The Great Chicago Fire burned in Chicago during October 8–10, 1871. The fire killed approximately 300 people, destroyed 17,000 structures across roughly 3.3 square miles and left more than 100,000 residents homeless. The fire began in a neighborhood southwest of the city center. A long period of hot, dry, windy conditions spread quickly. According to Nancy Connolly, great-great-granddaughter of Catherine O'Leary, the fire is said to have started at about 8:30 p.m. on October 8, in or around a small barn belonging to the O'Leary family that bordered the alley behind 137 W. DeKoven Street when Daniel "Peg-Leg" Sullivan accidentally knocked over a lantern while looking for beer for a party. The shed next to the barn was the first building to be consumed by the fire. City officials never determined the cause of the blaze, but the rapid spread of the fire due to a long drought in that year's summer, strong winds from the southwest, and the rapid destruction of the water pumping system explain the extensive damage of the mainly wooden city structures. There has been much speculation over the years on the single start to the fire. The most historically popular tale blames Mrs. O'Leary's cow, which allegedly knocked over a lantern; others state that a group of men were gambling inside the barn and knocked over a lantern
We will meet at the Chicago Fire Academy. There is a big flame statue.
Chicago’s history has been shaped by moments of profound crisis and quiet endurance. This series of meetups, titled "Reflection," invites us to honor the memory of the innocent lives, both adults and children, lost in the city's catastrophic events.
The purpose of this series is two-fold: to learn the history of what happened at each site, and to translate your raw emotional response into your sketch.
As artist and good friend, Liying Qian expressed, our aim is about "capturing their presence through absence."
Series Overview & Intent
• Focus: Historical memory, architectural/site context, and emotional expression.
• Approach: Brief historical overview on site, followed by dedicated, silent or reflective sketching time.
• Mediums: Any medium capable of conveying mood.
See you then
Event venue
558 W De Koven St, Chicago, IL 60607-4417, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.