The Ted Fritsch story: Beyond the gridiron

SPENCER/GREEN BAY – The summer of 1871 was an unusually dry one for the city of Chicago, with just a quarter of the normal rainfall in July and August and drought conditions worsening.

The dry heat in the city further exacerbated a growing issue, drying out the city’s wooden sidewalks and buildings.

“On Sunday night, October 8, 1871, the City of Chicago was well into a period of extreme drought. For the past 14 weeks, only a smattering of rain had fallen to the parched earth. Fires had been springing up all over the area but, fortunately, were put out before any great damage had occurred,” stated a pamphlet issued by the Commission on Chicago Historical and Architectural Landmarks on the 100th anniversary of the fire.

“However, on this Sunday night, the city’s fire department was resting after the previous night’s effort of combating the city’s worst fire in nearly three years. This fire had destroyed the Lull and Homes Planing Mill located at 52 South Canal Street and four square blocks of cottages in the vicinity.

“Eight blocks from the mill fire was located the house and barn of the O’Leary family. The exact cause of the great Chicago Fire will probably never be known. However, it undoubtedly started in the O’Leary barn located at 137 DeKoven Street — now numbered as 558 West DeKoven Street.

“Sometime between 8:30 and 9:45 P.M., Daniel Sullivan, a drayman and neighbor of the 0’ Learys, was sitting directly across the street from the O’Leary property when he noticed flames coming from the O’Leary barn. He shouted, ‘Fire!’ and ran into the barn, attempting to free the two cows and a calf housed there.

“By this time, the people of the neighborhood had awakened and congregated to watch the fire. Supposedly, Dennis Rogan, another neighbor, awoke the O’Learys. Due to the tinderbox conditions of the city, a 60-mile-an-hour southwest wind, a faulty fire-alarm system, and an overworked and inadequate fire department, the fire raged, impossible to control.”

The fire spread north and east toward the heart of Chicago.

By the time rain helped squelch the fire — more than a day later — it had destroyed 2,150 acres along with approximately 17,500 buildings.

Among the residents losing their homes was Anna Marquardt Fritsch, who regaled family and friends with recollections of the conflagration up until her 90th birthday party.

Anna Marquardt, was born in Prussia and came to the United States in 1860 at the age of 12.

She met and married Anton Fritsch, who immigrated to the United States from Austria in 1852.

The couple made their home in Maple Grove, in Manitowoc County, before moving to Chicago shortly before the fire.

After losing all of their possessions, Anton and Anna returned to Maple Grove.
By the time they returned to Manitowoc County, the family included a daughter, Margaret, and two sons, Frank and Charles.

Anna, Anton Jr, Helena, John, George, Sarah, Peter, Mary and Andrew later joined the family.

But tragedy wasn’t far behind.

In December 1898, the family’s Maple Grove barn burned, along with 15 cows, 17 hogs and 25 tons of hay.

“(Anton) Fritsch nearly lost his life trying to save the stock. He was rescued by neighbors, though badly burned. This is Fritsch’s second loss within eight months. March last his other large barn burned with contents,” The Journal Times in Racine stated.

By March 1902, the family had had enough.

They held a public auction and moved to Mayville Township near Dorchester, looking for a new start.

To be continued