What Happened After the Great Chicago Fire
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Date: 2022-12-29
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Comments and reviews: 20
greyeaglem
Too bad they didn't mention the Peshtigo, WI fire that happened the same night. I was more deadly than the Chicago fire. When word got out, the WI governor was already on a train heading to Chicago to try to assist the city, unaware of the fire in his own state. There was another big fire that night in MI also. When reading eyewitness accounts of the Chicago fire, it would seem that it started in more than one place. People across from the O'Leary's stated they looked down to the end of the street and could see a fire approaching. People looking the opposite direction said the same thing, so the fire seemed to be in more than one place.
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Too bad they didn't mention the Peshtigo, WI fire that happened the same night. I was more deadly than the Chicago fire. When word got out, the WI governor was already on a train heading to Chicago to try to assist the city, unaware of the fire in his own state. There was another big fire that night in MI also. When reading eyewitness accounts of the Chicago fire, it would seem that it started in more than one place. People across from the O'Leary's stated they looked down to the end of the street and could see a fire approaching. People looking the opposite direction said the same thing, so the fire seemed to be in more than one place.
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education
I highly recommend the book The Devil in the White city by Larson. He picks up the history of Chicagos architectural firm of Burnham and Root, the rebuilding of the city of Chicago, The Columbian Exposition and Americs first serial killer, a few years later. Burnham & Root were the founders of The City Beautiful movement, along with the garden architect who designed Central Park in New York City. (his name escapes me. A fascinating story of three or four things all happening at once, and what is so amazing is that many of those buildings are still standing!
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I highly recommend the book The Devil in the White city by Larson. He picks up the history of Chicagos architectural firm of Burnham and Root, the rebuilding of the city of Chicago, The Columbian Exposition and Americs first serial killer, a few years later. Burnham & Root were the founders of The City Beautiful movement, along with the garden architect who designed Central Park in New York City. (his name escapes me. A fascinating story of three or four things all happening at once, and what is so amazing is that many of those buildings are still standing!
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Matthew
Thanks. When I first moved to Chicago in the late 80s much of the area around the loop began to be developed again after many decades. excavations were taking place for new foundations etc.
I collected antique bottles and on sundays early am I would enter these sites. Almost without exception you could see a black band a few feet below surface. It varied in depth and thickness.
But contained melted bottles and myriad of other objects all fused by the heat. It appeared that in many areas they just leveled the debris and built on top of it all.
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Thanks. When I first moved to Chicago in the late 80s much of the area around the loop began to be developed again after many decades. excavations were taking place for new foundations etc.
I collected antique bottles and on sundays early am I would enter these sites. Almost without exception you could see a black band a few feet below surface. It varied in depth and thickness.
But contained melted bottles and myriad of other objects all fused by the heat. It appeared that in many areas they just leveled the debris and built on top of it all.
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Maxwell
The cause WAS determined. A man named Peg Leg Sullivan was coming home one chilly October night from the local tavern, which is supported by the hour that this occurred. His wife didn't allow him to smoke in the house, and since he didn't have one of his own, ducked into his neighbor's barn to enjoy one last pipe. Those neighbors were the O'Learys. In his inebriated state, he was none too careful about disposing of his match and ignited the hay. So you can blame a drunken Irishman for the disaster.
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The cause WAS determined. A man named Peg Leg Sullivan was coming home one chilly October night from the local tavern, which is supported by the hour that this occurred. His wife didn't allow him to smoke in the house, and since he didn't have one of his own, ducked into his neighbor's barn to enjoy one last pipe. Those neighbors were the O'Learys. In his inebriated state, he was none too careful about disposing of his match and ignited the hay. So you can blame a drunken Irishman for the disaster.
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Leah
Late last night while were all in bed, old Lady Leary hung a lantern in the shed and when the cow tipped it over she winked her eye and said, Its gonna be a hot one in the old town tonight.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Pour on water! Pour on water!
Save my children! Save my children!
Jump lady! Jump!
Huh!
Is still a pretty popular song at the summer camp I work at. Its one of the kids favorites.
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Late last night while were all in bed, old Lady Leary hung a lantern in the shed and when the cow tipped it over she winked her eye and said, Its gonna be a hot one in the old town tonight.
Fire! Fire! Fire!
Pour on water! Pour on water!
Save my children! Save my children!
Jump lady! Jump!
Huh!
Is still a pretty popular song at the summer camp I work at. Its one of the kids favorites.
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Dan
Anyone ever here of the Pestigo Fire I Wisconsin? Kill more people and did move damage. It happened the same time!
I don't why, but my Great Great Grandfather was a carpenter in Chicago, after the fire he moved to La Crosse WI. I would have thought he would have stayed and made a good living, but he had nowhere to live, so I guess that's why he moved.
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Anyone ever here of the Pestigo Fire I Wisconsin? Kill more people and did move damage. It happened the same time!
I don't why, but my Great Great Grandfather was a carpenter in Chicago, after the fire he moved to La Crosse WI. I would have thought he would have stayed and made a good living, but he had nowhere to live, so I guess that's why he moved.
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Randy
On the same day(s) of the Chicago fIre was the Peshtigo, Wisconsin fire the killed more people and destroy more property, but no one hears about it because all the news was about Chicago. Check it out. People died because after the initial fire swept through, people thought is was safe only to have the fire flash back through a 2nd time.
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On the same day(s) of the Chicago fIre was the Peshtigo, Wisconsin fire the killed more people and destroy more property, but no one hears about it because all the news was about Chicago. Check it out. People died because after the initial fire swept through, people thought is was safe only to have the fire flash back through a 2nd time.
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interwebtubes
Yeah Ive been to Chicago several times and that place is definitely a toilet;
Nothing has really changed in all of that time,
Its still just the total arrogance of those people who live in that toilet there;
Its definitely a sad statement about that city;
Definitely unfortunate for them
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Yeah Ive been to Chicago several times and that place is definitely a toilet;
Nothing has really changed in all of that time,
Its still just the total arrogance of those people who live in that toilet there;
Its definitely a sad statement about that city;
Definitely unfortunate for them
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Lester
A couple other theories of what actually caused the fire is 1 the fire was caused by an asteroid that exploded over the city and rained fireballs down 2 another theory is that do to a series of similar fires to cities along the Great lakes some historians believe it was a serial arsonist.
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A couple other theories of what actually caused the fire is 1 the fire was caused by an asteroid that exploded over the city and rained fireballs down 2 another theory is that do to a series of similar fires to cities along the Great lakes some historians believe it was a serial arsonist.
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Lille
I've spent my fair share of time in the barn helping with milking machines.
From the old no electricity days the barns had hooks for the lantern.
Doesn't seem likely to me that anyone would put the lantern in a position where it could be kicked by the cow
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I've spent my fair share of time in the barn helping with milking machines.
From the old no electricity days the barns had hooks for the lantern.
Doesn't seem likely to me that anyone would put the lantern in a position where it could be kicked by the cow
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Lauren
Good video! You did forgot to mention the significant donation of books Queen Victoria donated to Chicago after the fire. Due to her donation, the Chicago Public Library began. Otherwise, really good job and the narrator is excellent
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Good video! You did forgot to mention the significant donation of books Queen Victoria donated to Chicago after the fire. Due to her donation, the Chicago Public Library began. Otherwise, really good job and the narrator is excellent
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JG
late last night when I was home in bed, misses O'Leary took the lantern to the shed, when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said, it's going to be a hot time, in the old-town tonight, fire fire fire. water water water!
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late last night when I was home in bed, misses O'Leary took the lantern to the shed, when the cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said, it's going to be a hot time, in the old-town tonight, fire fire fire. water water water!
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ANGELIA
I never knew about that second fire; I'm glad I check out a lot of these videos, you really learn something. (I also love the old pictures, 19thc urban architecture makes me want a time machine)
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I never knew about that second fire; I'm glad I check out a lot of these videos, you really learn something. (I also love the old pictures, 19thc urban architecture makes me want a time machine)
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Almighty
While it was great that Chicago rebuilt, it wouldve been pretty cool if they never rebuilt and the ruins remained till today to show what a city looked like from the late 1800s
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While it was great that Chicago rebuilt, it wouldve been pretty cool if they never rebuilt and the ruins remained till today to show what a city looked like from the late 1800s
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John
You guys should do a podcast version of this show. I put my phone in my pocket and let the video play but it kills my battery. Just figured Id put that out there. Love the show
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You guys should do a podcast version of this show. I put my phone in my pocket and let the video play but it kills my battery. Just figured Id put that out there. Love the show
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Stephanie
You guys should look into Peshtigo fire, it happen the same night but the fire was unknown for until weeks later but it is still interesting. It happened in Wisconsin.
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You guys should look into Peshtigo fire, it happen the same night but the fire was unknown for until weeks later but it is still interesting. It happened in Wisconsin.
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Crystal
It's been 150 years since that huge backdraft happened. To the Chicagoans, Chicago metro area residents and Chicago fans out there, what's your tribute to that event?
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It's been 150 years since that huge backdraft happened. To the Chicagoans, Chicago metro area residents and Chicago fans out there, what's your tribute to that event?
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Linda
The fire was very carefully orchestrated by city officials who wanted to cash in on a windfall of relief money so they could build a bigger, better, more modern city.
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The fire was very carefully orchestrated by city officials who wanted to cash in on a windfall of relief money so they could build a bigger, better, more modern city.
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Chief
Love your videos. I left chicago ad fast as I could could last summer seems to be my best decision ever. Move south as long as your not a raging leftist
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Love your videos. I left chicago ad fast as I could could last summer seems to be my best decision ever. Move south as long as your not a raging leftist
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soshiangel90
We Chicagoans certainly think it helped! Our grid system for the roads was apparently also implemented after the fire which is a cool fun fact
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We Chicagoans certainly think it helped! Our grid system for the roads was apparently also implemented after the fire which is a cool fun fact
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