Back of bill of exchange fragment:
Ill. Tr. & Sav. Bk.
17
JUL
1901
CHICAGO
Front side of bill of exchange fragment:
The Illinois Trust and Savings Bank pioneered the establishment of the trust business in Chicago and the midwest, and became one of America's largest financial institutions in the early 20th century. They also built a grand main bank building at the corner of Jackson and La Salle in Chicago, pictured on the postcard below:
The building would be severely damaged in 1919 when a Goodyear dirigible doing business as the "Wingfoot Express", crashed into the center of the roof, piercing the skylight of the central atrium and bringing with it the airship that was a ball of burning hydrogen by the time it made impact. By the time the time the airframe hit the floor of the building, the gas tanks that fueled the airship's engine exploded.
Business hours were over by the time of the crash, limiting the carnage, yet still there were 10 deaths. The building was seriously damaged.
A more fulsome version of the story can be found at the Chicagology website.
No comments:
Post a Comment