Great Fire of 1871

The Mayor and city officials passed ordinances to protect citizens against price gouging. Drastic measures were also taken to limit general civil unrest and looting.

Instituting a ban against smoking, the Mayor prepared a handwritten note banning all pipes and cigars until water service was restored. And he meant it.

Soldiers guarded the city in an effort to maintain security. Such measures had the backing of Chicago’s shattered citizens. The Mayor also ordered that all saloons close by 8 p.m. Whenever his directives were violated, soldiers closed down the offending establishments.

Cities around America rallied to help the people of Chicago. The city was rebuilt to even greater glory. But no one thought much about the poor souls in Peshtigo where the Great Fire had been much more deadly. And no one thought much about the fire victims in Michigan whose stories were largely unknown throughout the rest of the country.