Near North Side in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 28, 2011

1. Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit (#1) Marker

Inscription.
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.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Political Subdivisions. A significant historical year for this entry is 1870.

Location. 41° 54.639′ N, 87° 38.084′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in the Near North Side. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

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)

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(about 400 feet away); Early Prominent Residents of Old Town (#2) (about 500 feet away); Village Theatre (about 800 feet away); Old Town and The Great Fire (#3) (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Richard M. and Shirley H. Jaffee History Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henry Gerber House (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Henry Gerber House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 28, 2011

2. Old Town’s Entrepreneur Spirit (#1) Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 26, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,059 times since then and 39 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.