Site of origin of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Address: Dekoven and Jefferson Street
In 1961, a bronze sculpture of stylized flames entitled "Pillar of Fire" was erected at the point of origin of Chicago fire.
Sculptor: Egon Weiner ..
At the base of the sculpture "Pillar of Fire" is written:
Here began the Chicago Fire of 1871..
The site was designated a Chicago Landmark on September 15, 1971..
Since 1956, Chicago Fire Academy, a training facility for Chicago firefighters has been located here..
The plaque reads ..
Chicago Landmark ..
Site of the origin of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 ..
The great Chicago fire began October 8, 1871, in the O'Leary barn on DeKoven Street. Fanned by a strong wind, in a city largely built of wood structures, the blaze raged for nearly 30 hours. Flames spread so far as Fullerton Avenue, before finally dying out in the early morning rain, October 10. Almost everything in the path of the fire had been destroyed.
Designated a Chicago Landmark on September 15, 1971
by the City Council of Chicago
Richard J. Daley, Mayor
Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks One can walk into the hall of the Chicago Fire Academy and see the site of Mrs O'Leary's Home, which is marked with a plaque..
The plaque reads ..
Mrs. O'Leary's Home..
On this site stood home and barn of Mrs. O'Leary where the Chicago fire of 1871 started. Although there are many versions of the story of its origin, the real cause of the fire has never been determined.
Erected by Chicago's Charter Jubilee
Authenticated by Chicago Historical Society 1937... Since 1956, Chicago Fire Academy, a training facility for Chicago firefighters has been located at the site of the origin of the Great Chicago fire..
The Great Chicago Fire [Oct 8- 10, 1871]..
The Fire started around 9 o'clock on Sunday evening, October 8, 1871; and continued till Tuesday morning, Oct 10, when some much-needed rain helped to stop the blaze. The Fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed over 17,000 structures, and left 100,000 people homeless..
I've read at many places that a few buildings survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, most famous being the Old Water Tower at Magnificent Mile. But, I coudnt find the names of all the buildings that survived the fire together at-one-place anywhere. However, in my googling endeavours, I did find these names scattered over at different websites. So here I'm putting them all together..
All the seven buildings that survived the fire..
- Old Water Tower.. at the Magnificient Mile..
- Chicago Avenue Pumping Station..at the Magnificent Mile..
- St. Michael's Church in Old Town..
- Old St.Patrick's Church on Adams Street..
- 2339 N Cleveland in Mid-North District..
- 2343 N Cleveland in Mid-North District..
- 2121 N Hudson in Mid-North District..
Old Water Tower..
Location: 806 North Michigan Avenue...
Chicago Avenue Pumping Station..
Location: 821 North Michigan Avenue..
St. Michael's Church in Old Town..
Address: 1633 N Cleveland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60614..
REF: St. Michael in Old Town, history..click here
"Soon, flames tore into all the parish buildings, leveling all of them. Only the walls of the church remained standing." Old St.Patrick's Church..
Address: 700 W Adams Street, Chicago, IL, 60661 ..
REF: Old St. Patrick’s Church.. click here..
"Having survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, Old St. Patrick’s stands as the oldest public building in the city." Three cottages in the Mid-North District ...
# Twin buildings: 2339 N Cleveland and 2323 N Cleveland..
# 2121 N Hudson building ...
Twin buildings:
2339 N Cleveland [left].. and.. 2323 N Cleveland [right]..
2121 N Hudson building..
REF: Chicago Landmarks: Mid-North District click here...
"Several pre-Fire of 1871 wooden Worker's Cottages still survive in the district".. However, the official site on Chicago Landmarks, did not specify the name of the buildings. So I had to search on wikipedia ...
REF: Chicago/Lincoln Park-Old Town - Historic Districts..
click here..
Some pre-fire buildings..
- Clarke House..
- St. Ignatius College Prep Bldg.
The Clarke House..
is considered the oldest surviving domestic structure in Chicago.
Address: 1855 S. Indiana Ave.
Year Built: Circa 1836
Architect: Unknown
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: October 14, 1970.
# For more, click here..
St. Ignatius College Prep Building..
Address: 1076 W. Roosevelt Road
Year Built: 1869; West addition, 1874
Architects: Toussaint Menard,John P. Huber
Date Designated a Chicago Landmark: March 18, 1987..