1858, July 30th, Destructive Fire on Van Buren Street, Chicago. $15,000 Loss!

Shortly after nine o'clock in the morning, a fire was discovered by Officer Wood, on his beat, in the rear of a large three-story frame structure on Van Buren Street near Clark Street, in the South Division, known as the Phœnix House and occupied for hotel purposes. The policeman instantly gave the alarm and burst into the front door of the house, the inmates of which were then, for the first time, apprised of their peril. When discovered, the fire was well at work on the east side of a low extension or shed used as a summer kitchen or washhouse and near the chimney. The Phœnix House was pretty well cleared of its contents, and the occupants all got out safely, though some of them with little reference to the appropriate apparel for street appearance.

The № 1, Long John Steamer, was put into service in Chicago in 1858. It was the first steam fire engine in the city, and it helped to revolutionize the way that fires were fought. It was a 40-foot long, 14-foot high, and 8-foot wide vehicle. It weighed 10 tons and was powered by a 100-horsepower steam engine. The Long John could pump 500 gallons of water per minute.

The buildings in the vicinity of the fire were all made of wood and closely contiguous, and but that the surfaces of the same had been drenched by the recent showers, the disaster, under a little more wind that then prevailed, must have been wise-spread. As it was, before the conflagration could be stayed, it had extended to the various buildings surrounding the rear area of and adjoining the Phœnix House, including a four-story frame, an adjoining shop in which liquor was stored, the Exchange House (a two-story building), the Lafee House (a three-story building), № 126 to 134, inclusive, on Van Buren Street, a small unoccupied building and the Jennings House on Griswold Street—all of them frame structures, the Jennings House being a large and comparatively new building, standing vacant.

The fire department, including the smaller steam Fire Engine the "Enterprise" [1], was very promptly on the spot and as promptly at work with excellent streams, and did good service in holding the fire in check and finally subduing it. The Jennings House was badly damaged by fire and water. The Phœnix House and the Lafee House were about one-fourth consumed but will probably both be repaired. The smaller buildings were destroyed.

The list of owners and their losses were as follows:

The Phœnix House № 126, occupied by Patrick McConnell. Loss of $1,200 covered by Chicago Mutual.  Mr. McConnell had $1,000 worth of Brandy in an unoccupied barber's shop adjoining the hotel which was destroyed and not covered by insurance.

The Exchange House, № 130-132, is occupied by John Maloney. Loss of $1,200, insured for $800 in Chicago Mutual.

Lafee House, № 134, occupied by Jacob Lafee. Loss of $1,500, insured for $900.

All three of the above houses were owned by Jacob Gillan and valued at $5,600. Insurance officers took an inventory of the property and a policy for $3,000 to go into effect the day after the fire.

The Jennings House on Griswold Street was owned by Ballard & Wilcox. The building was worth about $6,000, with damage of $3,500, insured for $4,000 at the Merchants of Philadelphia and Phœnix of Hartford, Conn. It was unoccupied, but Martin Dodge, formerly of the Sherman House, would take possession in a few days.

The origin of the fire is unknown. The location in which the flames were discovered points to the chimney as the source of the disaster; the main reason for suggesting a different origin seems to be the fact that the premises in that vicinity have been fired three times in scarcely that many weeks.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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[1] The 1858 Steam Fire Engine "Enterprise" was a landmark invention that revolutionized firefighting. It was the first steam-powered fire engine in the United States, and it was much more powerful and efficient than the horse-drawn fire engines that were previously in use.

The Enterprise was built by the Seth Sweet Manufacturing Company of New York City. It had a boiler that produced steam that powered a piston that drove the pump. The pump could deliver up to 500 gallons of water per minute, which was much more than the 50-100 gallons per minute that a horse-drawn fire engine could deliver.

The Enterprise was also much faster than a horse-drawn fire engine. It could travel up to 10 miles per hour, which allowed it to get to fires more quickly.

The Enterprise was a huge success. It was used by fire departments all over the United States, and it helped to save countless lives and property from fire. It is considered to be one of the most important inventions in the history of firefighting.

Here are some additional facts about the 1858 steam fire engine Enterprise:

• It was 25 feet long, 9 feet wide, and 10 feet tall.
• It weighed 10 tons.
• It had a crew of 12 firefighters.
• It was powered by a 100-horsepower steam engine.
• It could pump up to 500 gallons of water per minute.
• It could travel up to 10 miles per hour.
• It was first used by the New York City Fire Department in 1858, Chicago also received an Enterprise truck in 1858.
• It was retired from service in 1884.

The Enterprise was a truly revolutionary invention that changed the way firefighting was done. It was faster, more powerful, and more efficient than any fire engine that had come before it, and it helped to save countless lives and property from fire. It is a testament to the ingenuity and creativity of the people who designed and built it, and it is a reminder of the important role that technology can play in protecting people and property from harm.