Posts Tagged historic photos of Chicago fire

5-11 Alarm fire in Chicago, 2-26-72

This from Eric Haak:

Just after 6:00pm Saturday evening, February 26, 1972. The address was 2825 N. Central Avenue with a fire in the 2-story Polk Brothers carpet store. It would be elevated to a 5-11 before the work was done. Tremendous smoke conditions as you would expect with that fire load. I thought the CTA bus image was interesting as customer’s faces can be seen peering out the windows. No way they would allow passengers to stay on the bus today.

The final image was an addition to last week’s post as I found this one after I submitted the others. Since there was discussion on the buggies in the last post, I figured I would send this in as it shows a different view of both the 1956 Chevrolet and the 1961 Ford. Enjoy!

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago 2/26/72 Polk Brothers Furniture

Eric Haak collection

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago 2/26/72 Polk Brothers Furniture

Eric Haak collection

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago 2/26/72 Polk Brothers Furniture

Eric Haak collection

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago 2/26/72 Polk Brothers Furniture

Eric Haak collection

5-11 alarm fire in Chicago 2/26/72 Polk Brothers Furniture

Eric Haak collection

classic fire scene photo from Chicago

Eric Haak collection

historic Chicago fire scene photo

From the collection of Eric Haak

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Chicago 4-11 Alarm fire, 1-2-62

This from Eric Haak:

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. The first image is looking North towards the old Crane Junior College (high school still there but the building you see in the image is gone). You can also see the old Chicago Stadium off in the far distance. Second image looking across Western to the Southeast. Final image showing Snorkels working in the alley or what today would be called the “C” side. The truck company parked on Western looks to be 19 and I am only going off of what the number looks like on the door. Our staff historians will correct me if I’m wrong. If you look closely in the background, you can see the huge Phillips 66 neon sign that used to sit over the Eisenhower and the old Harris Bank Christmas billboard on top of one of the exposure buildings. Hope you enjoy this little throwback.

classic Chicago 4-11 alarm fire

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

vintage 4-11 alarm fire in Chicago 1962

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

vintage 4-11 alarm fire Chicago

January 2, 1962. Western at Harrison @ 8:30 am. Fire was in the 3-story Acorn Luggage factory and went to a 4-11. Eric Haak collection

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