In 1871, for most of Chicago's male elites, going to work meant going downtown to their stores and offices. In the months following the October fire, however, businessmen moved operations to wherever they could find intact buildings. For many residents of Prairie Avenue, who were untouched by the fire, that meant their homes. Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co. sold hardware from the Hibbard home; John G. Shortall brought all of his real-estate abstracts to this home. As this notice reveals, the Keith Brothers operated their millinery business from their homes on Prairie Avenue.

Creator: Chicago Evening Journal
Source: Chicago Historical Society (ICHi-38005)