Chicago During the 1870's
Due to the Great Chicago Fire of 1870, the city grew very quickly to rebuild the damage dealt by the blaze. The layout of the city had to be redone, the buildings reconstructed, and the quality of life enhanced. Chicago emerged as one of the most modern cities in America.
The Great Fire
The event that sparked the enhancement of Chicago ironically burnt the city to the ground. This was the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The fire reportedly began in the home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary, whose house was miraculously spared, unlike the rest of the city. The blaze spread throughout the business district of Chicago, killing at least 120 people, but with death tolls estimated around 300. The area destroyed included 17,500 buildings, 73 miles of street, and nearly 4 miles of land. 90,000 people were left homeless due to the fire, which was put out afterward during a rainstorm.
The fire may have begun at the O'Leary residence, but the entire city was a sitting duck for a fire. Poor construction choices and an understaffed fire department allowed the fire to spread unchecked. It most likely would not have reached the city had the winds not carried the debris into the business district. At the time, most of the buildings simply had a fireproof covering, concealing the wooden structures within. The wooden structures of the buildings was deemed unsafe after the fire, and different materials were used in future constructions.
The fire may have begun at the O'Leary residence, but the entire city was a sitting duck for a fire. Poor construction choices and an understaffed fire department allowed the fire to spread unchecked. It most likely would not have reached the city had the winds not carried the debris into the business district. At the time, most of the buildings simply had a fireproof covering, concealing the wooden structures within. The wooden structures of the buildings was deemed unsafe after the fire, and different materials were used in future constructions.
Reconstruction of the city following the fire
The Home Insurance Building in Chicago
The fire destroyed many of the main resources Chicago had, but several things remained intact. Wharfs and grain elevators, as well as the meat packing factories remained, as well as the railroads. The railroads were a source of aid from elsewhere, allowing the city to receive the supplies it needed in the days following the blaze. The rebuilding of the business district began almost immediately following the fire.
New building materials, such as brick, stone, limestone, and marble, held together with mortar were used to lessen the chances of another fire occurring. Unfortunately, these materials were much more costly than wood, and many people could not afford to rebuild with the better materials. They also were not able to pay for fire insurance, and the insurance policies of many people had burned in the fire. This drove many to use wood anyway, which backfired literally when a second, much smaller fire occurred in 1874. After the second fire, many people were content to rebuild with bricks and stone instead of the cheaper alternatives. Eventually, a safe but cheap alternative: terracotta began to be used. With terracotta as its main source of building material, Chicago became one of the most fire-proof cities in all of the United States.
The Home Insurance Building was one of the buildings to benefit from Chicago's rebuilding. It was the first structure to use steel as a frame, and is regarded as being the first skyscraper.
A new building code also emerged with the reconstruction of the city. The city's "Boulevard System" began after the fire, as well as the creation of new parks and other projects that aided in the rebuilding of the lakefront.
Even though the fire demolished the city of Chicago, it was able to recover and rebuild into one of the most modern cities in the United States.
New building materials, such as brick, stone, limestone, and marble, held together with mortar were used to lessen the chances of another fire occurring. Unfortunately, these materials were much more costly than wood, and many people could not afford to rebuild with the better materials. They also were not able to pay for fire insurance, and the insurance policies of many people had burned in the fire. This drove many to use wood anyway, which backfired literally when a second, much smaller fire occurred in 1874. After the second fire, many people were content to rebuild with bricks and stone instead of the cheaper alternatives. Eventually, a safe but cheap alternative: terracotta began to be used. With terracotta as its main source of building material, Chicago became one of the most fire-proof cities in all of the United States.
The Home Insurance Building was one of the buildings to benefit from Chicago's rebuilding. It was the first structure to use steel as a frame, and is regarded as being the first skyscraper.
A new building code also emerged with the reconstruction of the city. The city's "Boulevard System" began after the fire, as well as the creation of new parks and other projects that aided in the rebuilding of the lakefront.
Even though the fire demolished the city of Chicago, it was able to recover and rebuild into one of the most modern cities in the United States.