Old Chicago

“Its river and trails, its persons and places, some historical sites, some famous old faces.” [Border text]

“This quaint map of old Chicago recalls some incidents of the city’s early history – peaceful years alternating with periods of tumultuous growth. Witnesses to this changing scene since 1844, we send it to you with our best wishes at this time…”

That friendly holiday greeting, found on a small tag affixed to the upper left corner of the sheet, was (allegedly) written by George Dovenmuehle, owner of a realty firm that had its roots in the early city. According to a Chicago Tribune Article, Dovenmuehle’s got started as a land agent operating out of a saloon on Clark Street, north of Washington, in 1844.

This map was published nearly 100 years later as a promotional gift for customers and clients of the mortgage and realty firm, still in operation today (in intellectual property form, at least). The largely stereotypical image highlights some ‘standard’ historical events like the Chicago Fire and Battle of Fort Dearborn, but also the unusual. Mary Lincoln’s home on returning from Washington, the site of the first Synagogue, and the ‘Cobweb Castle’ of Alexander Wolcott (future site of Marina City) are among them. Humor is used throughout, though in a contemporary tone derogatory to Native Americans.

The map was created in 1940 by Jean Sterling Nelson, with artwork provided by John Winters. Lithography by the Advance Lithography Company of Chicago. Scarce, with only one example found online in the collections of the American Geographical Society at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Source.