1920 Memorandum - Blimp Falls From Sky (LaSalle & Jackson Streets) in Chicago, Illinois For Sale

Authentic xxxx business memorandum on the letterhead of the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank located (but now demolished) on the northeast corner of LaSalle & Jackson Streets directly across from the Federal Reserve building in Chicago. Letterhead depicts an exterior graphic image of the bank with pedestrian and automobile traffic outside, plus a comprehensice list of all the bank's officers. The Illinois Trust and Savings Bank, designed by Burnham & Co. in xxxx, was an early example of a corner bank in Classical Revival style (see picture) which would be imitated by many smaller banks later on.
Exactly six months plus fifteen days before the date of this memorandum, a Goodyear Blimp airship put on a show on a Monday afternoon and hovered over the Loop to get fresh pictures of the city's multiplying skyscrapers. The Blimp drew plenty of attention from throngs of onlookers during rush hour when suddenly a small flame appeared at the front of the 186-foot Blimp, and a fire flash began to consume the Blimp from front to back as thousands horrifyingly looked on. Four of the five passengers used parachutes to evacuate from the plummeting Blimp, but a fifth passenger had his parachute entangle in the Blimp and perished.
The Blimp crashed through the massive skylight of the two-and-a half story Illinois Trust & Saving Bank minutes before 5 p.m. That section of the bank under the skylight was caged for security reasons, and the cage had only two narrow exits Panic ensued as the blimp's fuselage, two heavy rotary engines and two gas tanks smashed onto the floor beneath the skylight inside of the bank and sent a wave of flaming gasoline over workers within a fifty feet radius as they prepared to go home for the day. A total of thirteen people died in the incident, and 26 others were hospitalized. Notably, the Illinois Trust & Savings Bank opened for business the next day. The Chicago City Council adopted a resolution almost immediately to regulate flying over the city.
Memorandum is in Very Good condition, but bears two hole punches near the top. Measures 8 7/16 X 10 15/16 inches and is suitable for framing.