On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire began. What was rumored to have been caused by a single oil lamp that was left too close to a cow quickly grew to become one of the most devastating urban fires in U.S. history? The ensuing inferno lasted for over two days and spread across the entire city, leaving much of Chicago in ruins. By the end, over 100,000 people were left homeless.
Origins of the Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire broke out on the evening of October 8, 1871, and was said to have begun on Dekoven Street in a local barned owned by a woman known as Mrs. O’Leary. A popular urban legend says that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow accidentally kicked over an oil lantern from the bar and broke it on the ground, beginning the fire.
While it was small at first, the dry weather, wooden structures, and strong winds allowed the fires to spread throughout the barn and even the rest of the city. With the poor weather and strong winds, the citizens of Chicago were unable to put out the fire, and continued to rage over the next two days. This creates an inferno that engulfs three square miles of the city.
At the time, Chicago was one of the largest cities in the US and was a rapidly growing metropolis. This meant that much of the city was made from wood and allowed the fires to easily spread. By the end of it, the fire resulted in over 300 fatalities, the destruction of 17,000 buildings, and another 100,000 citizens homeless. With such a catastrophe, rebuilding efforts and investigations were underway. Among these programs was organized by the Chicago Relief and Aid Society Report which talked about the Great Chicago Fire.
“The fire, which originated at about 9 o’clock in the evening of October 8th, continued its destructive course until 3 o’clock in the morning of Tuesday, October 10th, sweeping before it everything in its path and leaving an area of more than 2,000 acres in ruins. The number of buildings consumed is estimated at over 17,000, including homes, churches, factories, and the city’s business district. Hundreds of families were rendered homeless, and the total loss of property amounts to approximately $200,000,000. Relief efforts commenced immediately, with aid pouring in from cities and towns across the nation and abroad.”
Chicago Relief and Aid Society Report
Aside from the Great Chicago Fire, over two centuries ago, another great city experienced another brutal fire with the Great London Fire. Records of this destruction were captured in a diary entry.
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