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a day ago
- General
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Today in Chicago History: Federal officials take control of the Chicago Housing Authority
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 30, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 93 degrees (1953) Low temperature: 35 degrees (1873) Precipitation: 1.49 inches (2004) Snowfall: None 1923: Nannette Anderson became Chicago's 'first lady speeder sentenced to jail.' She received a $50 fine and a one-day jail sentence. She stayed locked up for an extra five hours because her husband showed up late with the payment. 1924: A week after 14-year-old Bobby Franks was murdered and his body was discovered adjacent to Wolf Lake, investigators were still trying to piece together who might be responsible for the crime. Then, a slip of the tongue pointed all eyes on Nathan Leopold. He admitted to owning a similar pair of the rare, expensive glasses as those discovered near Franks' body — and losing them at the same spot while supposedly birdwatching a few days earlier. Further questioning connected him as owner of the typewriter on which a ransom letter was typed. When Leopold could not produce either item, he became a suspect. His friend Richard Loeb was also questioned by police. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Leopold and Loeb Both men claimed they took a Leopold family car for a joyride that night, but their alibi fell apart when the family's chauffeur said the vehicle was in the garage the day of Franks' murder. The 'perfect murder' Leopold and Loeb thought they had constructed actually left investigators with no other suspects but them. With the retrieval of Leopold's typewriter from a harbor in Jackson Park, the chain of evidence that connected the two young men to the crime was complete. Both confessed to killing Franks. 1937: Striking workers clashed with police on Memorial Day at the Republic Steel plant on the South Side — the only one in the Chicago area that had stayed open during a bitter nationwide showdown between a number of steel companies and the Steel Workers Organizing Committee, which was trying to unionize the plants. Flashback: Chicago's place at the forefront of labor history Ten demonstrators were killed and 60 were injured, as were 60 police officers. Shortly after Memorial Day, the strike folded as workers streamed back to their jobs in Chicago and elsewhere. Ultimately, however, the union won its contract. 1995: In the largest takeover of its kind, federal housing officials took control of the Chicago Housing Authority four days after its chairman, Vince Lane, and the CHA board resigned under a cloud of mismanagement. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo removed CHA from its list of troubled public housing authorities on Aug. 1, 1998, and returned control of the agency to the city of Chicago on May 1, 1999. 2020: A Chicago protest, in response to George Floyd's killing by police in Minneapolis, became violent and looting took place around the city for the next three days. 5 years after killing of George Floyd, protest in Chicago decries Trump directive to empower police Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
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5 days ago
- Climate
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Today in Chicago History: Buckingham Fountain opens
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 26, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 94 degrees (1911) Low temperature: 34 degrees (1983) Precipitation: 1.78 inches (1913) Snowfall: Trace (1907) 1855: Cyrus Bradley was appointed chief of police in Chicago and served in that position until his death in 1856. He later introduced the department's motto: 'At danger's call, we'll promptly fly; and bravely do or bravely die.' 1927: The Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the largest in the world, was opened and dedicated three months later. The majestic landmark was designed by architect Edward Bennet, who was also the creative mind behind Wacker Drive and the Michigan Avenue (now DuSable) Bridge. French artist Marcel Loyau designed its four seahorses, which represent the four states that border Lake Michigan. Kate Buckingham donated the fountain to the city in honor of her late brother, Clarence. She established a $300,000 trust fund, administered by the Art Institute of Chicago, to ensure that taxpayers would not have to pay for the fountain's upkeep. This came in handy in 1994 when the fountain underwent a $2.8 million restoration. The fountain's basin is constructed with pink marble from Georgia and was inspired by the Latona Basin in Louis XIV's gardens of Versailles in France — which is why Marie Antoinette might feel at home there. Inside the fountain, 134 jets powered by three pumps spit out more than 14,000 gallons of water per minute. For many years, the computer that ran the fountain's pumps was located in Atlanta. But during the 1994 renovation, it was moved to a pump house next to the fountain. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
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Today in Chicago History: Hit man Harry ‘The Hook' Aleman acquitted — after Judge Frank J. Wilson was bribed
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 24, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 93 degrees (1950) Low temperature: 34 degrees (1992) Precipitation: 1.62 inches (1927) Snowfall: Trace (1955) 1879: The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts (later renamed Art Institute of Chicago) was incorporated. 1977: Reputed Chicago mob hit man Harry 'The Hook' Aleman was acquitted in the Sept. 27, 1972, slaying of Teamster William Logan. Evidence later surfaced that Judge Frank Wilson had been bribed. The Dishonor Roll: Judges Aleman became the first defendant in U.S. history to be retried on murder charges after having been acquitted at trial. He was convicted in 1997 at the second trial and sentenced to 100 to 300 years in prison, where he died in 2010. 1985: The first 31 miles of the Deep Tunnel, or the Tunnel and Reservoir Plan, was completed. Still under construction, it's the largest public works project in Chicago's history and one of the biggest in the U.S. The tunnel system is expected to be 130 miles long and cost $3.6 billion when completed. The Deep Tunnel is intended to 'bottle a rainstorm' by channeling storm water that overflows from sewers into the system's tunnels that connect with massive reservoirs. 1988: Michael Jordan became the first NBA player to be named league MVP and defensive player of the year in the same season after averaging 35 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3.2 steals. 1993: Jordan sparked controversy by gambling with his father in Atlantic City, New Jersey, casinos the night before Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals against the New York Knicks. He was criticized the next night for shooting 12-for-32 in a 96-91 loss, but the Chicago Bulls still won the series. 'He's a competitor,' James Jordan, Michael's father, told the Tribune in late May 1993. 'Losing $10,000 to him would be like me losing 10 cents. … If he was playing for matchsticks or straws, he'd have the same level of competition. 'He certainly doesn't have a gambling problem. He wouldn't be doing that if he couldn't afford it. He isn't that stupid. He has a competition problem. He was born with that. And if he didn't have a competition problem, you guys wouldn't be writing about him. The person he tries to outdo most of the time is himself.' 1995: The Illinois General Assembly approved the Chicago School Reform Amendatory Act, which gave Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley the ability to appoint school board members directly and replace the superintendent with an appointed chief executive officer. Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
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Today in Chicago History: A dinosaur named Sue is unveiled at the Field Museum
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 17, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) High temperature: 94 degrees (1962) Low temperature: 36 degrees (2002) Precipitation: 3.11 inches (2020) Snowfall: None 1900: L. Frank Baum's 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz' was published. Baum wrote the book when he lived on Chicago's West Side. 1979: The wind was blowing out at Wrigley Field. The first inning tipped off what was coming. The Philadelphia Phillies scored seven runs on seven hits. The Chicago Cubs scored six on seven hits. Mike Schmidt cracked his second home run in the top of the 10th to win it 23-22. There were 50 hits in the game, 26 by the Cubs, and 11 were home runs. Dave Kingman hit three homers for the Cubs. Bill Buckner, Steve Ontiveros and Jerry Martin had one apiece. Bob Boone, Gary Maddox and Randy Lerch homered for the Phils. On cold nights in the winter of 1979-80, WGN-TV replayed the 23-22 game. Ratings were very good. 2000: Sue — the largest, most complete and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen found to that date — debuted in Stanley Field Hall (the lobby inside the Field Museum). Vintage Chicago Tribune: Sue the T. rex's journey to the Field Museum Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago's past. Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@ and mmather@
CBS News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
CBS Chicago Vault: Pope John Paul II enthralls Chicagoans in 1979 visit
Before last week, the highlight of recent Chicago history involving a pope dated back more than 45 years. Pope John Paul II visited Chicago in October 1979, about a year after he was elected. The Archdiocese of Chicago called John Paul II's visit "an extraordinary event which saw an outpouring of devotion and excitement throughout the city" — and not just for Roman Catholics. As the Chicago Archdiocese notes, Pope John Paul II was not the first pope to visit the United States — Pope Paul VI visited in 1965, but only went to New York City. John Paul II had been to Chicago before too, having visited Chicago's Polish neighborhoods as Cardinal Karol Józef Wojtyła in 1969 and 1976. But no pope had visited Chicago while in office before. Pope John Paul II arrived in the U.S. on Monday, Oct. 1, 1979 — touching down in Boston, and stopping in New York, Philadelphia, and Des Moines before arriving in Chicago on Thursday, Oct. 4. CBS Chicago was there for it all, with live Channel 2 News team coverage that is preserved in our video library. Despite cold temperatures in Chicago that day, a crowd of people gathered at O'Hare International Airport to await the pope's arrival. A crowd as many as six people deep also assembled along Milwaukee Avenue at Raven Street in the heavily Polish Norwood Park East neighborhood ahead of the arrival of the first Polish pope's motorcade. "The holiness aspect of it is being felt by this crowd," Channel 2 reporter Bob Wallace said as he reported live at the scene. "A lot of people—there's a lot of pride about being Polish, a lot of pride about being Catholic here." John Paul II was received by Gov. Jim Thompson and Mayor Jane Byrne when he did indeed arrive at O'Hare. The crowd assembled on Milwaukee Avenue was as thrilled as expected when the pope's motorcade passed. John Paul II went on to Holy Name Cathedral for a prayer service. Luciano Pavarotti sang "Ave Maria" for the occasion, which Channel 2 carried live. The pope then had dinner at the Cardinal's Residence, at 1555 N. State Pkwy. in the Gold Coast, and made a stop to address more than 1,000 Catholic religious brothers at St. Peter's Church at 110 W. Madison St. downtown, the Archdiocese recalled. The following day, Pope John Paul II visited Providence of God Church, a predominantly Mexican parish at 717 W. 18th St. in the Pilsen neighborhood, where the Archdiocese notes the crowd cheered as he spoke to them in Spanish. The pope went on to Five Holy Martyrs Church, at 4327 S. Richmond St. in the then-predominantly Polish Brighton Park neighborhood, toured predominantly Black Chicago parishes on the city's South Side, and visited Quigley Preparatory Seminary South at 7740 S. Western Ave.—the present-day site of St. Rita of Cascia High School. The culmination of the pope's visit was a 3 p.m. open-air mass at the Petrillo Band Shell at Grant Park. The pope was running half an hour late, and by the time he arrived, more than 1 million people had amassed. He took the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of Chicago and the unity that developed as people came together: "And so, looking at you, I see people who have thrown their destinies together and now write a common history. Different as you are, you have come to accept each other, at times imperfectly and even to the point of subjecting each other to various forms of discrimination: at times only after a long period of misunderstanding and rejection; even now still growing in understanding and appreciation of each other's differences. In expressing gratitude for the many blessings you have received, you also become aware of the duty you have towards the less favored in your own midst and in the rest of the world—a duty of sharing, of loving, of serving. As a people, you recognize God as the source of your many blessings, and you are open to his love and his law." John Paul II also gave Communion to 150 people chosen from the six Vicarates of the Chicago Archdiocese, while more than 600 priests and deacons administered the Eucharist to the full crowd. Pope John Paul II gives mass in Grant Park on Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1979. Vittoriano Rastelli/Corbis via Getty Images The Archdiocese noted that the altar used for the Grant Park mass was built specially at a cost of more than $200,000. John Paul II returned to Holy Name Cathedral afterward and attended a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir George Solti, the Archdiocese recalled. He then took off and left Chicago for Washington, D.C., before heading back to Rome. Pope John Paul II remained in office until his death in 2005. He made more visits to the U.S., but did not make another trip to Chicago after that 1979 visit. Pope Benedict XVI made one visit to the U.S. in 2008. Pope Francis visited the U.S. in 2015 — stopping in Washington, D.C., New York City, and Philadelphia, and drawing a massive crowd that assembled hours ahead of time just to see the popemobile pass by in New York's Central Park. But neither pope visited Chicago on those trips. But in a surprise to many on Thursday, May 8, 2025, Chicago native Robert Prevost became Pope Leo XIV. Pope Leo was born in Chicago, grew up in south suburban Dolton, and attended the Catholic Theological Union of Chicago in city's Hyde Park neighborhood. He also taught at Mendel Catholic High School on Chicago's Roseland neighborhood and Tolentine College in south suburban Olympia Fields. The new pope, of course, has yet to visit Chicago as pope. But many are excited at the prospect that he will.
