While this little old house on Menomonee Street may look pint-sized from the outside, it's big on charm and history. Built in 1886, the one bedroom, one bathroom home was one of thousands of cottages built after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 to provide simple, cost-effective shelter to those who lost everything in the disaster. And just as thousands were built, over the last century, thousands have been lost or altered beyond recognition. This 780-square-foot home is one of the rare few relief cottages whose exterior remains mostly intact. According to a New York Times profile on the home from last August, a previous owner wanted to add a second floor and extend the home back to its garage, however, due to its landmark protection, he was unable to make the changes.
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