Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1855:<\/strong> Northwestern University<\/a> officially opened in Evanston. Two faculty members provided instruction to the school\u2019s first 10 students.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Inventions and innovations by Black Chicagoans<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n 1867:\u00a0<\/strong>Solomon McWorter of downstate Barry received the first patent granted to a Black person in the state of Illinois. According to the Illinois State Library, U.S. Patent\u00a0No. 70,451<\/a>\u00a0was for \u201cImprovement in Evaporators for Reducing Sorghum and other like Sirups.\u201d<\/p>\n McWorter explained its ingenuity in his patent application: \u201cThis invention relates to the combination of a steam-boiler and evaporating-pan in such a manner that the heat from the steam-boiler is imparted to the evaporating-pan without any danger of scorching the sirup.\u201d<\/p>\n 1948:<\/strong> Chicago became the first city in the United States to transmit weather maps<\/a> daily by radio.<\/p>\n 1956:<\/strong> Eight people died<\/a> and more than 600 were injured when a northbound Howard Street eight-car elevated CTA train rammed a six-car North Shore Line train at the Wilson Avenue station during the evening rush hour.<\/p>\n \u201cThe impact telescoped the forward half of the elevated train\u2019s first car, which was lifted two feet off the rails, so that its roof overhung the roof of the last car of the North Shore train,\u201d the Tribune reported.<\/p>\n 1960:<\/strong> The eight-lane Northwest Expressway<\/a> opened. It was renamed the Kennedy Expressway<\/a> in 1963.<\/p>\n \u201cChicago has been stifled by bottlenecks, the worst in the nation,\u201d said Gov. William Stratton at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. \u201cThose bottlenecks are now broken with the completion of the Congress and the Northwest expressways.\u201d<\/p>\n 1996:<\/strong> Democratic candidate Barack Obama<\/a> was elected state senator for the 13th District.<\/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
![\"People](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-CTC_L_northwestern_campus15_225227986_1055831834_1055842764_229479409.jpg\")
People walk by Weber Arch at Sheridan Road and Chicago Avenue on the Northwestern University campus on March 31, 2025, in Evanston. (Brian Cassella\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Firefighters,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-CTHIST-AAE-455-CT_F_246287230-e1762279717640.jpg\")
Firefighters, some with acetylene torches, hurry to reach trapped victims after two trains collided during rush hour on Nov. 5, 1956, in Chicago. A northbound CTA elevated train crashed into a North Shore train at at the Wilson Avenue station, just west of Broadway. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)<\/p>\n![\"Cars](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/CTC-L-MET-AJ-4xx-KENNEDY_189103389.jpg\")
Cars drive a snake-like section of the new Northwest Expressway with downtown Chicago in the background on Oct. 20, 1960. The view is southward from a building at 1735 N. Ashland Ave. At right is a North Avenue outlet. The eight-lane highway was later renamed the Kennedy Expressway. (Jack Mulcahy\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n