Weather records <\/strong>(from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n 1855:<\/strong> Chicago began a project to raise streets (and buildings) out of the muck<\/a>.<\/p>\n Over a period of almost two decades, Chicago\u2019s buildings were jacked up 4 to 14 feet, higher foundations were built beneath them, storm sewers were placed on top of the streets, and the streets were then filled up to the level of the front doors of the raised buildings.<\/p>\n Raising Chicago out of the mud<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n To raise larger buildings, an enterprising newcomer to the city named George Pullman perfected a method involving hundreds of men turning thousands of large jackscrews at the same time.<\/p>\n 1973:<\/strong> Notre Dame won the national title<\/a> after with a 24-23 victory over previously unbeaten Alabama at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.<\/p>\n 1988:<\/strong> The\u00a0\u201cFog Bowl\u201d<\/a> \u2014 which marked the first time the Bears ever played on New Year\u2019s Eve \u2014 is one of the franchise\u2019s most memorable games. It also marked the first time in three seasons the Bears advanced past their first playoff game.<\/p>\n Fans at Soldier Field on Dec. 31, 1988, settled in to watch a divisional playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles in unexpected comfort. There was bright sunshine, little wind and temperatures heading for the 40s.<\/p>\n Until a sudden slap in the face.<\/p>\n A look back at \u2018The Fog Bowl\u2019 on Dec. 31, 1988: \u2018Steam from the bowels of Hell\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cA fog that rolled in from the lake late in the first half left the spectators to stare into a gray shroud from which the players would emerge with maddening infrequency,\u201d Tribune reporter Phil Hersh wrote at the time.<\/p>\n Few of the 65,534 spectators were able to see the final moments of the Bears\u2019 20-12 victory because of the thick haze.<\/p>\n Mistakes by the Eagles \u2014 two touchdowns called back by penalties in the first 21 minutes and a dropped touchdown pass \u2014 allowed the Bears to preserve a lead before the fog rolled in. Still, the Bears weren\u2019t perfect. Quarterback Mike Tomczak threw three interceptions and was flattened by Reggie White late in the third quarter and forced out of the game due to injury.<\/p>\n The Chicago Bears have played 4 times on New Year\u2019s Eve and 5 on New Year\u2019s Day. Here\u2019s how they\u2019ve done since 1988.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n Kicker Kevin Butler made a 46-yard field goal but missed one of 51 yards. Eagles coach and former Bears defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan refused to shake hands<\/a>\u00a0with Bears coach Mike Ditka.<\/p>\n Since then, the Bears have played on Dec. 31 three more times and on Jan. 1 five times.<\/p>\n 2019:<\/strong> Local cable news channel CLTV<\/a> shut down after a 26-year run.<\/p>\n CLTV launched in January 1993, bringing 24\/7 local news to Chicago cable viewers before national news channels became cable powerhouses.<\/p>\n The channel\u2019s name initially stood for ChicagoLand TV, employing a moniker coined decades earlier by Col. Robert R. McCormick, the former publisher of the Chicago Tribune. At its inception, CLTV was under the same corporate umbrella as the Tribune. But the cable channel owed much of its programming to WGN, which supplied everything from news content to Cubs baseball games over the years. CLTV also produced its own local newscasts.<\/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
![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-HIST-briggs_house_181870789.jpg\")
The Briggs House at Randolph and Wells streets in 1957 was raised by hundreds of workers, and the hotel stayed open for business throughout. (Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
![\"Notre](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-NOTRE-DAME-SUGAR-BOWL-1973-01.jpg\")
Notre Dame kicker Bob Thomas boots a 19-yard field goal to give the Irish a 24-23 upset victory in the Sugar Bowl against Alabama in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 1973. Holding is Brian Doherty. (JW\/AP)<\/p>\n![\"Chicago](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-spt-1221-bearsfog_188656063-e1767052444921.jpg\")
Chicago Bears defensive end Sean Smith (97) and defensive tackle Steve McMichael (76) on the field against the Philadelphia Eagles in the game that became known as the “Fog Bowl,” Dec. 31, 1988 at Soldier Field. The Bears won 20-12. (John Dziekan\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n\n
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![\"Richard](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/CTC-L-PROFIT-11-_190071427.jpg\")
Richard Gordon, military analyst for CLTV and WGN, does an interview from the Chicago Tribune newsroom in March 2003. (Stacey Wescott\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n