It's January 2, 1962, and I just came across these incredible images from an old fire incident in Chicago. This is what Eric Haak shared with us, and it takes us back to a time when the city looked so different. The fire broke out at around 8:30 am at the Acorn Luggage factory on Western Avenue near Harrison Street. It quickly escalated into a 4-11 alarm fire, which back then meant it was a major event.
The first photo here is taken facing north, and you can see the old Crane Junior College in the distance. Although the high school is still there, the building itself has long been demolished. In the far-off distance, you can make out the iconic Chicago Stadium, a legendary sports venue that many remember fondly. The second photo offers a view across Western Avenue toward the southeast, capturing the chaos and urgency of the scene. Finally, the third image shows firefighters using their snorkel trucks to tackle the blaze from within the alleyway—what we might call the "C" side today.
Looking closely at the first photo, the truck company stationed on Western seems to have the number 19 on its door. I’m not entirely sure about this detail, but that’s how it appears. If you squint, you’ll notice the massive Phillips 66 neon sign that once hovered over the Eisenhower Expressway, along with an old Harris Bank Christmas billboard on one of the adjacent buildings. These details add so much character to the scene.
I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane! It’s fascinating to see how much the city has changed over the decades. These photos really capture the essence of Chicago in the early '60s, and they remind us of the resilience of both the firefighters who fought these blazes and the communities that rebuilt afterward.
If anyone has more context or corrections for my observations, feel free to chime in. This kind of historical documentation is always a collaborative effort, and I’d love to get it right.
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