18-07-2025
Today in Chicago History: Wellington Church joins sanctuary movement to provide safe haven for refugees
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on July 18, according to the Tribune's archives.
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.
Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
1896: James Foulis, a native of St. Andrews, Scotland who became professional at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, shot 78-74—152 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Long Island to win the second U.S. Open golf championship. Foulis' prize was $200.
John Shippen, believed to be the first Black and American-born golf professional to play in the U.S. Open, placed fifth.
Foulis lost to Joe Lloyd in the third U.S. Open, which was held at Chicago Golf Club in September 1897.
1982: The Wellington Avenue Church congregation voted to join the sanctuary movement — becoming just the second church in the United States to harbor refugees who entered the country illegally.
The movement, which had roots in the medieval tradition of churches providing sanctuary for those fleeing persecution, was aimed at providing a safe haven for Central Americans running from political repression and violence in their home countries. They were refused asylum here because of U.S. support for the governments of El Salvador and Guatemala. About 20 Chicago-area churches became sanctuaries in the 1980s.
1991: Senators voted 31-23 to approve a nearly $1 billion plan to expand McCormick Place exhibition center to more than 1 million total square feet through a mix of convention-related taxes including city levies on hotels and meals within a restaurant taxing district, new fees on Cook County auto rentals and taxes on commercial rides to and from O'Hare and Midway airports. The House later approved the measure 65-44. Gov. Jim Edgar signed the legislation two months later.
In addition to the construction of a South Building, the plan also included revamping Lakeside Center, adding exhibition space to the North Building, creating a glass-enclosed concourse to link the entire complex and rerouting DuSable Lake Shore Drive to create the 'museum campus' — the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: How McCormick Place's Lakeside Center came to be on the lakefrontNot included — a proposed $400 million domed stadium nicknamed 'McDome,' which could have housed the Chicago Bears.
Ground was broken in 1993 and the South Building opened its doors to the International Housewares Show three and a half years later.
The McCormick Place complex now offers more than 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, 600,000 square feet of meeting space and the 10,000-seat Wintrust Arena.
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