The Great Chicago Fire
The summer of 1871 was
very dry, leaving the ground parched and the wooden city vulnerable. On Sunday
evening, October 8, 1871, just after nine o'clock, a fire broke out in the barn
behind the home of Patrick and Catherine O'Leary at 13 DeKoven Street. How the
fire started is still unknown today, but an O'Leary cow often gets the credit.
The firefighters,
exhausted from fighting a large fire the day before, were first sent to the
wrong neighborhood. When they finally arrived at the O'Leary's, they found the
fire raging out of control. The blaze quickly spread east and north. Wooden
houses, commercial and industrial buildings, and private mansions were all
consumed in the blaze.
After
two days, rain began to fall. On the morning of October 10, 1871, the fire died
out, leaving complete devastation in the heart of the city. At least 300 people were dead,
100,000 people were homeless, and $200 million worth of property was destroyed.
The entire central business district of Chicago was leveled. The fire was one
of the most spectacular events of the nineteenth century, and it is recognized
as a major milestone in the city's history.
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