Moo.

Okay, so...let's see...today I've learned a bit about Pullman and how he jacked up all the buildings because Chicago was built basically on a swamp. When they revised our sewage system back in the 1850's, part of the way they did that was to jack everything up a few feet, including the buildings. Pullman figured out a way to do it which was basically to get hundreds of men with jacks, on the count of 3, crank your jack (I know, I know) and hoist it up, then shore it up with wood. He managed it but for a few years the city was all on completely different levels and little boys would sit on lower sidewalks and look up ladies skirts. Tee hee.

Then Potter Palmer of Palmer House fame, came in and built his big "fireproof" hotel for his wife. He also was the first real "retailer" not Marshall Field as all assumed. Palmer decided to finally cater to the women of Chicago, giving them a safe clean place to shop where they could come alone and be safe and well taken care of. He was also the first to deliver right to your door and give refunds. Good ole Potter.

Too bad for his fancy hotel.

On October 8, 1871 a fabled cow kicked over a fabled lantern and the fire spread. Everything in Chicago was built quickly, right away, make money, who cares and so therefore it was built with wood. There of course was a draught, wooden sidewalks, tarred roofs, alcohol and anything else that would burn. The entreperunial (oh christ that word) spirit of Chicago saw it as a second coming, as a chance to rebuild and redesign, but the positive aspects have been memorialized happily, but the true devastation of the fire is still something I think in all of our communal blood.

More tomorrow!