Bostonians George W. Lyon and Patrick J. Healy walked up to the muddy intersection of Clark and Washington in 1864 and, realizing that Chicago was a growing city, opened a sheet music store. At that time Chicago had little in the way of culture and by the end of the year the business flourished with over $100,000 in sales. They expanded to building musical instruments, and in 1889 unveiled their first Lyon & Healy harp. Soon, they were recognized by symphonies around the world, and praise led the Steinway Company to grant them sole territorial rights to sell the world’s most coveted pianos. The company has made the instruments played by angels since 1890 at their facility at Lake and Ogden, and since that time their “Style 23” Harp and “Salzedo” Harp have become the most recognized in the world. The facility thrives, carving intricate patterns and adorning them with strings just as they have for 130 years. (David Witter) 169 N. Ogden, lyonhealy.com
