Daniel Burnham. A New Assistant.

CHARLES B. ATWOOD

On January 15, 1891, in the midst of planning the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, John Wellborn Root died -- leaving his partner, Daniel Burnham, "holding the bag." What emotion, other than rage, would be appropriate?

"I have worked.." (quotes Thomas Hines in his Burnham biography) "I have schemed and dreamed to make us the greatest architects in the world. I have made him see it and kept him at it --- and now he dies ---damn! Damn! Damn!

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THE ROOKERY.  John Wellborn Root

THE FISHER BUILDING. Charles B. Atwood

Damn is right. I might have added sunnuvabich.

Daniel was often surrounded in his long career by roadblocks  that might have stopped a lesser man. Recession. Panic. Drug Addiction. Corporate poltics. Earthquake. Ill health. But in 1891 D.H.Burnham picked himself up without missing a step, and went on to produce what was arguably the most successful World's Fair in the Country's history. It just took a shift of personnel.

Burnham selected New York architect Charles B. Atwood as his new Assistant.. Daniel paid handsomely - 27% of D. H. Burnham and Company's profits. But he was rewarded -- The Peristyle and The Fine Arts Building at the Exposition,   Marshall Field and Company (Wabash at Washington), The Reliance Building, and the Fisher Building.

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