Happy birthday to Chicago. It was incorporated March fourth, 1837. I would like to showcase some interesting books I have of Chicago. First, with some of the older ones. I will begin with “The Great Conflagration. Chicago, Its Past, Present, and Future” by James W. Sheahan and George P. Upton, published December of 1871. The subtitle continues with “Embracing a detailed narrative of the great conflagration of the north, south and west divisions: origin, progress and results of the fire. Prominent building burned, character of buildings, losses, and insurance, graphic description of the flames, scenes and incidents, loss of life, the flight of the people.” It also had information on other fires, forest fires in Wisconsin and Michigan, and some brief statements of other great fires of the world, to compare with the immensity of the Chicago fire.
The Great Chicago Fire took place from October 8th through October 10th. Just over a month or so later, this book came out. My great great grandfather died in the fire it was believed, when his apartment house burned down. He walked into his own funeral.
With another tragic fire, I present “Chicago’s Awful Theatre Horror” by the survivors and rescuers (introduced by Bishop Fallows.) published 1904. This book tells the story of the Iroquois Theater fire, December 30th, 1903. Over 600 people died that day. It was the largest single building tragedy in the United States until the World Trade Center Attack on September 11, 2001. The cover has a dramatic picture of a fireman rescuing a small girl. The stories inside are equally dramatic.
This third book of the older books, “the Story of Chicago” 1929, is lovely book telling its history, beginning with swamps, onions and Indians. It was a school book. There is a bookplate inside that states “when you use a book, are you careful with it? Do you resist the temptation to roll up the corners of the pages and tear out little nips? If not, think of books as human beings with feelings just like yours. And resolve to treat books as friends.”
In 1933, Chicago had a World’s Fair-A Century of Progress. I have a souvenir set of booklets, from The New Testament, in a little box.
I also have a silhouette photo of my wife’s dad and younger brother. Just thought it was done locally, but when I accidently dropped the picture, it moved in the frame. We found out that it was cut and made at the Chicago World’s fair.
I have several newer books that are rather interesting. Chicago Churches and Synagogues” 1981; and Chicago Churches, a Photographic Essay” 1999, signed by author George Lane. Both books have pictures and stories of many of the beautiful churches in Chicago.
Two personal stories are of churches pictured in both books. The first, my brother and I were bored before the wedding of my nephew, so we snuck out for an adventure to visit St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. This crazy thirteen towered church has huge windows and walls of concrete for support, but it looks like much more window space than wall space. Very futuristic. We toured, and made it back for the wedding. I had to, I was part of it.
My sister and I went to Eucharist mass for 155th birthday of Holy Family Church of Chicago. We were blessed that day with a cross that had three relics in it. First, splinter from Jesus manger, fragment of veil of Mary, and thread from cloak of St Joseph. Were they real? Who knows, but they were venerated by the Vatican, being in possession in Rome from St. Helena of the Cross ( Constantine’s mother) since the fifth century. They believe the spirit. That church is second oldest church in Chicago, spared by the Great Chicago Fire because Father Damen vowed if the church was spared, he would keep seven lights always burning at a side alter-the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Those lights are still burning.
The next book on display is “Peaceful Places Chicago-119 Tranquil sites in the Windy City” by Anne Ford 2011. If you live in Chicago, or visit often, buy this book. It has wonderful, quiet, out of the way, unusual places to visit in Chicago. You will appreciate Chicago so much more.
The next book created quite a stir when it came out in 1985. It is “The Chicago Exhibition” by Michele Fitzsimmons and Diane Schmidt. This is a large (10 x 13) photography book. They took shots of landmarks around Chicago…with the artist nude. From Water Tower Place, to Buckingham Fountain, to the Art Institute, throughout Chicago. One photo actually was printed in the Chicago Tribune, when the book was released.
Once again, Happy Birthday to Chicago. Keep reading (and looking at pictures). As Ferris said when he woke up that fateful day, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”
Librarytomes 