The Dark side of the fair
Multiple tragedies marked the end of the fair. From serial killers to a smallpox epidemic that originated at the fair in midsummer and spread throughout the city by early autumn. Then, Mayor Carter Harrison was assassinated just before the closing ceremonies and finally, shortly after the fair's close, a fire swept through the fairgrounds, destroying many of the buildings.
Multiple tragedies marked the end of the fair. From serial killers to a smallpox epidemic that originated at the fair in midsummer and spread throughout the city by early autumn. Then, Mayor Carter Harrison was assassinated just before the closing ceremonies and finally, shortly after the fair's close, a fire swept through the fairgrounds, destroying many of the buildings.
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H. H. Holmes was one of the first documented American serial killers. At the time of the World's Fair in Chicago, Holmes opened a hotel two miles away from the fair and it was built for himself specifically to murder victims from the 1893 Chicago Would's Fair. He confessed to twenty-seven murders, his actual body count could be as high as 200 people.
Holmes built a three story "castle", he would repeatedly change builders so that he was the only one that truly knew the building. The ground floor of the Castle contained Holmes's own relocated drugstore and various shops, the upper two floors had his personal office and a maze of over 100 windowless rooms with doorways opening to brick walls, oddly-angled hallways, stairways to nowhere, soundproof bedrooms, and doors that were only able to open from the outside. Holmes victims were mostly females, as well as lovers and hotel guests. Holmes was arrested in Boston on November 17, 1894, he was held on a warrant for hours theft in Texas. Throughout this investigation the custodian to the "castle" told the police how suspicious it was for Holmes to not allow him to clean some of the floors to the hotel.
Social Issues
A worlds fair meant opportunities for work. African Americans, on the fairgrounds, experienced bitterness of racism as they were denied work as members of the Columbian Guard. They worked as laborers in clearing the marshlands of the debris that came to Jackson Park, they worked as waiters in restaurants, they benefitted as pullman porters on train runs heading to and from Chicago.
A worlds fair meant opportunities for work. African Americans, on the fairgrounds, experienced bitterness of racism as they were denied work as members of the Columbian Guard. They worked as laborers in clearing the marshlands of the debris that came to Jackson Park, they worked as waiters in restaurants, they benefitted as pullman porters on train runs heading to and from Chicago.
Smallpox
The smallpox epidemic began in January of 1894 and by the month of May there were over 1,400 cases known and more suspected but unreported. Florence Kelley presented a Special Report on July 1, 1894 to Governor John Peter Altgeld, titled ‘ Small-Pox in the Tenement House and Sweat-Shops of Chicago.’ The Factory Inspectors reported smallpox cases under the factories and workshop law requiring that every workshop and factory be kept in a ‘cleanly’ state. Smallpox had been spreading from the Midway to homes of garnet workers on the West Side.
The smallpox epidemic began in January of 1894 and by the month of May there were over 1,400 cases known and more suspected but unreported. Florence Kelley presented a Special Report on July 1, 1894 to Governor John Peter Altgeld, titled ‘ Small-Pox in the Tenement House and Sweat-Shops of Chicago.’ The Factory Inspectors reported smallpox cases under the factories and workshop law requiring that every workshop and factory be kept in a ‘cleanly’ state. Smallpox had been spreading from the Midway to homes of garnet workers on the West Side.
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October 28, 1893: The murder of Chicago Mayor Carter Harrison
In 1879 Carter Harrison was elected mayor of the city. He served four two-year terms then retired, but when Chicago was chosen as the location for the Columbian worlds fair, he ran for mayor once again, and he was elected a fifth term in 1893. One evening Harrison returned home after long day at the fair, and was napping in his bedroom. Around 8 p.m. a man name Eugene Prendergast came to the house asking to see the mayor. The maid let Prendergast in and a few moments later the servants heard loud voices and three gun shots. Prendergast was gone by the time the servants arrived. The mayor died within twenty minutes and shortly after Prendergast turned himself in to the police. Prendergast admitted to his murder and he said that his motive was because Harrison had refused to appoint Prendergast as the city’s Corporation Counsel. Prendergast was quickely brought to trial, convited of murder, and was sentenced to death.
In 1879 Carter Harrison was elected mayor of the city. He served four two-year terms then retired, but when Chicago was chosen as the location for the Columbian worlds fair, he ran for mayor once again, and he was elected a fifth term in 1893. One evening Harrison returned home after long day at the fair, and was napping in his bedroom. Around 8 p.m. a man name Eugene Prendergast came to the house asking to see the mayor. The maid let Prendergast in and a few moments later the servants heard loud voices and three gun shots. Prendergast was gone by the time the servants arrived. The mayor died within twenty minutes and shortly after Prendergast turned himself in to the police. Prendergast admitted to his murder and he said that his motive was because Harrison had refused to appoint Prendergast as the city’s Corporation Counsel. Prendergast was quickely brought to trial, convited of murder, and was sentenced to death.
FIRE
On January 8, 1894, a fire burned many of the buildings in the White City like the Peristyle, the Casino, the Music Hall, all of which had been built as temporary structures with plaster and straw. The Museum of Science and Industry remains.
On January 8, 1894, a fire burned many of the buildings in the White City like the Peristyle, the Casino, the Music Hall, all of which had been built as temporary structures with plaster and straw. The Museum of Science and Industry remains.
Bibliography
Chicago Historical Society. "The World's Columbian Exposition." http://www.chicagohs.org/history/expo.html (accessed March 17th, 2014).