This perspective print of Cairo, Illinois was drawn by Henry Wellge and published by Beck & Pauli Lith. Co. in 1888. Cairo was in its peak in 1888 as a prospective industrial and railroad center. Its location at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers had given much hope of its becoming a major city.
Permanence was instilled by a series of levees built to ease seasonal flooding. A valued riverboat port and railroad hub, Cairo’s importance began to wane in the years following this map’s publishing, as new bridges by-passed the town altogether, riverboats became obsolete and the railroad yards disappeared.
The map produced in 1888 includes labeled streets, buildings and boats. It portrays port activity and railroad routes; and features inset illustrations of Alexander Co. National Bank and New York Store. Jobbers and Dealers in General Merchandise.
Features references to the following locations:
A. High School.
1. Court House.
2. Post Office, Alex H. Irvin, P. M.
3. Cairo Baptist Church.
4. Missionary Baptist Church.
5. Christ Baptist Church.
6. German Evang. Luth. Church.
7. Methodist Episcopal Church.
8. Presbyterian Church.
9. Church of the Redeemer, (P. E.)
10. St. Patrick’s R. C. Church.
11. St. Joseph’s R. C. Church.
12. Cairo Union Depot.
13. Ill. Central Passenger Depot.
14. Stafford Memorial Library.
15. U. S. Marine Hospital, J. M. Gassaway, M. D.
16. St. Mary’s Infirmary.
17. Taylor & Parsons, Trustees Cairo Trust Property.
18. F. Bross & Co., Wholesale Liquors.
19. W. W. Stevenson, M. D.
20. John A Miller, Jeweler.
21. Alexander Co. National Bank.
21. Alexander Co. Savings Bank.
21. Wells & Kerth, Insurance Agents.
21. Morse & Co., Real Estate.
22. F. Nordman, Tight Barrel Stave Factory.
23. The Singer Manufacturing Co.
24. J. B. Reed, Iron and Hardware.
25. Green & Gilbert’s Law Offices.
26. Wm. H. Green, Residence.
27. Wm. B. Gilbert, Residence.
28. Miles F. Gilbert, Residence.
29. Gilbert Block.
30. Louis Herbert, Wholesale Produce, Beer and Ice.
31. Henry Hasen Jaeger, Wholesale Beer and Soda Water.
32. Joe Steagala, Hotel, Restaurant, Billiard Hall and Lunch Counter.
33. White & Greer, Leaders in Dry Goods and Low Prices.
34. Philip Lehning, Merchant Tailor.
35. Harry W. Schuh, Druggist.
36. H. Meyers, Tobacconist.
37. C. M. Howe & Bro., Grain Dealers.
38. New York Store, Jobbers and Dealers in General Merchandise.
39. Paul G. Schuh, Wholesale and Retail Druggist.
40. J. N. Coffee, Druggist.
41. A. Halley, Hardware.
42. Wm. N. Butler, State’s Attorney.
43. Jacob Walter, Butcher, Manufacturer of all kinds of Sausage.
44. J. Burger, Largest and most Complete Dry Goods House in Cairo.
45. Andrew Lohr, Proprietor Cairo City Steam Bottling Works.
46. G. D. Williamson, Grocer & Commission.
47. Cairo Water Co. Offices.
48. Barclay Bros., Wholesale and Retail Druggists, 615 Ohio Levee, Retail Store, cor. Washington Ave. & 8th St.
49. Dr. W. C. Jocelyn, Dentist.
50. M. Easterday & Co., Real Estate and Abstracts of Title.
51. The City National Bank of Cairo, U. S. Government Depository. W. P. Halliday, President. H. L. Halliday, Vice-President. Thos. W. Halliday, Cashier.
52. “The Halliday.”
53. Woodward Iron & Hardware Co., Buggy, Wagon and Plow Material, Cutlery, Pumps and Tools.
54. Stratton & Bird, Wholesale Grocers and Commission Merchants.
55. Ward & Bell, Wall Paper, Picture Frames and General Painting Business.
56. Distilled Water Ice Manufacturing Co.
57. Steamer “Junius S. Morgan”, Capt. John T. Goodrich.
58. Steamer “H. S. McComb”, Capt. Arthur Lyon.
59. Steamer “W. H. Osborn”, Senior Capt. J. W. McKinney.
60. Steamer “W. B. Duncan”, Capt. C. T. Totten.