Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1860:<\/strong> The Lady Elgin \u2014 a 252-foot side-wheel steamer ship headed from Chicago to Milwaukee on Lake Michigan \u2014 collided with the lumber schooner Augusta just before midnight during a thunderstorm. Because the Augusta was under sail it had the right of way, but the ship was difficult to see since it was running without marker lights. The collision left Lady Elgin with a gash in its side that caused it to sink 2 to 3 miles east of Highland Park within half an hour.<\/p>\n Flashback: \u2018Waiting for the waves to give up their dead\u2019: Lady Elgin disaster sent hundreds to their deaths<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Many of those on board \u2014 including members of a Democratic organization from Milwaukee \u2014 didn\u2019t know how to swim. Lifeboats were few. About 100 passengers<\/a> were swept south to Winnetka where they were rescued by residents and Northwestern University students, according to the Winnetka Historical Society. An estimated 300 to 400 others died<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the aftermath of the disaster \u2014 the greatest loss of life on the Great Lakes \u2014 better lighting became required on ships.<\/p>\n The Lady Elgin shipwreck was discovered by private salvor Harry Zych<\/a> off Highland Park in 1989. Some of the vessel\u2019s treasures<\/a> are displayed at the Chicago Maritime Museum.<\/p>\n 1918: <\/strong>The arrival of the flu pandemic in the Chicago area was\u00a0first reported among sailors<\/a>\u00a0at Naval Station Great Lakes.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Naval Station Great Lakes<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Up to 40% of U.S. Army and Navy personnel became infected with the flu and pneumonia from September through November 1918, according to a University of Michigan study<\/a>.<\/p>\n 1953:<\/strong> The Chicago Cubs bought the contract of Ernie Banks<\/a>, a 22-year-old shortstop, from the Negro leagues\u2019 Kansas City Monarchs for $10,000.<\/p>\n 1954:<\/strong> An estimated 260,000 people \u2014 180,000 inside Soldier Field and another 80,000 outside \u2014 gathered for a Mass<\/a> in tribute to the Virgin Mary at Soldier Field.<\/p>\n 1985:<\/strong> About 20,000 fans of \u201cMiami Vice\u201d<\/a> gathered outside Marshall Field\u2019s State Street store to get a glimpse of the show\u2019s stars Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas. The duo signed autographs for fans decked out in sleeveless T-shirts, silk blazers and Hawaiian shirts on the store\u2019s ninth floor.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Oprah Winfrey \u2014 10 moments from her Chicago years<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 1986:<\/strong> Oprah Winfrey\u2019s first nationally syndicated talk show debuted. Just seven months after Winfrey received\u00a0an Academy Award nomination<\/a>\u00a0for Best Supporting Actress for her professional acting debut performance as Sofia in\u00a0\u201cThe Color Purple,\u201d<\/a> \u201cThe Oprah Winfrey Show\u201d was broadcast at 9 a.m. CDT to audiences outside Chicago for the first time.<\/p>\n The theme of the first show: \u201cHow to marry the person of your choice.\u201d<\/p>\n 1987:<\/strong> The longest strike in Chicago Public Schools history began \u2014 on the first day of school. Some 430,000 students were stuck at home as 99% of Chicago\u2019s public school teachers vowed to stay out of their classrooms as long as necessary to win a new contract with salary increases.<\/p>\n 102 days on strike: Take a look back at Chicago\u2019s 11 teacher strikes since 1969<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n How it was resolved:<\/strong> The record monthlong strike ended Oct. 3, 1987 in a two-year contract<\/a> with a 4% salary increase the first year and another 4% raise next year (if money was found to finance the second wage boost). Class size was to be reduced by two students in kindergarten through third grade in 36 overcrowded schools and 100 underachieving schools. The $43.8 million package would be financed by cutting 1,800 positions, the Tribune reported.<\/p>\n Mayor Harold Washington promised the strike \u2014 which provoked outrage from parents and students across the city \u2014 would bring sweeping reform of Chicago public schools.<\/p>\n 2024:<\/strong> Rookie Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams<\/a> told reporters the team\u2019s 24-17 comeback win<\/a> over the Tennessee Titans in the season opener felt \u201cunbelievable.\u201d<\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n \t\t\t\n
![\"Replica](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-ent-maritime-museum03_191330068.jpg\")
Replica of the Lady Elgin steamship on display at the Chicago Maritime Museum in Chicago on May 9, 2024. (Antonio Perez\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"An](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ctc-1918229045609.jpg\")
An illustration in the Aug. 18, 1918, Chicago Daily Tribune boasts of the great number of sailors at the Great Lakes Naval Station in Illinois. (John T. McCutcheon\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-CTHIST-CTHIST-AUE-856-CT_F_226348897.jpg\")
Chicago Cubs manager Phil Cavarretta, third from left, at Wrigley Field on Sept. 14, 1953, with newcomers, left to right, outfielder Bob Talbot, shortstops Gene Baker and Ernie Banks and pitcher Bill Moisan. Talbot, Baker and Moisan played for Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League and Banks was a member of the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro American League. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n![\"Archdiocese](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-MARIAN-YEAR-SOLDIER-FIELD-1954-01.jpg\")
Archdiocese of Chicago Cardinal Samuel Stritch presided in a Mass at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 1954 that included singing, prayer and thousands of late arrivals due to traffic jams. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n![\"Hoping](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-CTHIST-ALS-051-CT_F_234400869.jpg\")
Hoping to get a closer look at “Miami Vice” cast members, fans of the hit TV series surged against a police barrier on Sept. 8, 1985, outside the Marshall Field’s State Street store in Chicago. (Walter Kale\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Third-grader,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-CTHIST-1987-CTU-Strike-10_229042707.jpg\")
Third-grader, Latoya Shaw, 8, watches as her mother, a teacher aide, walks in the picket line at the school board office on Sept. 8, 1987. It was the first day of a strike that would last 19 days. (Carl Hugare\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/CTC-L-bears-titans-sweda022_204898398.jpg\")
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams celebrates while coming off the field after a victory over the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 8, 2024. (Chris Sweda\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n