Farwell Pier

Farwell Pier Soundex Code P600

Chicago Tribune, Sunday, May 12, 1872

Catching Seven Acres of Land

About three or four years ago (1868-1869), Mr. John Villiers Farwell purchases a small strip of about seven acres of sand on the lake shore on the north side of North Avenue, and between the eastern boundary of Lincoln Park and Lake Michigan. The price then paid was something less than $10,00. Mr. Farwell built a pier out into the lake on the south line of the property, and in about three years, the accretions from sand thrown up by the waves have increased the original seven acres to an area of about 13 acres, which the Lincoln Park Commissioners have just bought from him for $100,000. Mr. Farwell set up a net--that should have been set by the Lincoln Park Commissioners, if by anybody--and caught seven acres of land in it. Net result, $70,000 profit.