C.D. Peacock, Chicago. Fine Jewelry & Watches — 1837─Present

Elijah Peacock was an English immigrant who, along with his wife, Rebecca Haylock, moved to Chicago in February 1837. Shortly after arriving, he opened the "House of Peacock" at 155½ Lake Street, a fine jewelry and watch shop. It was the first registered business in Illinois and is recognized as the oldest existing retailer in Chicago.

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The Panic of 1837: The Panic sparked a nationwide depression in March 1837,  lasting into the mid-1840s, but it couldn’t stop the House of Peacock’s success or Chicago’s growth. This would be the first of many hardships that the House of Peacock and Chicago found themselves in and would overcome together. Families migrated west as the East Coast felt the depression especially hard. 

 

What a Brillant Marking Piece for Chicago & Illinois !!! 

The Town of Chicago (inc. August 12, 1833) was granted a charter, becoming the City of Chicago, on March 4, 1837. C.D. Peacock is older than Chicago and is the oldest continuously operating business in (2024) Chicago. It predates the city's official incorporation on March 4, 1837, and has witnessed Chicago's transformation from a frontier outpost to a bustling city.

Charles Daniel Peacock (C. D. Peacock)

C.D. Peacock lived at 1713 W. Indiana Avenue, which is now in the 38 hundred block of West Indiana Avenue.

By 1843, Chicago was rich in transportation and fertile ground. The city was a hub for business, and Elijah Peacock was one of six jewelers. As Chicago grew in size and numbers, so did Peacock's. 

In 1843, the House of Peacock moved around the corner to 195 Lake Street and Wells.

People were drawn to the city with each transportation upgrade, especially the addition of the Indiana and Michigan Canal and the thousands of miles of railways connecting Chicago to the rest of the country. 

In fact, legend has it that Elijah was an early investor in the canal, making the business boom possible. A few years after he opened shop, Elijah acquired prime land in that area from a gambler who "paid" his debts with a deed to the land, which was only thought to be worth very little at the time. Eventually, the value of land close to the canal skyrocketed, and Elijah sold it to fund the canal, paving the way for the store's and Chicago's growth.

Once again, the economic landscape shifted. In 1849, the House of Peacock moved to 199 Randolph Street. Then again in 1854, to 205 Randolph Street.

The House of Peacock specialized in selling and repairing watches and carried a small jewelry line. Elijah passed on his trade to his son, Charles, who eventually took over the business when his father retired after the Chicago Fire in 1871. 

After the fire, the House of Peacock quickly reopened for business. In 1873, Peacock moved to 98 State Street at the corner of Monroe Street. The next move was to 86 West Madison Street.

Under Charles' management, the firm changed its name to C.D. Peacock and expanded its offerings and locations, opening at 118-120 S. State Street at Adams Street.

While Elijah Peacock primarily focused on selling and repairing watches, evidence suggests he also introduced some jewelry items to his customers. Historical accounts mention that he brought "deluxe jeweled necklaces" for the elite women of Chicago and sold fine silver dining sets.

In 1889, Elijah's son, Charles Daniel (C.D.), took control of the business and changed The House of Peacock to the name and luxury brand we now know as C.D. Peacock. He had been very involved in the industry since he was a young boy, having grown up around the best jewelers and watchmakers.

However, it's unclear whether Elijah designed these items or simply curated them for his store. His son, Charles Daniel Peacock, expanded the jewelry selection significantly, and the company became known for its exquisite jewelry collections.

It's safe to say that Elijah Peacock played a crucial role in introducing fine jewelry and Swiss-made watches to the Chicago market, even if he wasn't necessarily the designer behind the pieces. He laid the foundation for C.D. Peacock's later success as a prominent jewelry retailer.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

Nightlife and Entertainment Clubs in Mid-20th Century Chicago.

Chicago nightlife proliferated in the wake of the 1871 Chicago Fire and again in conjunction with the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. During this period, the ragtime dance craze attracted exposition patrons to the entertainment area on the Near South Side. This infamous district, known as the Levee, was shut down in 1914 during Mayor Harrison's reform administration, and nightlife establishments moved out into other areas of the city. Since the early decades of the twentieth century, nightclubs have been concentrated in three areas: the Loop (on Randolph Street), the Near North Side (Rush Street), and the South Side (State Street and Garfield Boulevard).

In the 1920s and 1930s, Hotels used nightclubs catering to a general audience, featuring dancing to big bands, floor shows, and live radio broadcasts, like at the Camellia House Restaurant in the Drake Hotel. 

The Camellia House

These included the Stevens Hotel's Boulevard Room, the Palmer House Hotel's Empire Room, and the Sherman Hotel's College Inn–Panther Room. Freestanding nightclubs such as Friar's Inn (343 South Wabash), Don Roth's Blackhawk Restaurant (139 North Wabash), and Chez Paree (610 Fairbanks Court) were also located in or near the Loop.

Don Roth's Blackhawk Restaurant, Injunbar, and Wine Library.

Located at State Street near Garfield Boulevard on the South Side, the Club DeLisa was the largest and most important nightclub in the African American community from the 1930s through the 1950s. At the Club DeLisa, Chicagoans could hear performers such as Count Basie and Joe Williams.

Opening in 1907 on the far North Side, the Green Mill (4802 Broadway) remains Chicago's longest continuously operating nightclub. Performers such as singer/comedian Joe E. Lewis and vocalists Ruth Etting, Billie Holiday, and Anita O'Day appeared there in the early stages of their careers. A hang-out for Al Capone and mobsters. Rumors claim underground tunnels were used to sneak in and out of the club.

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Al Capone, a big fan of jazz music, gave many now-famous jazz musicians their start in Chicago. He also helped to promote and support Negro jazz musicians in Chicago. Louis Armstrong, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Earl Hines, Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Waller, Billie Holiday, King Oliver and his Creole Jazz Band, and Nat King Cole all came of age in clubs owned, partnered, or controlled by Al Capone.

One of the most exotic and colorful suburban nightclubs was the Villa Venice, 2855 Milwaukee Road, Wheeling, Illinois.

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Sam Giancana, the notorious Chicago Outfit boss from 1957 to 1966, was deeply involved in the Villa Venice, a lavish supper club located in Wheeling, Illinois. Although he officially used the alias "Mr. Flood," it was widely known that the establishment was under his control. The Villa Venice, which opened in 1962, served as a front for illegal gambling operations, generating substantial profits for Giancana and the Outfit. However, it was also a popular entertainment venue, hosting renowned performers like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr., collectively known as the "The Rat Pack" from left to right: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra from an appearance at the Villa Venice in Wheeling, Illinois, owned by Sam Giancana, boss of the Chicago Outfit.

"The Rat Pack" from left to right: Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra appearing at the Villa Venice.

The mobster and gambler clientele favored Parisian-style (casual chic) reviews with nude chorus lines. Giancana supported appearances by jazz artists such as Eddie South and Milt Hinton.

In the western suburb of Lyons, Mangam's Chateau (7850 Ogden Avenue) offered popular entertainment, including outdoor dancing and a dinner package.

Mangam's Chateau Restaurant, Lyons, ILL.

In the southwest suburb of Evergreen Park, the Martinique (2500 West 95th Street) was a popular restaurant and floor show venue for the far South Side.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.