Magnificent Mile in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
First Wheat Cargo
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023
1. First Wheat Cargo Marker
Chicago's Charter Jubilee
Authenticated by Chicago Historical Society
Erected 1937 by Chicago's Charter Jubilee.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Chicago's Charter Jubilee series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1839.
Location. 41° 53.371′ N, 87° 37.511′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Magnificent Mile. Marker is at the intersection of Rush Street and North Water Street on Rush Street. The marker is on the west-facing side of the Wrigley Building, at the lower-level intersection of North Water and Rush streets. It is right next to the opening for the below-street-level sections of Water, which leads to the lower-level section of Michigan Avenue. North Water Street's name changes to Kinzie Street from this point west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 400 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago IL 60611, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of
this page online
More about this marker. This plaque is one of 78 placed throughout the city by Chicago’s Charter Jubilee in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Chicago’s city charter. A seal of the City of Chicago is at the bottom of the marker. Newberry and Dole's grain elevator was located here, near what was then the site of the Rush Street Bridge.
Regarding First Wheat Cargo. Newberry and Dole built their first grain elevator in Chicago at the Rush Street Bridge near this site in 1838, fast turning Chicago into the "Stacker of Wheat" that Carl Sandburg wrote about almost 80 years later.
Also see . . .
1. Historical Markers That Don’t Quite Hit the Mark
Photographed By Sean Flynn
2. First Wheat Cargo Marker
The marker is on the side of the Wrigley Building, at the intersection of Water and Rush streets.
2. History of grain traffic on the Great Lakes. A look at the history of transporting wheat in the Great Lakes region.
Excerpts: "In October, 1839, the brig Osceola carried down from Chicago to Kingman & Durfee, of Black Rock, 1,678 bushels of wheat, this being the first shipment of grain in bulk from that port....(Submitted on October 18, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
The first grain elevator at Chicago was built by Newberry & Dole in 1839. It was located at the north end of Rush street bridge. The wheat was brought from farmers' wagons, and hoisted to an upper story by old-style pulley blocks and rope, by hand power. The problem of loading grain from this elevator to the big Osceola, in 1839, was solved by fixing a spout in one of the upper doors, and making it gradually narrower till it reached the deck, where the wheat was discharged into boxes holding four bushels, weighed and transferred to the hold of the vessel. From the bins holding the wheat in the upper story a row of men was formed to the spout and the wheat was passed in buckets. The same firm soon after built another elevator, and horse power succeeded man power, a bucket-belt being used to elevate the grain."
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023
3. First Wheat Cargo Marker
In the background a few historic buildings can be seen across the Chicago River: 75 East Wacker Drive, with its cylindrical top (Mather Tower, now a Club Quarters Hotel), the London Guarantee & Accident Building to its left on the other side of the glass building (the site of old Fort Dearborn, now the LondonHouse Hotel); and 35 East Wacker Drive, partially visible on the right (when built in 1926-1927, it was, at 40 stories, the tallest building outside of New York City).
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023
4. First Wheat Cargo Marker and the Wrigley Building
A view of the marker's below-street-level location on the Wrigley Building.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 18, 2023
5. First Wheat Cargo Marker
The North Water Street entryway to the lower-level road next to the Wrigley Building, heading to Michigan Avenue.
Library of Congress, 1861
6. View of Rush St. Bridge &c. (circa 1860)
Published by E. Whitefield at Rufus Blanchard's around 1861, this drawing shows the view around the Rush Street Bridge, where Newberry and Dole had their grain elevator.
Photographed By Sean Flynn, October 23, 2023
7. “The Oscelo — First Shipment of Wheat from Chicago — 1839”
This painting, inside the U.S. Post Office in suburban of Oak Park, about 9 miles west of the Wrigley Building, depicts the first wheat cargo in Chicago described by the historical marker. The title (with its own spelling of the ship involved) can be found in a small black box in the painting's bottom left. The painting is one of four pieces in the Oak Park post office completed in 1939 by J. Theodore Johnson, each depicting an important moment in the area’s history. They were commissioned by the Treasury Section of Fine Arts, a New Deal program.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 18, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 83 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 18, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. 7. submitted on October 23, 2023, by Sean Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
