The Great Chicago Fire

The Great Chicago Fire is the popular name for an event which took place in Chicago in 1871. The fire began in or near the barn of Mrs. Catherine O'Leary on October 8 and spread rapidly due to dry weather conditions, strong winds, and an inadequate water pumping system. Over 17,000 buildings were destroyed and $222 million in property.
The root cause was never determined, though popular memory and songs blamed Mrs. O'Leary or rather her cow, claiming the bovine knocked over a lantern. The song "Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight" commemorates this interpretation of the event (although the historical lyrics were omitted from The Muppet Show rendition).
==References==
*The Sesame Street 1976 Calendar depicts the fire, including Mrs. O'Leary and her cow, for the month of October. However, the true cause of the conflagration is revealed as the candles on Grover's birthday cake.
*Named dwarfs in "Snow White and the Hundred Dwarfs" on the album Sleepytime Bird include O'Leary who lives in a barn.
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:Historical References