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Chicago Tribune
26-05-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
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) 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.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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@
Chicago Tribune
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Siwash — the beer-guzzling duck and former Marine mascot — dies at Lincoln Park Zoo
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 23, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1926: Chicago Cubs center fielder Lewis 'Hack' Wilson hit the 'longest home run ever knocked' at Wrigley Field (to that point anyway) in the fifth inning of a 14-8 win against the Boston Braves. The ball hit the center field scoreboard. Later that day, however, Wilson was arrested 'in an alleged disorderly flat at 803 Sheridan Road,' that was alleged to be a speakeasy. He was charged with disorderly conduct, but the case was dismissed. 1954: Siwash, the duck mascot of the U.S. Marines' 2nd Division during World War II, died in Lincoln Park Zoo. The death was attributed to a liver ailment, which veterans said had nothing to do with Siwash's fondness for beer. The female duck was brought to Chicago by former Marine Francis J. Fagan — who had won it in a tavern raffle in New Zealand — and used her to help with recruitment duties for the Korean War. Broadcaster Jack Brickhouse in 1967 recalled attending a 1944 celebration for Siwash at The Drake. 'So there she was, perched on a baby high-chair, being feted by half the bigwigs in Chicago. And, do you know, that darned duck quacked and drank beer and quacked, all thru lunch.' Siwash had been expected at a Marine reunion in San Diego, so the duck was preserved quickly so it could posthumously attend the event. Afterward, it was donated to the National Museum of the Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia. Unfortunately, the duck's condition 'deteriorated rapidly (perhaps due to the hasty taxidermy job),' the museum told the Tribune, and is no longer part of its collection. Vintage Chicago Tribune: Oprah Winfrey — 10 moments from her Chicago years2005: Actor Tom Cruise jumped on a couch during an interview on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' while exclaiming his love for actress Katie Holmes. 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.
Chicago Tribune
19-05-2025
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Fire engulfs Union Stock Yards
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 19, according to the Tribune's archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1934: 'Big Jim' O'Leary's palatial gambling mecca at 4183 S. Halsted St. was destroyed when the second-biggest fire in Chicago history blazed, taking out nearly 90% of the Union Stock Yards, injuring 50 firefighters and killing hundreds of cattle. During Chicago's auto racing heyday, a NASCAR race in Soldier Field ended in a razor-slim victory by Fireball Roberts1935: Midwest Auto Racing Association hosted its first car race at Soldier Field. The venue hosted its first NASCAR race in 1956 — the Grand National. 1971: Ald. Fred Hubbard disappeared with $100,000 from the Chicago Plan, a federally funded jobs program he had headed. He was arrested by FBI agents in August 1972 at a poker game in a suburb of Los Angeles. Hubbard was brought back to Chicago, where he pleaded guilty to 16 counts of embezzlement and was sentenced to two years in prison in January 1973. The Dishonor Roll: Meet the public officials who helped build Illinois' culture of corruptionAfter serving all but 10 weeks of his prison term, he ended up driving a cab. Later, Hubbard used a false name, Andrew Thomas, to land a job as a substitute teacher in the Chicago Public Schools. The ruse was discovered in 1986 when Hubbard, then 57, was accused of propositioning a 13-year-old girl at a grade school. In recent years, he was back behind the wheel of a taxi, but he lost that livelihood in 1991 when his driver's license was suspended. What to know about the Chicago Bears' possible move to Arlington Heights — or a domed stadium on the lakefront1982: The Chicago Park District included a $20 million dome for Soldier Field on its list of projects. 'We're just finishing a $32 million renovation of Soldier Field,' Park Board President Raymond Simon said. 'But if you look 10 years down the road, and if Soldier Field were utilized 150 days a year, we would be making a lot of money.' The Tribune Editorial Board responded by saying it had endorsed a domed sports arena near the lakefront since 1964, but argued that taxpayers should not foot the bill: 'They are carrying a heavy enough burden without having to worry about status symbols, however attractive.' 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.
Chicago Tribune
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Today in Chicago History: Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood retires after striking out one batter at Wrigley Field
Here's a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on May 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) Vintage Chicago Tribune: How Chicago became the go-to city for political conventions1860: With a critical push from the Tribune, Abraham Lincoln was nominated for president at the Republican Convention at the Wigwam building (at what is now Wacker Drive and Lake Street) in Chicago. 1971: Montreal Canadiens 3, Chicago Blackhawks 2. After taking a series lead in the Stanley Cup Final, the Hawks were unable to keep pouring it on rookie goaltender Ken Dryden. During Game 7 in Chicago, the Hawks took a 2-0 lead late into the second period, when Bobby Hull sailed a shot off the crossbar that could have put the game out of reach. The dinging of the pipe seemed to awaken the Canadiens, who stormed back to even the score before Henri Richard scored his second goal of the night — and the eventual Cup-winner — 2:34 into the third. Neither the fans at Chicago Stadium nor the Hawks they were watching could recover from the momentum swing. 1994: New York Knicks 87, Chicago Bulls 86. The infamous Hue Hollins game. Hubert Davis sank two free throws with 2.1 seconds left after Hollins whistled Scottie Pippen for a questionable foul. The Game 5 victory helped the Knicks keep home-court advantage in a second-round series they eventually won in seven games, ending the Bulls' first championship run at three titles after an impressive season following Michael Jordan's first retirement. 2012: Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood left the pitching mound at Wrigley Field for the final time — tipping his hat to fans who chanted, 'Kerry! Kerry!' and embracing his son Justin before he headed into the dugout and retirement. Wood, who threw a 20-strikeout game in just his fifth Major League start in 1998, had 446 career appearances — 341 of those were with the Cubs. Wood faced just one batter — Dayan Viciedo of the Chicago White Sox. Wood struck him out in the eighth inning. 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.
