Today in Chicago History: Illinois recognizes MLK Day
Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 15, according to the Tribune’s archives.
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Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 60 degrees (1949)
- Low temperature: Minus 19 degrees (1979)
- Precipitation: 0.81 inches (1877)
- Snowfall: 4.2 inches (1997)
1831: Cook County was created. The Illinois State Legislature recognized it as the state’s 54th county.
1916: Confirming a scoop obtained by the Tribune weeks earlier, Charles Weeghman and others bought the Chicago Cubs from Charles P. Taft. New stockholders in the team included J. Ogden Armour and William Wrigley Jr.
1925: The Chicago Bruins, the city’s first professional basketball team, lost to the Beloit Fairies 33-29 at the Broadway Armory. George Halas was the team manager and left guard. The rest of the team was comprised of Big Ten Conference captains.
The Bruins played in the American Basketball League through the 1930-31 season before disbanding.
1974: The first Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was observed in Illinois. A cheering crowd of 1,000 people joined a celebration at Operation PUSH headquarters while others attended a candlelit memorial service at St. Martin Catholic Church. Chicago public schools and city colleges were closed. All city, state and county offices in Chicago were closed as were criminal and civil courts and three state motor vehicle facilities.
Vintage Chicago Tribune: How Illinois became the first state to recognize MLK Day
1981: “Hill Street Blues” premiered on NBC. The cop drama, which was filmed in Chicago, continued until May 1987 and set records for most Emmys won in a single season.
2004: Lovie Smith was introduced as Chicago Bears head coach. He went 81-63 (.563) from 2004-12.
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