, 1879-01-05

from the beginning. It has been twice burned.
and almost as' often sold out under foreclosure
proceedings. Soon after Dearborn street was
opened through south OF Monroe street, Mr..
H. e. Honore: acquired the property on which
the ruined structure stands, and erected, year
before the fire OF 1871, building there, borrow
ing the money, $780, 600, from the Connections
Mutual Life Insurance Company.
In October, 1871, it disappeared as matter
Of course in the flames. In the following year
its reconstruction was begnn, the intention be-
ing to make OF it a large hotel with over 200
rooms. Honore borrowed 100000 more Of the
Connecticut Mutual, and put in $3.50, COO Of his
own. ..... ......
The Honore Building, as it is called, on the
corner Of Dearborn and Monroe streets, was
erected first, and was known as the Real-Estate
Exchange. Next after that in order Of time
came the Honore Block; More money was bor-
rowed from the Connecticut Mutual, the inter-
est on which Mr. Honore was unable to pay, and
it passed, after fashion, into the hands Of Afr.
Potter Palmer, as Trustee The structure went
up little By little, and was finished during the
early part of 1873. The upper story, however,
was left untouched, aud the southern part Of
the building was in an exceedingly incomplete
condition. Tie Grand Pacific Hotel, and the
Palmer House, had gotten the start Of 1t as
far as hotel purposes were concerned. Mr..
Honore's money had run out, and it remained
barn without an occupant, or the possibility
of an occupant, until the fire OF
July, 1874, which destroyed the Methodist
church in which the Post Office Was located.
Then it came into use, and the Post-Ofllce WAS
transferred there day or two after the blaze
r,h;nh drouo II nff If Wabash avanua
The panic OF 1873, came along and destroyed
any hope which Mr. Honore might have had Of
retaining his building. It passed, after the
usual litigation, by sale into the hands Of the
Connecticut Mutua for $780, 000, being $40 600 less
than the principal aud accumulated interest and
taxes. The insurance company found an ele-
phant on its hands. As time wore
on, and the Government building
across the street drew nearer completion,'the
value OF the property on Dearborn and Adams
streets for renting purposes began to increase.
The Mutual saw an opportunity for doing some
thing with its big baby, and, early last year, e1
pen ded s50, LOCO in fitting and reftting the Ron-
ore Block.
Money was 1avishly expended in changing the
internal arrangements in many respects. The
stairs were swung around, elevators were
up with tenants. The department head
quarters of Gen. ~~ Sheridan md the
the executive officers Of the Chicago &. Alton
Railroad Company found rooms there, and va
rious law firms, attracted BY its nearness to the
Ci:y-Hall and its presumptive nearness to the
Federal Courts begun getting Offices there, and
fitted them up in style commensurate with
the tiqcness OF the structures: And now, just at
time when: the Company was about toderiyc
return from its heavy Investments and was be-
ginning to believe that Chicago. real estate was
not such bad thing after a1l, the whole thing
has disappeared in smoke and fame, aud there
IS, probably mourning to-day on the banks OF the
Connecticut. ::
The original structure. destroyed by the IRE
OF 1871, WAS intended for European hotel, and
THE RECONSTRUCTION BEGAN
in the summer OF 1872, Wheelock & Thomas be-
ing the architects. The old plans we're followed,
The building had Joliet stone front, treated in
the Renaissance STYLE and was si1 stories in
height, including thes Manard roof The 'front.'
ago on Dearborn street was 100 feet, end
on Adams street ia feet. 1t was un-
doubtcdly one OF the hand6omest and best
constructed buildings in the city. Mr.. Il. II.
Honore, the owner, spent about S250000, and
was then compelled to leave the structure in an
unfinished state for lack OF funds. It remained
so until about eight months ago, when the Con-
necticut Mutual, into whose hands 1t had passed
by foreclosure OF mortgage. began fitting it up
for m Office building, the whole interior being
remode1ed. AS it stood; yesterday morning,
taking into view the depreciation in values, the
building wass worth at least S250,000 Mr..
Honorc, In a11, put s550, GOO into the two build
ings, the first one costing S900, 1000. The salvage
will be something, and the insurance companies
may, therefore, save little OF the $33225 GOO.
The accompanying diagram will give IN idea Of
the ground plan: