{"id":476911,"date":"2025-12-28T10:41:19","date_gmt":"2025-12-28T10:41:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/476911\/"},"modified":"2025-12-28T10:41:19","modified_gmt":"2025-12-28T10:41:19","slug":"montgomery-ward-department-store-announces-it-will-shut-down-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/476911\/","title":{"rendered":"Montgomery Ward department store announces it will shut down operations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Dec. 28, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n<p>Is an important event missing from this date? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/28\/chicago-history-december-28\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"9yUrPygZV4\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/24\/vintage-chicago-tribune-bears-playoffs-fog-bowl-double-doink\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune: Bears playoff appearances \u2014 including the \u2018Sneakers Game\u2019, the \u2018Fog Bowl,\u2019 and \u2018Double Doink\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Weather records <\/strong>(from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.weather.gov\/wrh\/climate?wfo=lot\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High temperature: <strong>69 degrees<\/strong> (1984)<\/li>\n<li>Low temperature: <strong>Minus 13 degrees<\/strong> (1924)<\/li>\n<li>Precipitation: <strong>1.47 inches<\/strong> (2015)<\/li>\n<li>Snowfall: <strong>8 inches<\/strong> (1987)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"This drawing for a dishwashing machine, which was patented on Dec. 28, 1886, was developed by Chicago inventor Josephine Cochran. (U.S. Patent Office)\" width=\"1760\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-JOSEPHINE-COCHRAN-DISHWASHER-PATENT-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31037974\" \/>This drawing for a dishwashing machine, which was patented on Dec. 28, 1886, was developed by Chicago inventor Josephine Cochran. (U.S. Patent Office)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1886:<\/strong> Chicago resident <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/learning-and-resources\/journeys-innovation\/historical-stories\/ill-do-it-myself#:~:text=Just%20after%20Christmas%2C%201886%2C%20Josephine,Figure%20X%2C%20at%20right).\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Josephine Cochran<\/a> received <a href=\"https:\/\/patents.google.com\/patent\/US355139A\/en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. Patent No. 355,139<\/a> for a dishwasher. Although she was not the first to invent it, hers was the <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-the-mechanical-dishwashe\/187389051\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first design to use water pressure<\/a> rather than scrubbers to clean dishes. Chicago\u2019s Palmer House was the first to order her machine.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"The Chicago Cardinals won their second NFL championship on Dec. 28, 1947, by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"2976\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-CHICAGO-CARDINALS-CHAMPIONSHIP-1947-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"18011181\" \/>The Chicago Cardinals won their second NFL championship on Dec. 28, 1947, by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>1947:<\/strong> The Chicago Cardinals \u2014 the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/operations.nfl.com\/learn-the-game\/nfl-basics\/team-histories\/national-football-conference\/west\/arizona-cardinals\/\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/operations.nfl.com\/learn-the-game\/nfl-basics\/team-histories\/national-football-conference\/west\/arizona-cardinals\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">oldest pro football franchise<\/a> in the NFL \u2014 won their second championship with a 28-21 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in the title game at Comiskey Park.<\/p>\n<p>Team owner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/03\/06\/vintage-chicago-tribune-violet-bidwill-chicago-cardinals-owner\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Violet Bidwill<\/a> moved the team to St. Louis in 1960, where her second husband, Walter Wolfner, was from. Though she, too, later died suddenly, the Bidwill family still retains ownership of the team, now the Arizona Cardinals, because of her efforts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1956:<\/strong> The final episode of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2021\/05\/15\/flashback-before-mister-rogers-miss-frances-and-her-hit-show-ding-dong-school-made-children-feel-seen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\u201cDing Dong School\u201d<\/a> aired after host Frances Horwich (Miss Frances) refused to accept an ad from a maker of BB guns. NBC then canceled the show.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Aq2Uw34E2x\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2021\/05\/15\/flashback-before-mister-rogers-miss-frances-and-her-hit-show-ding-dong-school-made-children-feel-seen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Flashback: Before \u2018Mister Rogers,\u2019 Miss Frances and her hit show \u2018Ding Dong School\u2019 made children feel seen<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"The father of sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes identified their bodies, which were discovered on Jan. 22, 1957 near Burr Ridge. The girls disappeared on Dec. 28, 1956. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"2693\" height=\"584\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-GRIMES-SISTERS-NUDE-BODIES-FOUND-1957-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"17905496\" \/>The father of sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes identified their bodies, which were discovered on Jan. 22, 1957, near Burr Ridge. The girls had disappeared on Dec. 28, 1956. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Also in 1956:<\/strong> Barbara and Patricia Grimes <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-young-grimes-sisters-rep\/163244863\/\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-young-grimes-sisters-rep\/163244863\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">slipped away<\/a> from their home in Chicago\u2019s McKinley Park neighborhood to see an Elvis Presley movie at a nearby theater, but never returned.<\/p>\n<p>Their <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-grimes-sisters-find-2-l\/163244790\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">nude bodies were discovered<\/a> along a rural road in January 1957 near Burr Ridge. The case remains unsolved.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1998:<\/strong> Chicago Bears coach <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-chicago-bears-jettison-w\/160044809\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Dave Wannstedt<\/a> was fired, after back-to-back 4-12 seasons.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"01zrBWmhOJ\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/01\/23\/chicago-bears-head-coaches-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ben Johnson is the 19th Chicago Bears head coach. Here\u2019s a look at how past coaches fared \u2014 and why they left.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Mike Ditka\u2019s successor came highly regarded after coaching the Dallas Cowboys defense to a Super Bowl victory under Jimmy Johnson, but he made the playoffs only once as Bears coach. His 1-11 record against the Green Bay Packers didn\u2019t help either.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"Chicago-based department store Montgomery Ward &amp; Co. announced on Dec. 28, 2000, it was shutting down operations. (Chicago Tribune)\" width=\"1644\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-MONTGOMERY-WARD-2000-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31038867\" \/>Chicago-based department store Montgomery Ward &amp; Co. announced on Dec. 28, 2000, it was shutting down operations. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n<p><strong>2000:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-28000-to-lose-jobs-as-w\/187392951\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Montgomery Ward &amp; Co.<\/a> \u2014 one of the nation\u2019s oldest retailers and a venerable Chicago institution \u2014 announced it would liquidate its 250-store chain after a disappointing Christmas selling season. The decision was made by Ward\u2019s parent, General Electric Co.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"AxkphASR2S\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2022\/08\/04\/vintage-chicago-tribune-shopping-malls\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vintage Chicago Tribune: Shopping malls!!!!!<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The closure meant 28,000 employees would lose their jobs \u2014 including about 1,000 corporate employees at the company\u2019s headquarters at 535 W. Chicago Ave.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyautosizes lazyload\" alt=\"In this Dec. 28, 2016, file photo, Northwestern running back Justin Jackson (21) runs for a touchdown against Pittsburgh during the third quarter of the Pinstripe Bowl NCAA college football game in New York. (Julie Jacobson\/AP)\" width=\"4053\" height=\"501\" data- src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-PINSTRIPE-BOWL-2016-01.jpg\" data-attachment-id=\"31038986\" \/>Northwestern running back Justin Jackson (21) runs for a touchdown against Pittsburgh during the third quarter of the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 28, 2016 in New York. (Julie Jacobson\/AP)<\/p>\n<p><strong>2016:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/chicagotribune.newspapers.com\/article\/chicago-tribune-jackson-earns-his-pinstr\/187389797\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Northwestern defeated No. 22 Pittsburgh<\/a> 31-24 in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium, the third bowl victory in the school\u2019s history. Tailback Justin Jackson \u2014 a Glenbard North grad \u2014 rushed for 224 yards and three scores on 32 carries.<\/p>\n<p>Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n<p>Subscribe to the free\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/membership.chicagotribune.com\/newsletters\/subscribe\/lid\/2d8200fe-eefd-4f1d-bcaa-26a0ce79a461\">Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/groups\/762760217263236\/\">Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a> stay current with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/tag\/chicago-history\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Today in Chicago History<\/a> and follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-mrf-link=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/vintagetribune\/\">Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n<p>Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/28\/chicago-history-december-28\/mailto:krumore@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.chicagotribune.com\/2025\/12\/28\/chicago-history-december-28\/mailto:mmather@chicagotribune.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t<script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Dec. 28, according to the Tribune\u2019s&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":476912,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[216001,960,531,193072,6387,216003,215996,215999,80437,216000,472,5386,1818,215997,216004,155701,403,22183,176455,216002,208282,215998],"class_list":{"0":"post-476911","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-barbara-grimes","9":"tag-chicago","10":"tag-chicago-bears","11":"tag-chicago-cardinals","12":"tag-chicago-history","13":"tag-dave-wannstedt","14":"tag-december-28","15":"tag-ding-dong-school-frances-horwich","16":"tag-dishwasher","17":"tag-grimes-sisters","18":"tag-history","19":"tag-il","20":"tag-illinois","21":"tag-josephine-cochran","22":"tag-justin-jackson","23":"tag-montgomery-ward","24":"tag-new-york-city","25":"tag-northwestern","26":"tag-palmer-house","27":"tag-patricia-grimes","28":"tag-pinstripe-bowl","29":"tag-violet-bidwill"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115796778107271922","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476911","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=476911"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476911\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476912"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}