Wisconsin had massive fires too around the same time - Peshtigo Fire. But this makes no sense but nonsense to celebrate a fire that decimated Chicago. Rahm Emanuel and the first city wide celebration of a fire. Why does not this sound right?
I read about the asteroid somewhere a few years ago also.
Sadly, I do not think it makes sense either. The Chicagoans of 1871 were certainly much different than the Chicagoans of today and I do not think revisiting that past recovery will somehow inspire the gibmedats of today to the greatness of their geographical ancestors. I think it’s is more along the lines of john drake’s “bread and circuses” comment.
The event that brought 1871 Chicago to it’s knees only to rebound even higher was an accident or an act of God. The current calamity of unemployment violence and decline is being caused by an evil consortium of politicians, unions & corporations all working in concert to demolish the middle class, ironically the host on which they feed.
Fire is a good theme for them.