The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America

On February 24th, 1891, Hunt, Burnham, Oldham, and the rest of the Architectural Board were gathered in the library on the top floor of the Rookery. The men discussed designs more ambitious and immense than anything previously attempted. Olmsted designed thrilling new landscapes. Despite their excitement, the architects realize there is little time. The unions riot and the fair commissioners battle over financial control. Twenty-one-year-old Sophia Hayden is commissioned to design the Woman’s Building. Burnham hires Charles Atwood, who was also an opium addict, to manage the operations of the fair. Exhibits are planned, including attempts to locate a remote tribe of pygmies in Zanzibar. Unemployment and crime surge, and police prepare for the new crimewave that the fair is expected to incite.

At Sixty-third and Wallace, Ned’s sister Gertrude leaves abruptly and tensions between he and Julia increase. Ned demurs signs that there was something between Holmes and his wife. Holmes sells Ned the business and offers the family life insurance. The business’ debts come to light. Convinced that there is an affair after all, the couple fight and Ned moves downtown, later divorcing Julia but failing to gain custody of Pearl. Holmes decides against his earlier proposal to Julia.