Near North Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit (#1)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 28, 2011
1. Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit (#1) Marker
Inscription.
Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit (#1). . From 1870 through the 1800s, Henry Piper, one of Old Town’s early entrepreneurs, operated a successful bakery in a narrow alley. Today, the building at Wells and North is known as Piper’s Alley. The existing house located at 1546 North Wells was built in 1874 and was the site of a coal yard. Farmers returning home from doing business downtown would stop and water their horses at a trough provided in the yard. In the 1920s, German carpenter Louis Seipp, operated his wood working business from the site and raised his family in the home. The contemporary entrepreneur spirit of Old Town is represented by the Up Down Tobacco Shop, which opened in 1963. Located at 1550 North Wells, the Up Down Tobacco Shop is an Old Town institution specializing in fine tobacco.
From 1870 through the 1800s, Henry Piper, one of Old Town’s early entrepreneurs, operated a successful bakery in a narrow alley. Today, the building at Wells and North is known as Piper’s Alley. The existing house located at 1546 North Wells was built in 1874 and was the site of a coal yard. Farmers returning home from doing business downtown would stop and water their horses at a trough provided in the yard. In the 1920s, German carpenter Louis Seipp, operated his wood working business from the site and raised his family in the home. The contemporary entrepreneur spirit of Old Town is represented by the Up Down Tobacco Shop, which opened in 1963. Located at 1550 North Wells, the Up Down Tobacco Shop is an Old Town institution specializing in fine tobacco. (Marker Number 1.)
Location. 41° 54.639′ N, 87° 38.084′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near North Side. Marker is on Wells Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1550 Wells Street, Chicago IL 60610, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Second City (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Town's Early Settlers (#11) (about
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 625 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on September 26, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
