On October 8, 1871 around 9:00PM a fire started in the barn of Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, at 13 DeKoven Street, Chicago, Illinois. This barn fire practically ignited the  city for 2 days, killing 200-300 people, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without a home,and destroying more than half the buildings in the city (17,450); Wooden homes, private mansions, and industrial buildings were all set ablaze. This Great Chicago fire caused $200 million dollars in damages, leveling 4 miles of the infamous Windy City.

However fires were not unusual in this dry city.  In fact, the  previous year Chicago averaged 2 fires per day, and the week before there were 20 fires throughout Chicago.  It wouldn’t be too long before this Windy City was alive again.  After all the physical layout of the city remained intact and so did the city’s sewage, water, and transportation systems.  Shortly after, Chicago began to prosper.  The population rapidly grew from 324,000 Chicagoans in 1871, to 500,000 by 1880, and 13 years after that there was approximately 1.5 million citizens of Chicago.  The city was reconstructed into the most modern city of its time, including the privilege of being home to the world’s first skyscrapers! 

Although the great Chicago fire was absolutely devastating to all those who called Chicago home, it would never have modernized into the city it is today without this accident occurring.  And with that said, nothing so devastating has happened thus far, since then.  So lets cross our fingers and hope for the best!

Check out this article where I got most of my info from: This Day In History: Chicago Fire

Also check out this neat website for more info and cool photos from the day and aftermath: The Chicago Fire