|
A different kind of overhead view of the city, indicating the enterprises
occupying prime downtown real estate. The large green square with what looks
like a cross in the center is the block occupied by the Courthouse and its
grounds, bordered by (in clockwise order starting on the north) Randolph, Clark,
Washington, and LaSalle Streets. The rectangular patch of green on the right is
Dearborn Park, which hosted political rallies, concerts, the Sanitary Fair
(which raised funds for the Union cause during the war), and baseball games. The
blue area to the right is the lagoon created by the railroad breakwater. Tons of
rubble from the burned downtown were deposited here to create new land that
comprises the north end of present-day Grant Park. Note also that at this point
there were only two bridges to the North Division, at Wells and at Clark. In the
next few years there would be similar structures at Rush (soon destroyed by a
herd of cattle and then quickly replaced) and State (called Wolcott in the North
Division). By the time of the fire, there were also bridges to the West Division
at Madison, Randolph, and Lake. All of these were lost in the fire.
|
Bird's-Eye Views of the City 