Chicago’s Black Fire of July 14, 1874, The 2nd Great Chicago Fire

Photo of area burned following the fire of July 14, 1874

July, 14, 2014 marks 140 years since the 2nd great Chicago fire, July, 14, 1874

when the African American section of town burn to the ground and people

scattered hereto there seeking refuge after losing everything they owned due to

a catastrophic fire that burn almost every home in this area south of the loop.

This Fire covered an area of 15 square blocks, an area of the city not effected by

the 1st great fire, from Roosevelt Rd. (s) to Van Buren St (n) then from Clark St

(w) to Michigan Ave (e).

This fire reportedly started in a rag shop next door to an oil company supporting

the rail yard just west of this area. Newspaper accounts, Chicago daily tribune

stated, prior to the fire many African Americans were south of Chicago enjoying

a church picnic where smoke could be seen for miles around. After returning

they found their homes leveled and raised to the ground with all of their

belongings consumed.

On this day the first alarm received was at 3:30pm in the afternoon on the

corner of Roosevelt Rd and Clark St. The first arriving fire company, Engine 21,

found the addresses of 503 to 523 Clark St thru 3rd Ave totally involved in fire.

This area that was spared by the first fire was under seize because of the

hundreds of wood homes, shacks and shanties that were built there. It had been

only 9 years since slavery ended and many people were still trying to get

adjusted to life in Chicago, this catastrophe did not help their cause.

A duplication of the weather conditions were similar to the first great fire of

October 8, 1871, with high winds, hot dry day, a limited supply of water, a fire

department in transition, and, inadequate manpower, fire district increased

following this fire providing more fire companies, and unable to manage a fire

of this magnitude.

In 1874 approximately 4,000 African Americans lived in Chicago out of 300,000

people. Many were scattered throughout the west and north sides but many of

the African American people lived between Clark St (west) and state St (east)

from Roosevelt Rd (south) to Harrison St (north). Virtually all of their homes

were of wood aligned up and down 3rd and 4th Ave. This fire burned and

consumed 47 acres of land, approximately 15 square blocks. 30 souls were

reported lost in this catastrophe fire, compared to the 300 poor souls who lost

their lives in the first fire.

High winds and hundreds of tinder box wood homes that fed this voracious fire

allowing it to spread extremely fast. Engine 21, the first all-black firefighting

company in the U.S., fire apparatus burned in the street attempting to cut off its

fire flow. 812 wooden structures, 36 brick buildings of mixed occupancy 4 to 5

stories with businesses on the 1st floor and apartments and motels on the upper

floors. When the fire crossed 3rd Ave it communicated to Quinn chapel

destroying it as well as other churches in the area, First Baptist church and

Olivet Baptist Church in similar fashion.

The monetary loss of this fire totaled $3,845,000.00 in property damage with

insurance companies paying out $2,200,000.00 for replacement cost. Almost

none of this went out to African Americans, mostly businesses. Without

homeowners insurance, most black people were renters who had to depend on

others to help them through this traumatic epoch of losing everything due to

this tragic fire.

During this time period many African Americans were only allowed to work

medial jobs as porters, waiters, coachmen, janitors, and launderers earning low

wages if they could find a job at all, this made the American dream far reaching

for African Americans, many who were ex slaves. As a result many people left

Chicago for a better easier life elsewhere. The winter of 1874 was reported to

have been an extremely cold winter further complicating life in this city.

Furthermore, the influx of Europeans emigrating from Europe and flowing in

droves to Chicago increased Chicago’s population to 1.9 million Chicagoans by

1900.

In a city of segregated schools, poor housing, over crowed living conditions,

African Americans were further ostracized by local unions, and subject to real

estate covenants that would not allow them to rent or purchase homes. The

dilapaded state of the community also contributed to mob violence and

intimidation tactics, all had a hand in modifying the destiny of African

Americans in Chicago. Many never recovered.

Today we acknowledge the 140 years since Chicago’s great fire of July 14, 1874

when black people migrated outside of the downtown area creating

communities west, north and south of the loop as well as the suburbs of

Chicago, establishing their own communities with some black families still living

in Chicago. We commemorate those families for standing fast and helping to

provide for a better Chicago, black and white.

Press Release: For immediate Publication

Chicago’s Black Fire July 14, 1874, 2nd Great Chicago Fire

Written By: De Kalb Walcott, Jr.-CAAFFM Historian