1871 Great Chicago Fire. Destruction at Fifth Avenue and Madison Street.

A portion of Wells Street (named for Captain William Wells, hero and martyr of the Fort Dearborn Massacre in July of 1812) south of the Chicago River was renamed Fifth Avenue in 1870 to remove negative associations with the Wells name and the street's disrepute. Fifth Avenue was reverted to Wells Street in 1916. It is not to be confused with Fifth Avenue on the west side, formerly Colorado Avenue. 

Both Fifth Avenues were named after the famous New York Avenue in failed efforts to convey prestige.

Fifth Avenue in 1911, five years before the street's name reverted to Wells St.