental of about $43,000 a year, and is taken subject to $170,000 incumbrance. In part payment for the equity the grantee gives the Bedford, a five story apartment building containing forty flats, at 810-818 Oakwood boulevard, and the Monterey, a five story and basement store and apartment building containing four stores and fifty-six flats, at 813 to 821 East Thirty-Ninth street. The two buildings were valued at $265,00 and were conveyed subject to $35,000 incumbrance.

The Day Book, February 2, 1914

100 negro families forced to flee when fire attacked Mecca Apartments, S. State and 34th sts. Little damage.

Mecca Flat Blues

(James Blythe and Alexander Robinson)

In August 1924, Mecca Flat Blues was recorded in Chicago, on the Paramount record label, with Priscilla Stewart as vocals and Jimmy Blythe on piano.

Chicago Tribune, May 23, 1950

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Mecca Flats—once a model of the finest apartment living, but now a prime example of the worst slum tenements—was doomed yesterday to becoming just another page in the history of Chicago’s famous old buildings.

The death sentence was pronounced by the present owner, the Illinois Institute of Technology, which began proceedings preparatory to razing the structure in the school’s expansion program for its south side campus.

1,500 to Be Evicted.
Dr. Henry T. Heald, Illinois Tech president, announced that the Chicago area rent office has been asked to certify the eviction of the building’s 1,500 Negro occupants. The tenants, he added, will be informed today that eviction notices would be served about July 1.

“Both the building and fire department have agreed that the building should come down even tho there is a serious housing shortage,” explained Dr. Heald. “It’s a case of where the school can no longer be responsible for leaving people in a place where their lives are constantly in danger.”

Besides a fire trap, the structure was described by the school head as a health menace and a meeting place of gangs of juvenile hoodlums. Nightly shootings in hallways have become commonplace, one person having been killed six months ago.

Halted from Razing It.
Mecca Flats is a large brick building of four stories which stretches along the north side of 34th st. from State st. to Dearborn st. Illinois Tech became the reluctant landlord nine years ago when it acquired the building, but was deterred from tearing it down.

The principal reason was the housing shortage. Wartime conditions, civic organizations, the courts and the office of price control (then the rent control agency) at first collaborated to bar its demolition. In 1943 six Negro members of the legislature pushed thru a state law against its destruction, but this was vetoed by the government as unconstitutional.

Squatters Move In.
As normal vacancies occurred, Illinois Tech adopted a policy of not rerenting, but squatters moved in. There now are quarters rented by the school for only 175 families, but the overcrowded conditions are accounted for by the subleasing at rent four times more than the school’s charge of $22.50 per month.

Illinois Tech, Dr. Heald said, will do its utmost in helping find new quarters for the Mecca Flat tenants.

Mecca Flats was constructed during the two years preceding the Columbian Exposition, Chicago’s first world fair in 1893. The city’s largest apartment building at the time, the four story structure, was awe inspiring with two covered courtyards ringed by balconies of fancy wrought iron. It was one of the first, apartment structures to be equipped with a central “steam heating system.

Its deterioration started about the time of the first world war. In the early ’20s when nearby 35th and State sts. was the center of south side Negro jazz, a downbeat artist created a number called “Mecca Flat Blues,” a folksong celebrating the “trials, tribulations, and tragedies” of the tenement’s dwellers.

LIFE Magazine, November 19, 1951
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For 10 years the Mecca, Chicago’s most celebrated slum building, has been gasping out its last breaths—but refusing ti give up. Its end will now come at last when the huge apartment house is torn down for the expanding campus of its neighbor, the Illinois Institute of Technology. Built on the South Side in 1891, the Mecca boasted four-story inside courts, tile-paneled halls, hardwood floors throughout. It was a mecca for Chicago’s rising rich until the South Side became less stylish. By 1912 the first Negro tenants had moved in. The building’s noisy jazz activities gave a name to the Mecca Flat Blues and the apartment steadily trumpeted its way downhill. I.I.T. bought it in 1941 but could not wreck it until 700 occupants could find homes in Chicago’s crowded Negro area. Since September I.I.T. has collected no rent from the 51 remaining tenants and hopes to have them all moved out be year’s end.

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Balconies of The Mecca, 1951.

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LEFT:

RIGHT:

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NOTES:

¹ This addition was never built.

Great Northern Hotel & Theater

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Vaudeville Theaters of Chicago

Great Northern Hotel & Theater, Lyric Theater (1910)
Life Span: 1891-1940
Location: 267 S. Dearborn
Architect: D.H. Burnham and Company

Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1904

Great Northern Hotel

Inter Ocean, May 18, 1890

E. S. Pike leases to the Northern Hotel Company for 99 years, the property on Jackson st. northeast corner of Dearborn st. 100×165 ft. to Quincy st. at a rental of $35,000 per annum for the first two years, and $50,000 per year for balance of term.

Chicago Tribune, June 17, 1890

Northern Hotel company, fourteen-story and basement hotel at Nos. 227-45 Dearborn street, to cost $1,000,000.

Inter Ocean, June 15, 1892

Chicago Tribune, June 19, 1892

Since the opening of the Auditorium no addition to the hotel facilities of Chicago has been so important as that of the Great Northern Fireproof Hotel just completed, at Jackson and Dearborn streets. Three years ago Messrs. Hulbert & Eden, proprietors of the Tremont House, conceived the idea of building a modern hotel on the European plan, and the Great Northern is the result. Its erection marks a new era in hotel construction, the new building being fourteen stories in height, the highest hotel in the world. Nothing like it has ever been attempted.

The Great Northern occupies the entire frontage on Dearborn street from Jackson to Quincy street. It is constructed of steel, brick, and marble. The building is in shape of a U, each room having an outside exposure. With a force of 400 employes, it is one of the best appointed hotels in teh city. Of the 450 rooms, 300 have bath rooms, and all have electric lights. The ventilation is unique. On each floor is an experienced attendant with a complete hotel office for the thirty-seven rooms under his charge, with call-board and telephone at hand. A rotunda, with circular settees, fronts his station. A fine view of the lake is obtained from the upper floors. The elevators are of modern design and take guests to lettered rooms from “M,” the office floor, to “A,” the top floor. Space is economized to a degree, and every inch made to count.

The room carpets are Lancaster Biglow. The rooms are furnished with the same marble and bronze work as the halls and corridors. A unique feature is furnishings. On every floor the thirty-seven rooms are carpeted and furnished each in a different style. The room directly below a given number is furnished like the one above it. Thus, “A 26” is furnished with a blue carpet, oak folding bed, marble stand, plush curtains, and bath, and each room below, thus “B 26” and “C 26,” for instance, are furnished exactly like it.

U Floor Plan of the Great Northern Hotel.

Equipment of the Chambers.
Of the 450 rooms, 300 have folding, seventy-five brass, and seventy-five regular beds of the latest pattern. Between the rooms are double doors. The halls are carpeted with Scotch Axminster. Like the rooms, they are heated by steam and have gas and electric lights, marble mantels, mirrors, and white oak wood work. A writing desk is in each room to accommodate guests. The windows are heavily curtained and all rooms are fitted in the best style, the choice being only in the distance from the street.

Elegant bridal chambers are on floors K and L. Suites of three rooms each have been fitted out at a cost of the $5,000 a suite. The walls are of plush and satin, the ceilings are artistically painted, the furniture is of prima vera white mahogany, with pianos to match, and each suite has gold-plated tables, with onyx top, and plated electric chandeliers. The bedsteads are of god-plated brass, and the blankets are hand worked in silk. There are four of these suites on floors K and L, in the pink, yiellow, blue, and green rooms.

There are eight dining rooms in the building, all fitted out with exquisite taste. A spiral marble and bronze staircase communicates from thje parlor floor to the top. The pink, green and blue rooms were designed to distance anything heretofore attempted in their line. The center one, the blue room, is fitted with imported tapestry and hand paintings on the walls and silk and plush hangings over heavy plate-glass windows. French bric-a-brac adorn the center and corners of the rooms. Divided from the blue room by sliding doors are the pink and green parlors, with similar satin and plush walls and painted ceiling and with the addition of heavier window draperies and finer mirror effects. Following these comes the terra cotta room, furnished in plush and silver.

The Parlor Floor Café.
The café on the parlor floor is fitted in mahogany, with mirrors in all open places, plush hangings and aluminum electric fixtures. It has a silver and cut glass service of the latest design. The seating capacity of this room is 250.

The rotunda of the hotel is 75 feet square, 50 feet high, and is covered with a glass and steel dome. It is lighted by 500 incandescent lights, many of them bedded among the ferns and plants at the base of the pillars and on the balcony, producing a pleasing effect. The railing around the balcony is bronze, capped with plush. The St. Baun marble pillars extend to the office floor. On the east wall are paintings by master artists of “The Golden Gate,” San Francisco; “New York Harbor,” and “Chicago,” the last being in the center, the intention being to represent the three great commercial cities of the world. At the entrance in the parlor-floor cafe is a farm scene by H. H. Cross, and as one descends the stair-case he gazes upon Frank R. Green’s celebrated painting of the “Death of Juliet,” which is considered by the management as one of the most valuable of their collection.

The billiard hall is claimed to be the finest in the West. One of the fifteen tables was used at the Slosson-Ives championship at Central Music Hall recently. Here the companion picture of the “Death of Juliet” adorns the walls. It is entitled “Francesca da Rimini,” Lawrence Barrett’s last play in Chicago.

“The Temple of Bacchus.”
From the billaird hall a step leads into what is said to be by all odds the finest saloon in the West, if not the world. It is called the “Temple of Bacchus.” The room is fifty-five feet square, built after the idea of the Roman temple to Bacchus, the god of wine. The frieze, in bronze figures, is said to be an exact reproduction of the Roman temple carvings. The walls are of Oriental Champlain marble, ornamented with poaintings form the Roman sports. The center trellis work and grape vines and fruit in bronze, are hand work of the most costkly pattern. The bar is unique and handy in its appointments and of solid Oriental marble, protected by heavy railings of the same material. Roman columns of Champlain marble support the bronze figure-work. For light, electricty and painted plate-glass have been utilized, so that the effect is like a sunset streaming softly through a flowered trellis, making a unique and very pleasant effect around the marble and silver mirrors and cut-glass of the square bar proper. The proprietors of the hotel claim there is nothing in the world to equal their “Temple of Bacchus.”

A white and gold barber shop with modern equipments is at the left of the office, near the public toilet rooms.

The partly finished ladies’ French café at the ladies’ entrance on Quincy street is a large room, now being used by the Cleveland club of Buffalo. After the club leaves the final ornamentation will be done. When complete this will be the most expensive café in the world. The walls are of onyx and marble, with hand-painted tapestry, and ceiling painted in blue and gold. Specially designed white mahogany tables and chairs will be the furnishings. The solid silver, gold, crystal, and china services will be from special designs.

The office appointments are such as years of hotel experience have proved to be best. The entire system is as perfect as human ingenuity can make it.

In the basement is an oyster and grill room for those who are economically inclined. This is the largest room in the building and has entrances from Quincy and Jackson streets and from the hotel office. The seating capacity is 300. It is finished in white Italian marble, with white and gold finishings, mirrors, and gold-plated electric fixtures. The woodwork is of white oak and leather, and 500 bell-shaped electric-lights cast shadows on the wide entrances of Oriental marble. A white marble bar is at the north end.

The kitchen is complete in its appointments. A room with a silver service valued at $35,000, a vault with 100 different varieties of wines, a bakery, a meat market, a grocery, and a laundry are some of the departments.

The estimated cost of the hotel building is $1,200,000; furniture, $300,000. The entire plant, with ground, is placed at $2,500,000.

Rand McNally & Co.’s Bird’s-Eye Views and Guide to Chicago, 1893

⑧ The Great Northern Hotel
At Dearborn, Jackson, and Quincy streets, on the northeast corner of Jackson and Dearborn, is a high steel structure that preserves many canons of old-style proportions. Like the Rookery, the Siegel-Cooper, and the First National, the Great Northern is impressive on the lines of grace and beauty. The dimensions of this colossal structure are as follows: Front on Dearborn, 165 feet; depth on Jackson and Quincy, 100 feet; height, 185 feet; 16 stories and white marble basement. In this hotel are 500 rooms, 8 dining-rooms, cafe, and 6 elevators. A prize was publicly offered for a name, and given to the suggestor of the title “The Chicago.” This title was abandoned for the present one. The plan of entertainment is strictly European. The appointments and modern character of this hotel give it a conspicuous place among the sights and conveniences of Chicago. The proprietors are Hulbert & Eden, highly experienced and well-known landlords. Erected in 1891, at a cost of $1,150,000.

Inland Architect, September, 1896

THE NEW GREAT NORTHERN— A TEMPLE OF HOSPITALITY, BUSINESS, AMUSEMENT AND FESTIVITY.
The new and enlarged Great Northern is now almost an accomplished fact. There was the Great Northern Hotel, to which name the words “Fire Proof” were added. But such an appellation for any hostelry that claims to be first-class and up-to-date now “ goes without saying.” There is also the Great Northern office building and roof garden, and there soon will be the Great Northern Theater and Banquet Hall. All of these are now united between four walls, and the aggregation fronts on Dearborn, Jackson and Quincy streets, covering an area of 200 by 165 feet. They are coordinate branches of one great establishment, all connected together by internal communications in proper places, and mutually interdependent, while each having a special function to perform, is equally accessible from the public streets. The observer will note that they form a harmonious combination, as if conceived as a whole by one brain. Yet the original hotel, fronting on Dearborn street, has been in use several years, and was planned without any anticipation of the additions that have been built. These occupy the east part of the site, and have fronts on Jackson and Quincy streets of one hundred feet each, and up to the seventh story of the original building cover the whole ground, while above this point the north and south portions extend up to sixteen stories in height, with fronts on both streets and a court between, which is an extension of the original court of the hotel to the eastward, forming the largest interior court faced with enameled bricks in the city of Chicago.

The original hotel building and all the additions have been designed and carried out under the direction of D.H. Burnham & Co., architects. The extension to the hotel part has a frontage of 100 feet on Quincy street, and is carried back 40 feet up to the seventh story; above this it is 52 feet deep. The reason why this enlarged depth is obtained in the upper stories will be explained further on in connection with some ingenious features of planning and construction. Through the first story of this part is the main entrance to the theater, also the stage entrance and a separate entrance to the second balcony. The extension on the Jackson street side has a street frontage of 100 feet and extends back 40 feet up to the seventh story, and above this 52 feet. This enlargement above the seventh story is due to a system of construction the same as that used in the hotel extension. Both extensions are sixteen stories high above the basement. The Jackson street extension is a separate office building, containing 225 offices. On the first story are four retail stores and entrances to the offices, as well as an additional entrance to the ground floor and first balcony of the theater. These entrances are connected by a corridor which extends to the hotel office. There are three elevators at the entrance to the offices, which extend up above the roof into a penthouse, which opens out into the roof garden. The latter covers the whole of the office building, and is roofed and inclosed by awnings which are removed in the winter.

On the Quincy street side is a new ladies’ entrance with two elevators, which also run above the roof. In the sixteenth story is the new dining room of the Great Northern Hotel. Immediately above this on the roof is being constructed a conservatory of steel and glass, which is to be used as a banquet hall, having the same connection with the new kitchen to be built on the roof of the old hotel part as the dining room.

Between the two extensions is the new Great Northern Theater, which is 100 feet in length and 85 feet in width between the walls, with entrances from Quincy and Jackson streets at the west end, the stage being at the east end. The latter is 34 by 85 feet on the ground, and extends upward from the cellar grade, which is 14 feet 6 inches below the street grade, 73 feet to the under side of the roof. It has two steel fly galleries and a steel gridiron. The balance of the space, 85 by 62 feet, is the auditorium with its two balconies and three tiers of proscenium boxes on each side.

In addition to the above, the hotel company has purchased the five-story building, No. 14 Quincy street, and is reconstructing the same into a Turkish bath house, including a swimming bath in the basement.

In the construction of the new parts of the Great Northern aggregation some of the most interesting problems that beset the modern architect have been solved. The new additional structures stand between the original hotel, which is of nearly equal weight and has already settled from nine to ten inches, according to the original calculations, and two other old-style buildings which came to their permanent bearings many years since. Yet the new part fills the whole intermediate space, and it has been required to provide for the necessary settlement of the new building while regarding the safety and avoidance of disturbance of two classes of contiguous buildings. When it is understood that the estimated settlement of the new structure was nine inches, the difficulty in doing this can be readily appreciated. As a matter of fact, the Jackson street addition has settled nine inches and the Quincy street addition has settled six inches. But the former has now its full weight, while the latter has not yet attained its full weight, and the construction has been slower. The theater which stands between is therefore three inches lower on the south than on the north side, but as its whole construction is sufficiently elastic, nothing has to be feared while waiting for the north side to go down three inches more. But another difficulty had to be overcome. By the operation of the building law of Chicago all theaters must have independent walls, and the proscenium wall must be built of brick and closed in over the opening. This made it necessary to build the theater with heavy walls all around and across, and consequently of great weight, while it was necessary on account of the great height of 200 feet to make all the rest of the structure of steel frame construction. Here was a case where the heavy brick walls of one part had to be built before the weight could be distributed over other parts. But the elastic system of steel framing made this feasible, so that now the weights are nearly all on, there is no evidence of any rupture between the parts which have settled rapidly or slowly. It would take a long treatise to fully describe all that has been done to preserve the integrity of this and the older adjoining buildings. It is enough to know that there is no evidence of its having in any way affected the neighboring structures. All the foundations are of course independent of the older ones, and the steel columns built next to the old east wall of the Great Northern Hotel are still carried on steel screws resting on the new foundations, ready to be adjusted either way to preserve the proper position of both buildings. The wall of the building on the east side, fronting on Jackson street, still has a row of intermediate screws between itself and the new foundation of the office building on which it rests, ready to be lengthened as fast as the foundation settles.

The most novel and interesting part of the steel construction is in the roof of the theater. This is of steel trusses bearing on solid brick walls. It has been mentioned that the new buildings which front on the streets are deeper in the lower than in the upper stories. Consequently the theater building is wider than the open court that is above it. This difference is twenty-six feet. When the brick walls at the sides of the theater had been built and the roof constructed to carry all that might be above it, all the requirements of the theater ordinance had been complied with. But there was not room enough for an economic arrangement of apartments in the office part or hotel above the sixth floor, while the court would be unnecessarily wide. The court, therefore, was narrowed so that the walls are in line with those of the older part of the hotel building. The trusses were made strong enough to carry the skeleton construction and enamel brick-faced wall of nine stories, and they were divided into panels so as to bring the weight at the ends of the first panels from the bearing plates. At the bottom line of the trusses the ceiling of the theater is a complete hollow tile fireproof floor, and the trusses are all completely inclosed in hollow tile partitions to effectually protect this vulnerable part of the construction. The whole scheme has been approved by the board of underwriters.

The exterior achitectural treatment of the Quincy street front is an exact repetition of the original hotel building executed in red terra cotta and brick, but two stories higher. The Jackson street front has been treated as if it were a separate building, on account of the distinctive character of the use to which it is put, and this is executed in white terra cotta. The style is fifteenth century Gothic, and the treatment is extremely ornate, a method which seems to lend itself better to the finish of skeleton construction than any other. The front has the advantage of several points of view which will not be encroached upon, notably that from Plymouth place.

We live in a period of condensation of time and space. An immense city springs into existence in less time than it would take to build a single temple in olden times, and the electric cars and the world-conquering bicycle bring the extremities close to the pulsating heart of the metropolis. A few weeks sufficed to conceive and complete the plans for this great building, and soon the glowing iron shot forth from the embrace of powerful rollers, the plastic clay took shape and form, forever now preserved by the petrifying flame, and as the giant’s mighty skeleton arose, so grew with it the flesh and skin and stately garment. And there he stands, beautiful and strong, equally defying fire and water, wind and weather.

Two materials are necessary for the successful construction of our skyscraper—steel and terra cotta. Steel it must be to create a rigid, immovable frame; terra cotta it must be because there is no other material which, with the quality of being fireproof, combines absolute durability and at the same time offers to the architect such unlimited opportunities for artistic expression in form and color. Neither stone nor brick nor any other known building material combines in itself all these advantages. The use of ornamental terra cotta, together with steel construction, in such quantities and its manufacture according to special design in the course of a few months is strictly new and American, and no European city can boast of a similar edifice. The European architect would find no terra cotta factory that could carry out his conceptions of a prominent building except years could be consumed for the purpose, while Chicago contains a plant—the North-Western Terra-Cotta Company—which can produce a score of similar structures in one year. And still it is all hand work. With the exception of the preparation of clay and the application of glaze and enamel, no machine work has ever been successfully applied to the manufacture of architectural terra cotta. To any one who knows that, substantially, terra cotta is nothing but burned clay, it may seem an easy matter to mold and burn it according to requirements, but in practice this is a rather complicated process. There is a drawing department, where every feature is carefully laid out, subdivided, profiled and scheduled, where every joint, every check for iron, every anchor hole is indicated on the working diagrams. There is a carpenter shop where templets are made, a plaster shop where plaster models and molds are produced, a modeling room where the sculptor lends plastic form to his interpretation of the architect’s sketches of ornamentation. There is the clayworkers’ department, where the soft clay is pressed into the required forms and where intricate pieces are built up of clay and fitted together under many difficulties. There is the drying room where the finished pieces are carefully dried in various positions, in order to preserve their correct outlines. There are the complicated ovens, where by an immense but uniform gradually increasing and decreasing heat, the indestructible silicates are produced which transform into everlasting terra cotta the fragile pieces of dried clay. There is, finally, the fitting room where all burned work is carefully fitted together in order to let it all go into the proper place in the building without delay at the scaffold where skilled mechanics set it up at the rate of several stories a week. The result of all these varied and complicated manipulations, performed by men who have become experts in their respective branches, all working in strict cooperation under experienced supervision, is, in this case, a most beautiful Gothic front, fireproof and imperishable, made according to the designer’s most delicate conception of detail, and set up and securely fastened to the iron frame—all within about three months, by the North-Western Terra-Cotta Company, of Chicago.

The large light court of the Great Northern Theater and Hotel Building is faced with white enameled brick, manufactured by the Tiffany Pressed Brick Company, of this city. Over one hundred thousand of these bricks were used, besides a considerable quantity in blue and white in the hallway leading to the stage entrance. The enameled surface of these bricks is made to withstand the severest climatic changes, hence their suitability for exterior as well as interior uses; in fact, wherever light, cleanliness, durability and artistic shadings of color are desired.

Not only is this material very largely used in light courts, rail-way stations, etc., but its adaptability for fine fronts is becoming recognized. One great advantage in the use of enameled bricks, is in their being impervious to moisture, and the avoidance of all unsightly white effloresence which so often disfigures walls constructed of other materials.

The enameled bricks manufactured at heeds, England, have always held the highest place in the minds of architects, but they are rapidly being displaced in this country by the Tiffany enamel, which has reached a perfection difficult to surpass, by strict attention to all details essential to a perfect article. This company has just placed on the market a “granite” shade of enamel brick worthy of the special attention of architects.

The brown pressed bricks for the Quincy street front were made and furnished by the Chicago Hydraulic-Press Brick Company, whose works are at Porter, Indiana, and whose sales of pressed brick last year in Chicago were upward of twenty million. A large number of the bricks were made from special molds, and form the rounded jambs of the windows and the rounded external and internal angles of the bays. The bricks are entirely free from the white discoloration which so often appears on buildings of brown brick of other manufacture throughout the city ; this same freedom from discoloration will also be noticed in the Marquette building, which also contains Chicago Hydraulic-Press brown brick. The high quality of these bricks is due to the careful study and selection of the clay from which they are made, the thorough seasoning of the clay before the bricks are pressed, the tremendous pressure on the bricks in the machine, the high and carefully regulated temperature under which they are burned, and the care which is taken in selecting the bricks before they leave the works.

A great deal of originality was displayed in the finishing of the ornamental iron elevator inclosures, which are a combination of nickel-plate and bower-barff (or more properly speaking, magnetic oxide). The architect has designed this part of the work in the Gothic style, arranging the wrought-iron work in grilles or panels between uprights (or pilasters) and cross-pieces of ornamental cast iron. All the wrought iron is finished in dead black or oxidized, while the cast iron is heavily electroplated in nickel. The handsomely wrought grille work is shown off most advantageously by the luster of the nickel finish on the cast iron, which entirely surrounds each separate grille as though it were a frame. The whole work forms a beautiful effect and one that is pleasant to look upon. The inclosures above the first floor are not so elaborate, although in the same style as the first floor, and are finished in black. In the main hall on the first floor is a letter-box, used in connection with the mailing chute. This is admirably executed in cast iron, richly ornamented and finished in bower-barff. The stairways throughout this portion of the building follow the style of the other work (Gothic) and are of cast iron, with cast-iron risers, newels and railings. They are made in keeping with the general excellence of the rest of the work. All the interior ornamental ironwork for this whole building was made by the splendid young firm of artisans, the Chicago Architectural Iron Works, M. Salomon, president, Oakley avenue and Kinzie street, Chicago, Illinois.

The tinting, painting and woodwork finishing of the hallways and the four hundred and forty rooms and offices of this building were done by the Nesbett Company, of 360 Wabash avenue, Chicago.

The electrical plant will be one of the most interesting features of the building. Its capacity to supply the necessary power will be as great as the largest plant in the West. The dynamos, furnished by the Western Electric Company, are three 150-kilowatt, direct-connected units, of the multipolar ironclad type. They will operate at a speed of 280 revolutions per minute. The armatures of the dynamos are mounted on separate shaft, with a bearing on each side of the armature. Connection is made with the engine shaft by means of a flexible coupling. The sub-bases of the dynamos are mounted on I-beams, which form a part of the engine foundation. The usual adjustments are allowed for centering the armatures and aligning the fields. These machines are equipped with carbon brushes, self-oiling bearings, and are over compound wound for five per cent, which is the loss in the wiring system. The frames of these machines are made of cast steel; the pole pieces of forged steel; the field coils are wound on brass frames made in such a manner that they are easily removed in case of accident. The machines will be connected to a marble switchboard equipped with Weston instruments.

Automatic circuit breakers will be used between the dynamo and switchboard in place of fuses. These will be made single pole, one on each side of the circuit. All connections between dynamo and switchboard are to be in lead cable underground, and all connections from circuits will be run in iron pipes concealed from view as far as possible.

The wiring of this building is on the three-wire convertible system, and all wires from the switchboard to lamp outlets are incased in insulated iron pipe. The mains are rubber-covered wire with a lead casing, the service for each floor being tapped off to the cut-out box. By means of the new system of connection, the maximum difference of potential between any two lights at the point they are tapped on to the cut-out box is but .25 of one volt, making the difference in candle-power so small between the lamps on the top and bottom floors that it would be almost impossible to detect it with the most delicate instruments. The cut-out boxes are made of j^-inch marble equipped with plug fuses, and are provided with ornamental iron doors.

The lights in the different offices are controlled by push switches conveniently located. In the hotel rooms there are provided both automatic door switches and flush push switches in the rooms.

The engines are to be furnished by Westinghouse, Church, Kerr & Co., Chicago, and consist of three Westinghouse compound engines, with cylinders 14 inches and 24 inches in diameter, by 14 inches stroke of piston, space being allowed for one more unit to be placed later. With the steam pressure to be carried they will develop 230 horse-power each, and being entirely self-lubricating, are capable of making long continuous runs without stoppage or attention.

The flexible spring couplings for connecting engines and dynamos are so designed as to give great flexibility between engine and dynamo shafts, obviating the necessity of bed-plates.

These engines were chosen after a very careful investigation, on account of their great reliability and guaranteed economy for this kind of service. This fine economy was not only guaranteed, but, following the general custom of the Westinghouse Company, an actual test of the engines was made at their factory in Pittsburg, under the supervision of Mr. Charles G. Armstrong, consulting engineer, at which test the steam consumption per horse-power per hour was over a pound less than guaranteed, showing the reliability of a guarantee made by a company willing to base it upon an actual test made at the works before shipment. This form of guarantee is peculiar to the Westinghouse Company, and very few of any other engine concerns have facilities at their works for making such complete tests for actual conditions under which the engines will operate. They further invite any prospective customer for engines to visit their shops and make such tests as they may desire, and to inspect their thorough system of testing all material that enters into the construction of their engines.

The general plan of the hot water piping to supply the hot water to all the rooms of the hotel baths, kitchen and laundry, is so arranged that there is a continual circulation of the hot water to every faucet in the building, so that there is no “waiting for the cold water to run out of the pipe,” before the hot water comes, and in addition there is a reserve of many thousand gallons of fully heated water always on hand. There are two feed-water heaters 1,000 horse-power each, 54 inches diameter by 14 feet long, and weighing seven tons each. They are of the horizontal brass tube steam jacket type. One supplies the boilers with feed-water at 212° Fahr. and the other is capable of furnishing the building with 15,000 gallons of hot water per hour at from 180° to 200° Fahr.

The heater that supplies the boilers is provided with every facility for examination, cleaning and blowing off. It is estimated that the saving in fuel by the thorough utilization of the exhaust in these heaters will more than repay the first cost of their installation each year. This splendid plant was manufactured in all its details at the iron and boiler works of Messrs. Baragwanath & Son, of 48, 50 and 52 West Division street, Chicago.

The electrical plant, steam, hot water and general details of machinery installation are under the direct supervision of Mr. Charles G. Armstrong, consulting engineer, of Chicago.

Many of the most important interests of the building are in the hands of Messrs. John & Alex Davidson, and are being conducted in a very efficient manner, and when the building is fully completed Chicago will have a noteworthy addition to her buildings.

Chicago Tribune, December 29, 1895

BUILDING OF THE YEAR
Chicago has not fared well In the way of new buildings when previous years are taken into comparison. A vast amount of building was done in the period before the World’s Fair and each year s record still suffers by a comparison with that. Cost of buildings in 1895 has been satisfactory as compared with last year, while tite number of buildings and the amount of frontage involved have shown a decrease. Among the more prominent buildings of the year are the Fisher, the Great Northern Hotel Theater and office, the Studebaker, Lewis Institute, and the Davies.

On a piece of property l00x100 feet in size, extending from Jackson to Quincy street, and 100 feet east of the present Great Northern Hotel, the theater, office building, and addition to the hotel will be built. On the Jackson street side will be the office , on the Quincy street portion the continuation of the hotel, with the theater in between. The office building will extend back forty-five feet. It will he sixteen stories high and will contain 300 offices. A connection will be established with the present hotel. The entrance to the office will be at the extreme eastern end of the property and will be twenty feet wide. The Quincy street frontage, containing the hotel addition, will be a continuation of the floors as they are at present. The annex will be sixteen stories high—two stories higher than the main building. The rooms will be large and well finished. New cafes and banquet halls will be erected. with the idea of making the hotel a European and American one combined instead of simply a European one. as it is at present. The addition will contain 300 rooms and the elevators will he changed about so as to reach the whole building. Entrance to the theater, finished in white Mexican onyx, will be on both Jackson and Quincy streets. The interior of the theater will have a seating capacity of 2,000 and will have three balconies and a large stage. Retiring rooms for women are planned for the right side of the interior and smoking rooms for men on the left, with foyer between. The stage will face towards the main hotel. D. H. Burnham & Co. were the architects for the improvement. The building will be entirely fireproof. The drops on the stage will be on steel rollers in frames, and all the scenery will be of asbestos. One million dollars is estimated as the cost.

The Great Northern Hotel lobby after the brand new Aeolian organ was installed.

Chicago Chronicle, September 19, 1897

CAT IN A PIPE ORGAN.
Unusual Experience of a Hotel Cat in a Music Box.
A few nights ago, when the big Aeolian at the Great Northern began its usual evening programme, it didn’t seem to work just right. The Aeolian was doing its level best to play the wedding march from Lohengrin, but made an awful mess of it.

The first strain, which everyone remembers goes “Rum-tum-te-tum,” was followed by “Meouw-wow-ow.” All the crowd looked up at the organ and tried to locate the spot where the unusual accompaniment came from. The next strain of the march was followed by a screeching yowl that was heard clear up to the “G” floor. People at dinner dropped their knives and forks and looked nervously at each other and then at the doors and windows. Just as the third yell came out of the Aeolian, Proprietor Eden was seen on the second floor, stealthily moving toward the instrument with a ladder in his hand. Mr. Eden crept up close to the Aeolian and listened for a moment. Then he put his ladder against the right side and slowly made his way to the top.

When he got up he reached over and put his hand down inside of the E flat pipe. There were no results at first. Then he stood on tiptoe and shoved his arm to the shoulder down the mouth of the pipe. There followed a terrible yowling and scratching, but the Colonel pulled, and with a noise like the departure of a tight cork from the neck of a beer bottle, he pulled the hotel cat out of the pipe and carried it down to the baggage room, where it belongs.

Inter Ocean, December 29, 1897

As the great pipe orgaqn i the Great Northern hotel was pealing forth “There’s a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight,” the opening number in the daily concert last evening, a sheet of flame shot forth from the instrument followed by volumes of smoke, which grew more dense every minute, and in afew moments the instrument, valued at $15,000, was a charred wreck, while the surrounding decorations were damaged to the extent of several thousand dollars more.

For fifteen or twenty minutes great volumes of smoke rolled through the corridors and rooms, an unpleasant reminder of the Tosetti cafe fire. There was a commotion among the 450 guests. Bell boys went flying from room to room notifying the guests that there was a fire and it would be well prepared to move out quickly, but they ended up their warning with the assurance that there was little likelihood that the fire would escape from the organ-loft.

The tables in the restaurant on the parlor floor were deserted, and there was a general hustling of effects into trunks and valises preparatory to9n a hurried exit.

Caused by a Candle.
All this loss and excitement was caused by three workmen who were adjusting the organ earlier in the afternoon and carelessly left a lighted candle inside. The candle burned down to the wood in which it had been set and set fire to the valuable instrument.

Just before the fire was discovered at 5:20 o’clock attention was called to the organ by a series of discordant noises wholly different from the accepted version of “A Hot Time,” and several persons standing in the lobby were glancing in amazement at the instrument when the flame leaped forth. Among the first to see it was Martin McMahon, a bell boy, who told the clerk, James A. Glorbrey, and the latter quickly gave a general alarm to the employes.

William S. Eden, manager of the hotel, was standing talking to Frank C. Thayer, Hoyt’s advance man, and both men rushed to the organ loft. Colonel Eden called for the fire extinguishers, and he and Thayer and a guest named Count Rocco Duanovitch of Austria, joined by employes, attempted to stop the flames. But the wood in the organ was dry, and no headway was made toward stopping the fire. Finally the stepladder on which Colonel Eden and the two guests who were assisting him, fell, and they went down in aheap.

In the meantime, as the smoke rolled out into the lobby, the people there took alarm and made a rush for the doors. The main entrance on Dearborn street is guarded by a revolving door, and there the crowd stuck.

This nearly precipitated a panic, the frightened men pushing and fighting like a lot of crazy people for a few minutes, until it became evident that there was no danger.

Firemen Play on the Organ.
Colonel Eden, having become convinced he could not control the fire with his hotel force, after experimenting twenty minutes, had an alarm turned in and the firemen were soon ripping ther delicate mass of pipe and woodwork to pieces with axes and flooding it with water. It was an obstinate fire to fight, because of the inflammable nature of the organ, the difficulty of reaching the flames, and the good start it had. Its location, however, made it easy to keep it fro spreading, There was nothing above it excepting the glass roof over the office, and there was a brick wall behind it. Still, over an hour of lively work was required to tear the organ to pieces and quell the flames.

Before the firemne had completed their work Colonel Eden had caused the debris to be cleaned away, the water swabbed up, the floor cleaned, and the hotel was doing business very nearly as usual.

During the fire-fighting several firemen were painfully cut about the hands and face by broken glass, among them Thomas Levins, a pipeman of enhine company No. 7. Frank C. Thayer and Rocco Duanovitch, the guests who assisted Colonel Eden, were also slightly injured, the former burning his hand severely, and the latter being slightly injured by a fall from a step ladder. Nobody was seriously injured.

Was a Valuable Instrument.
The organ which is a total wreck, was placed in position a year and a half ago, having been hurried along to do service during the Democratic national convention. It was built by Farrand & Votey Organ company at the cost of $15,000, and was the first Aeolian pipe instrument placed in a quasi-public building in the world. It was the largest and finest instrument of its kind ever built.

It represented an orchestra of sixty pieces, and was operated by electricity, the motor, a four-and-one-half power affair, being in the basement, 150 feet away. It contained 1,500 pipes. The performer, John R. Kerr, simply took the place of the conductor of the orchestra by registering the various pieces and giving them the tune required, according to the intention of the composer.

The Aeolian was kept in proper condition and tune by the company that made it. This company is represented in Chicago by George Heerwagen, who has an office in the Great Northern hotel. The same company, or its predecessors, built the organ at the Auditorium, McVicker’s theater, Steinway hall, and several churches, and Mr. Heerwagen employs a force of men keeping these instruments in order. It was a gang of these men who did the mischief which resulted in the fire. Three of them were at work on the inside of the Aeolian yesterday afternoon. Instead of following the directions given them and using only incandescent electric lights attached to long wires, which could be carried anywhere inside the organ, they used a candle, which they set on a walking board. Then they went away and forgot the candle, which burned down to the board, and, helped by the melted grease, set fire to the dry woodwork.

This much was ascertained by Mr. Heerrwagen from the boy who attended the gang, but he declined to give the name of the man responsibkle for the fire, stating to a reporter for The Inter Ocean last evening, and he did not know which gang was at work at the Great Northern.

“It is our fault,” said Mr. Heerwagen.

Chicago Tribune, February 20, 1910

Tonight the woman theater usher makes her bow to the Chicago public, and those who see “Dick Whittington, Thrice Lord Mayor of London,” will be escorted to their chairs by dainty maids in place of importunate youths.

The Great Northern theater is of the past and remodeled, redecorated, and rechristened as the Lyric it begins a new career with the same sort of women ushers that have long been preferred in Europe and recently accepted in New York.

When it was announced that twenty attractive young women were wanted from which to choose ushers the twenty became a mob of about 800 women stormed the theater. There were tall and short ones, fat and thin, pretty girls and others, all as eager as a crowd of chorus girls.

It happened to be a small girl affair, however, as Julia Bryant, who is in charge of the ushers, chose those of only small stature. She was as painstaking in her selections as if choosing for the first row of a beauty chorus.

Because the new color scheme of the theater is gray and mulberry the costumes of the ushers will be gray one piece gowns with trimmings of mulberry, lace collars and cuffs, Besides ushering, the young women will serve water and sell bonbons.

Four of the girls have been on the stage in companies ranging from that of Robert Mantell to vaudeville; ten of them want to go “on,” and, wonder of wonders, two of them “wouldn’t for anything.” Think of that, two girls that are not stagestruck! Another record for Chicago.

One “girl” had a baby with her, so tiny no one noticed it until suddenly to the consternation of every one a pitiful wail rose over the stage and floated out to the auditorium. The mother, unfortunately, was not eligible. Three women were extremely anxious for positions and so were their husbands. In fact, the husbands were so anxious that their wives be employed that they cams along to see that the application was properly made. They, too, were not accepted.

Quite the funniest thing about the affair was the personal way to which many of the applicants took their dismissal. The tall ones thought that for such public positions big, dignified women should be chosen; the older that the younger were too Inexperienced and flighty, and one young woman waxed wrathy and exclaimed, “I’m not pretty enough, I suppose; well, what do you expect at a Venue for $5 a week?”

The Daily National Hotel Reporter, January 11, 1918

The Great Northern Hotel of Chicago, which, since the retirement of Dick Townsend, has been under the able management of John C. O’Neil, is doing a particularly fine business at the present time, both in rooms and restaurants.

Yet this has not deterred the Northern’s youthful manager in going through the house from cellar to garret on a rehabilitating journey.

The lobby has been redecorated, a minor re-arrangement of the telephone switchboard, porter’s desk, etc., has been effected on this floor; then private office, barber shop, mezzanine and its dining rooms have been touched up and the whole house, from floor to floor in the corridors, has had its wallpaper stripped off and replastered, as have the rooms and suites, without any interruption to business, and with no noticeable discomfort to guests. Before the work is completed all the rooms will be resplendent with newly painted walls, indirect lights and new furnishings.

For the past several weeks the house staff of painters and decorators have labored on the improvements going over the ladies’ parlor, bar, men’s washrooms, etc., and have been unsparing with needed paint. They have already progressed to the upper floors where they are now busily engaged. New wallpaper of a rich gray coloring and new design, has been placed on the newly plastered walls of all corridors. The paper in the rooms has been eliminated and replaced by painted panels in soft colorings. The old fashioned chandeliers in all the rooms are being replaced with new modern indirect fixtures—a silvered hanging chain and white shade in the single and smaller rooms and a handsome ornamental bronzed indorect light with Tiffany shade in the larger rooms and suites.

New metal beds on ballbearing castors, made up with panels in imitation mahogany, the original design of Manager O’Neil will supplant the present ones. New furniture to be shortly selected, will replace most of that now in use.

As before mentioned the house-count at the Great Northern for some time past has been a capacity one. The first of the year also brought many progressive changes in the personnel of the staff, especially in the catering department. These are chronicled elsewhere in this issue.

The lunchroom on the Quincy and Dearborn streets corner, is both popular and profitable. The grill in the basement and the main dining room are well patronized and the handsome private dining room is always in demand. The beautiful organ occupying the entire east wall of the lobby, plays daily during the luncheon hours from 12 to 2 o’clock, appropriate pieces, patriotic and of the present, such as “Over There,” etc.

All in all the Great Northern is being brought “up to the minute” asa modern metropolitan hotel. Its accommodations are of the best and its location on Jackson boulevard and Dearborn streets, nearny tailroad stations, shopping and theater districts, makes it one of the most desirable stopping palces in the city.

Chicago Tribune, January 14, 1940

Another loop landmark, the fifteen story Great Northern hotel, is to be razed. The estate of Marshall Field, after months of deliberation, yesterday announced its decision to replace this famous hostelry with a one story taxpayer.

As in the case if the Capitol building, another pioneer skyscraper supplanted by a taxpayer, the Great Northern will be demolished to avoid heavy expenditures for new foundations necessitated by the Dearborn street subway. Replacement of the present floating foundations with caissons would cost about $150,000, it was said.

Will Erect One Story Building.
A one story building fronting 165 feet on Dearborn street and 100 feet on both Jackson boulevard and Quincy street will be erected at a reported cost of $175,000. According to Ward Farnsworth of the Field estate, the new Great Northern building will be ready about the middle of next August.

A novel exterior treatment has been planned by the architects, Shaw, Naess & Murphy, The walls will be entirely of stainless steel. According to Alfred Shaw, this is the first time this metal has been used on such a large scale on a building facade. Heretofore it has been used only on a small scale in wall trim.

Stores and Garage Planned.
The new Great Northern building will have five stores fronting on Jackson boulevard and one at the Dearborn-Quincy corner. The balance of the first floor and the roof will be used for garage purposes, accommodating about 90 cars. The garage will have wide entrances on both Quincy and Dearborn. The entire basement will be leased to one client.

One of the block long subway station hookups between State and Dearborn streets will be under Quincy street. A direct entrance to this station is to be built, connecting it with the Great Northern building, it was said.

Tenants of the present Great Northern hotel building have been notified to move by Feb. 15. Actual wrecking will begin about March 1, it was said.

In 1936 Pick Hotels modernized the bedrooms of the Great Northern Hotel at an expense of several hundred thousand dollars.

Operated by Pick Hotels, Inc.
The hotel part of the present Great Northern building comprising 370 rooms, has been operated since 1936 by Pick Hotels, Inc., as one of a chain of 16 hotels thruout the country.

According to Albert J. Pick Jr., president, he is negotiating for another downtown hotel to be the Chicago unit of the Pick chain. All of the furniture, furnishings, fittings, and equipmnt of the Great Northern hotel are to be disposed of at a private sale. The sale will include several large oil paintings in the the hotel lobby.

The Great Northern hotel, designed by the late Daniel H. Burnham of Burnham & Root, was built in 1891 at a reported cost of $1,150,000. It was said to have been the first completely fireproof hotel in this part of the country.

The Field estate acquired the hotel from 1931 to October, 1936, when the Pick Hotels leased it.

Exterior walls of this one story taxpayer being built on the site of the Great Norther hotel will be of brick painted with black enamel, and aluminum trim. The entrance to the parking section will be white painted brick. Several changes have been made since it was first published in January (above).

Great Northern Hotel
Sanborn Fire insurance Map
1906