, 1874-02-02
THE FOUR TREMQNTg.

7s tie Editor a The Chicago 7'r.ounc:
Silt In 1859 there vas built upon tho nortlt-
west cornor Of Lake and Dearborn atreots m
unpretendng frame structure known as tho
fremont House, and tho following year Ira
Couch became it's proprietor. uo found Tho
house moro slloll, without Guy sidewalk around
it, md but poorly furnished, as none Of tho
rooms were entirely carpotcd, little pieces in
front Of tho bod boing considered sufficient for
any ono; aud very many Of tho beds wore minus
ono pleasant luxury, pillow.
THE MUDDY DAYS.
Around this corner, in oarly epriDg-ti 1t
was impossible to drive the stage and tho pas
Bongora had to walk some two blocks; OH &C.
count Of tho marshy stato of tho ground, tho
horses could not navigate; and tho Indies wera
yory willing to wear tller husbands boots in
those days, wliou thoy felt foarful OF losing tlor
footing upon ground that seemed boltonlless.
THE FIRST FI,1,
III tho fall Of 1880, tho fremont Houso was
first consumed by fire. It had baen renovated
mud ropnircd shortly before, 30 that, for those
bAHiB, htr. Couclls loBH was felt to bo quito Be-
rions matter, especially as tue building vas en-
tiroty uninsured.
1Ie then purchased tic ground where tho OLE
giant hotel now ptauds, A,lG erected upon 1t, in
19i1, fremont House Ko.2. 1,sall thess efforts,
from the !!rst, Mr.. Couch WAS asHisted by luis
brother james. for ti,ey woro always together
aud helping ono another.
This also nus e. frame structure, three atorios
in height. and for thoac primitive dayH--bcforo
there was nny communication with tho outsdo
world except by stea1nbont and stnga-tho Tre~
mont House was considered Loo large, md its
builder iar ahoad OF tho tiMes
THE sEc0SD FIlE
Mr. Couch koa1ned to DO pursued by fro, a. III
18l9, the popular hotel VIA aYau destroyed.
Tho third Fremont calno to be known a3 q 1!xcd
fact carly i'll 1850. It waB certainly MI improve
lnont upon ita prodccoauora, for It was built Of
brick, tive stories hight alll again tho people
thought Afr. Couch must DO insane to build aacl
palace, 10 thoy falliiatly dubbed it "Couch's
Folly, predicting failure to this nan Of energy
anu perseverance,.
During thu:o early days Of building llr.
Couch In company with Ills brother Jamos) WAS
building ah IT progtosaed until 1t WAS finally
completed and roAdy TO bo openel.
THE Third FREMONT.
Gas waB usctl in Chicago for tho first time ut
ns everything was IN perfect keeping, tue house
must lnva presented 1lno appearance, with itH
lnrEc, airy roonB beautifully furnished, and aay-
Ing all tho coNyonieuees Of those days. Mr.
Couch lived to aeo this enterprise perfect suc-
ccss far beyond lis most sangulne expectations.
In its curly days tho no!el was crowded to its
utmost capacity, aud it ~as soon far too Hlnali,
for tho increasing travel mado 1t ofton necessary
to rDBOrk to YnrtOilB methods IN order to accom-
modato those who sought shelter within it's
wall8.
nA1sIA0 THE Du1LD1So.
In the spriug Of 1861 tho Yromont House was
raised up to grade. -moro thaI.C feot. Thia wag
done by screws there wore 5,00o Of these untlor
tho bEzs!aIng, and 500 mon. eao man having ton
strews under Ills control. At q given sisual
thoy would turn it half r'.llll and stop, tllen 30
to the uext one, Nld 10 Oh. This raiaod tho
building bodily, 80 tl!nt not pano Of glaBe was
broken, and tho businoss OF tho Aotol vent un
aH usual. WAou tho house was raised, tho court
III tho centre waa enlarged at,l quito number
OF ruomH udded, aud hon.o radical and Important
changes woYo nudo-ail dono under tho lireut
management of Mr.. james Couch. ~ tho urig-
inul builder Of tho fremont Ind passed. awny to
hlB lnal rcBt some fow yoarg before.
OLD HOAnpEng.
Among CIR old settlora 1nuuy Of them took
rooms the morning Of the oponlug, al,l BAt down
hIoHoly, McCord, brow, and Luther IIayen are
we'll remembered Vito tho exception Of hIr.
HaYos1, thosog gentlemen occupied lhoaamo rooms
they tlon touk, a.ll rsnlainea 1,ltll ualed to
their bright and botter homo ahovg.
DURING T1tN WAL
how many sui. ~ we'll IN planuAnt. eyontA took
plnee iu tho fremont House. which WIS tllo on,o
Of no very mally public mon. Hero I4llt onl
loyod to come Oh llis Western trips. Dun ;!.a
felt ut homo noTho1o except at tho Ito.nO ut
oubo, n'il during Ills last illness WAS teatlorl y
Garad for in THU ploasant, familiar atoppi1g-
place. This seonlod to bB thu only homo Bue.,
msn as Gems. Nausom Kirk, aud others
sought Nleu travelling -lndaed, II was hero tlloy
oloaea tlsir !Gnora Au4 paabod from slight tor
oYor. Our military laon, together with Proai-