1857, April 12th, Fire on Clark Street, Chicago.

On Sunday morning at about 8 o'clock, a fire broke out in a row of one-and-a-half-story frame buildings on Clark Street, just south of Madison Street. Six buildings were partly destroyed, and the occupants were driven out. 

This illustration is a visual aid. Clark Street, the 1870s.

№ 149 was occupied as a bakery and saloon; № 151, by Jacob & Anhalt, dealers in ready made clothing; № 153 by A. Herzog, hat and cap store; № 157 by William Yearsburg, hat and straw bleaching establishment; № 157 as a cigar store and saloon. The whole amount of damage is probably not over $2,000. There was no insurance.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.