Chronicled in historical accounts, photographs, novels, and newspapers, the stockyards were the icon and essence of 1890’s Chicago – Hog butcher for the world The hub of the new transnational railroad system, the stockyards were where animals – cattle, sheep, pigs – were brought to wait to be slaughtered in of the great meat processing plants, named after the families whose fortunes they made. The stockyards became themselves the symbol of the engine of economic growth and its excesses.
The meat packing companies were owned by families whose names and battles with labor would be associated with the city for generations. The stockyards and the railroads were intertwined in physical fact and in social and cultural development. Union fights and strikes began and ended there. Then there was the equally legendary smell, and the runoff.
Tens of thousands of skilled and unskilled immigrants from rural and small town America, from Europe, Germany, Russia, and Italy came to work in the stockyards. The neighborhoods where the immigrants came – usually to stay first with an earlier arriving friend or relative – were named after the countries they came from, or called ‘The Back of the Yards.’
For generations of workers and owners – and the thousands of people providing goods and services supported by them — the stockyards were the physical and cultural heart of Chicago.
Next: Lives of Children
Big sewer entering Bubble Creek Branch. Description: Big sewer entering Bubble Creek Branch; Chicago, IL. ICHi-15014. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph; photographer unknown. From Chicago Commons collections. Date: 1905.
Crowd, including women and children, gathered along a road with police and horse-drawn carriages during the 1904 Stockyards Strike. Image of a crowd, including women and children, gathered along a road with police and horse-drawn carriages during the 1904 Stockyards Strike in the New City community area of Chicago, Illinois. Source: DN-0000936, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum. Date: ca. 1904 July 7-Sept. 9.
Engraving Stockyards 1868 from Harper's Weekly. Description: Engraving Stockyards 1868 from Harper's Weekly; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-52240. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photographic print, photographer unknown. Date: October 31, 1868.
Entrance to stockyards. Description: Entrance to stockyards; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-29983. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photograph, photographer unknown. Date: 1928.
Exchange Street, 200 feet west of the main entrance to the Union Stockyards. Description: Exchange Street, 200 feet west of the main entrance to the Union Stockyards; Chicago IL. Source: ICHi-32961. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photographic print, photographer unknown. Chicago History Museum. Date: 1893.
J Ogden Armour Strikes, 'We Don't have to pay higher wages we can get the labor we want.' Description: 'We Don't have to pay higher wages we can get the labor we want' J Ogden ? Armour Strikes; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-52112. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photographic print, photographer unknown. Date: 1890-1899.
Just coming from the stockyards, lunchroom in stockyards district. Description: Just coming from the stockyards, lunchroom in stockyards district; Chicago, IL. Source: ICH-i15113. Reproduction of photograph, photographer unknown. Date: 1900.
Railroad yard at the rear of the Union Stock Yards. View of a railroad yard at the rear of the Union Stock Yards in Chicago, Illinois, showing various large storage buildings, railroad tracks and piles of lumber and building materials. An Armour and Company building, a Swift and Company building, a bridge and smoke billowing from smokestacks are visible in the background. Source: DN-0000163, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum. Date: ca. 1902.
The Pork Packers Plant strike in Chicago. Description: The Pork Packers Plant strike at Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-16072. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of engraving, engraver unknown. Date: November 20, 1886.
Unidentified group of men walking away from the Union Stock Yards Gate. Image of an unidentified group of men walking away from the Union Stock Yards Gate at 850 West Exchange Avenue in the New City community area of Chicago, Illinois. The gate was built in 1879. Source: DN-0050344, Chicago Daily News negatives collection, Chicago History Museum. Date: ca. 1906.
Union stockyards from 'Views of Chicago and Vicinity.' pic 1 Description: Union stockyards from 'Views of Chicago and Vicinity;' Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-52216. Reproduction of photomechanical print, printer unknown. Date: 1890-1899.
Union stockyards from 'Views of Chicago and Vicinity.' pic 2 Description: Union stockyards from 'Views of Chicago and Vicinity;' Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-52217. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of photomechanical print, printer unknown. Date: 1890-1899.
Union Stockyards gate with men standing to side. Description: Union Stockyards gate with men standing to side; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-29982. Reproduction of photograph, photographer unknown. Date: ca. 1885.
Whiskey Row, near Union Stockyards. Description: Whiskey Row, near Union Stockyards; Chicago, IL. Source: ICHi-13188. Chicago History Museum. Reproduction of postcard, printer - V O Hammon Publishing Company. Date: n.d.
