Book Up Until the Chapter "Acquiring Minnie"
Concluding Thoughts
Discovering the Book
I first learned of the existence of this non-fiction novel after conversing with my perceptive aunt on my preference of non-fiction novels. She told me about this book called the "Devil in The White City," and about the protagonist being an architect in charge of the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition, 1893, and the antagonist being a serial killer, and how the lives of the two public names intertwine, yet they never meet.
Book Up Until the Chapter "Acquiring Minnie"
Introduction
In the beginning, the book introduces the two men in brief with two quotes.
Daniel H Burnham: Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.
Dr. H. H. Holmes: I was born with the devil in me. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing.
Now I would like to highlight in a bulleted list of all the interesting facts of American history that I learned reading this book:
- Daniel Burnham's and John Root's firm, downtown Chicago had a gym. One of the first, to pioneer bringing exercise into the office
- The fair was almost held in New York, and the pack of New York were hesitant to contribute drawings until Burnham convinced Richard Hunt, an alpha in a sense, agreed- the rest followed (George B. Post and Charles McKim)
- Chicago's soil is wet, and dynamic, making setting a foundation a challenge every time. Also, the building season ceased for the winter.
- Chicago reversed the flow of the river. A great engineering feature.
- Frederick Law Olmstead, pioneer of landscape architecture, designed Central Park in New York, and the simple elegant ground of the fair.
- Jack the Ripper killed about a dozen prostitutes, while Dr. H. H. Holmes killed thousands.
- Burnham, at least at first, cared for the employees. The construction workers of the world's fair were housed and fed.
- The fair was a giant economic opportunity, so many young men and women fled to Chicago. Men got blue collar jobs building the buildings in the fair. (and when there was a layoff, many of the men became homeless- which is believed to be when the term "hobo" was first coined). Women worked as receptionists- unless they fell of into the trickery charm of Holmes that led them to their tortured deaths.
- The medical schools, such as the University of Louisville, were in short supply of bodies and were desperate. "They attempted to rob a grave at the State Asylum for the Insane in Anchorage, Kentucky, this time on behalf of the University of Louisville. "Yes, the party was sent out by us," a senior school official said. "We must have bodies, and if the State won't give them to us we must steal them. The winter classes were large and used up so many subjects that there are none for the spring classes." He saw no need to apologize. "The Asylum Cemetery has been robbed for years," he said, " and I doubt if there is a corpse in it. I tell you we must have bodies. You cannot make doctors without them, and the public must understand it. If we can't get them anyother way we will arm the students with Winchester rifles and send them to protect the body snatchers on their raids.""" pg. 150-51
- This was Holmes target market. Medical schools paid a lot of money for bones, so Holmes was a frequent supplier.
- There were many disasters, and disbelieve of the fairs success
- including a failure to include a live load for the glass ceiling due to harsh winter conditions
- The goal of the fair was to out "Eiffel" Eiffel's Eiffel Tower
- Which they did with the first giant Ferris wheel designed by an engineer with many connections, George Washington Ferris.
- Walt Disney's dad was a craftsmen and contributed to the fair.
- Daniel Burnham was slowed down by all of the committees, subcommittees, and the fact that he had to share power
- In another article I read about the Hyperloop, HTT technology CEO, Ahlborn made a similar comment.
Concluding Thoughts
This book is jammed pack of interesting facts. I would recommend for any architecture student who enjoys history, and a bit of mystery.
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