1858 FLYING EAGLE 1C MS65

In 1858, work began on lifting the city of Chicago roughly six feet. The seemingly impossible task was made necessary when the city needed to build sewers but ground under the buildings was above the water line. In order to lift the buildings, dozens of men were needed to turn hundreds of jackscrews. The task was eventually competed and sewers were placed where the buildings once sat and dirt was piled to meet the new height of the city’s doors. This 1858 cent recalls the first building of many that was raised in the Chicago.