The History of the Lill and Diversy Brewery, Chicago, Illinois

The year 1833 not only marks the incorporation of the town of Chicago, but also the establishment of Chicago's first commercial brewery. German immigrants William Haas and Konrad (Andrew) Sulzer arrived in Chicago from Watertown, New York that year. They brought with them one hundred and fifty barrels of ale, a load of malt, brewery equipment, and $3,000 ($75,630 in 2017). The Haas & Sulzer Brewery was an immediate success, producing approximately 600 barrels (31 gallons per barrel) of ale for a town of about 350 residence.

Sulzer sold his interest in the brewery to William B. Ogden in 1836 the 1st Mayor of Chicago (1837-1838). Noting the high cost of shipping beer from the East, Ogden financed the erection of a larger structure (the plant) at Pine Street (now North Michigan Avenue) and Chicago Avenue to take advantage of the growing market. During his tenure with the brewery, he also managed to serve full time as the City of Chicago's first mayor in 1837-38.

William Lill, an immigrant from England, settled in Chicago in 1835 after famously walking to Chicago from Louisville, Kentucky, a 300-mile journey. Lill bought a large share of the Haas & Sulzer Brewery in 1837.

1837 Chicago Directory Listing

Michael J. Diversy[1], an immigrant from the current Alsace-Lorraine area of France, shared the ice stored on the premises of the Haas & Sulzer Brewery, operating a dairy from the same building.

Michael Diversy bought out Ogden in 1841. The plant was sold in 1843 to Lill and Diversy, which was renamed "Lill & Diversy," also known as "The Chicago Brewery." Their first year’s brew was about 460 barrels of Ale. Both Haas and Sulzer left the brewing business.

A portion of an ad for Lill and Diversy's Brewery from the 1858-59 Chicago Business Directory.

By 1857, the Lill & Diversy plant, covering an entire city block and had grown into the largest brewery west of the east coast. By 1861 the business was producing nearly 45,000 barrels a year of beer, porter, stout, and their most popular drink, "Lill's Cream Ale." For many years “Lill‘s Cream Ale” was one of the most famous brands in the country.

The Lill & Diversy Brewery was damaged by fire in 1860 and 1864. In 1866 the brewery expanded, sprawling over two acres on the corner of Pine Street (later North Michigan Avenue) and Chicago Avenue and employing up to 75 men. In fact, the four-story structure towered over the Water Tower Pumping Station completed just across the street a year later.

1868 Chicago Directory Listing

Lill's Premium Stock Ales, 167 State Street (today; 101 S. State St.), Chicago, Illinois. Circa 1868

Michael J. Diversy died on December 10, 1869, and is buried in Saint Boniface Cemetery in Chicago.

Lill continued the operation alone. Unfortunately, this story, like so many stories from this period in Chicago's history, ends with the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The Lill & Diversy Brewery burned to the ground and never reopened. William Lill lost an estimated $650,000 ($14,057,300 today) in damages with the destruction of the brewery.

Looking north from Chicago Avenue at Pine Street (today's Michigan Avenue) in 1872, after the Great Chicago Fire. The photo was taken from the top of the Water Tower as you can see its shadow in the lower right-hand corner. The ruins in the foreground are the Lill & Diversy Brewery.

Ruins of the Lill & Diversy Brewery.

William Lill passed away on August 11, 1875, and is buried at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago.

 

Michael Diversy was a Chicago Alderman and a noted philanthropist. He donated land for the McCormick Theological Seminary, was the founder of St. Joseph Catholic Church (now at Hill and Orleans streets), and donated land for St. Michael's Church (the Church named to honor Diversy's patron saint) at Eugenie street and Cleveland avenue. Michael Diversy was so important to Chicago that three streets were named after Diversy; Diversey Avenue, Diversey Parkway, and Diversey School Court. William Lill was also honored by Chicago naming Lill Avenue after him.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.

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[1] The original spelling was without the "ey" as it is now spelled in Chicago's street names. It is said that his signature had a flourish at the end that looked like the spelling would be DIVERSEY. 

A Brief History of North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois

1855 Colton Map.

In this 1866 drawing, a small portion of Pine Street was "vacated" and moved eighty (80) feet further west of the original Pine street location to accommodate the installation of the new pumping station's standpipe.

CLICK MAP FOR A LARGER VIEW

This standpipe, engineered to regulate water pressure, would be housed within architect William W. Boyington's castle structure (Water Tower) that still stands on that site today.

In 1869 the Board of Public Works began paving Pine Street from Chicago Avenue to the northern terminus, Whitney street (today, Walton street), paved using Belgian woodblocks also known as Nicolson pavement.

Pine Street looking north Huron Street, Chicago. 1870

Pine Street (Future Michigan Avenue) after the Great Chicago Fire in 1871.

Pine Street (400 to 999N) was renamed Lincoln Park Boulevard (600 to 999N) as far south as Ohio Street (600N) when the street connected with Lake Shore Drive in the early 1890s.

Michigan Boulevard was renamed Michigan Avenue in Chicago in 1909. The name change was made to simplify the city's street numbering system. Prior to the name change, Michigan Boulevard was south of the river. The name change made it clear that both streets were part of the same thoroughfare.

The name "Michigan Boulevard" was still used informally for many years after the name change. In fact, the name "Boul Mich" was still used to refer to Michigan Avenue in the 1920s. However, the name "Michigan Avenue" eventually became the standard name for the street.

Looking north from Chicago Avenue at Pine Street (today's North Michigan Avenue) in 1872, after the Great Chicago Fire. The photo was taken from the top of the Water Tower, as you can see its shadow in the lower right corner. The ruins in the foreground are from the Lill & Diversy Brewery.

Pine Street (now North Michigan Avenue), is being widened. (circa 1915)

Both North Michigan Avenue and Michigan Boulevard, south of the Chicago River, were joined physically with the opening of the Michigan Avenue bridge in May of 1920. 

Looking south on Michigan Avenue, Chicago. Circa 1930.

In 1926, after years of clogged automobile traffic, the water tower and pumping station were separated by realigning Michigan Avenue to run between them.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D. 

Chicago's Astor Street District, Belgian woodblock alleys.

Only one or two examples can still be found paved with Belgian woodblocks from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. However, before the Belgian block became common, many different pavement methods had wildly varying advantages and disadvantages. Because it was so cheap, woodblock was one of the favored early methods.

The woodblock pavement was more commonly known as Nicolson pavement, which Chicago started using by 1853.

In the landmark Astor Street District in Chicago's Gold Coast community, the alley between State and Astor Streets, less than a block south of North Avenue, behind the mansion of the Archbishop of Chicago (1555 North State Parkway), is a woodblock alley running east and west.

In May of 2011, the Gold Coast wooden alley was torn away and replaced with new wooden blocks.

Repaving Project Complete.

Learn about Chicago Common Brick and Street Paver Bricks.

Compiled by Dr. Neil Gale, Ph.D.