| Address | Dekoven (1050s) & Jefferson (600w) St |
|---|---|
| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | Commemorative sculpture "Pillar of Fire" by Egon Weiner, 1961 |
| Status | Designated Chicago Landmark |
| Designation Date | September 15, 1971 (Final) |
| Neighborhood | Near West Side |
| Type | Site and commemorative |
| Landmark ID | L-187 |
Direct quotes from the Chicago Landmark Designation Report
“As the city began to rebuild from the ashes, another positive result of the fire was seen. Architectural design and building techniques took on innovative forms. The decades after the fire saw the development and extensive use of the steel-skeleton frame.”
“Nationally, a program commemorating the anniversary of the fire prompted President Warren G. Harding in 1922 to declare the national observance of Fire Prevention Week (the Sunday through Saturday in which October 8th to 10th falls).”
“The Kolars fore down the O'Leary cottage and erected in 1880 a two-story stone-front brick structure with an English basement. The next year, the Chicago Historical Society embedded a marble plaque in the front wall of the house explaining the significance of the site.”
“SIGNIFICANCE OF SITE: The memory of the fire of 1871 prompted the city officials to insure that such a holocaust would not occur again. The fire had destroyed 2,150 acres (almost the entire city).”