A Retrospective on Notable Events in Chicago on August 15

Tragedy at Taliesin: 1914

On August 15, 1914, a tragic event unfolded at Taliesin, the retreat of architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green, Wisconsin. A servant set the house on fire and attacked the fleeing occupants with a hatchet. Seven individuals lost their lives, including Martha ‘Mamah’ Borthwick Cheney, her children Martha and John, and four others. The attacker, Julian Carlton, later took his own life by ingesting acid.

Weather Records in Chicago

Some weather milestones were noted on August 15 in Chicago’s history. The highest temperature recorded was 98 degrees in 1944, while the lowest dropped to 48 degrees in 2004. In 1993, the city received 1.87 inches of precipitation with no snowfall recorded on this day.

The Battle of Fort Dearborn: 1812

A historical confrontation took place in 1812 when approximately 500 Potawatomi and their allies surrounded 110 individuals departing Fort Dearborn. Sixty-eight members of the Fort Dearborn group lost their lives in the ensuing fight and its aftermath. The outcome for the Potawatomi remains uncertain but was considerably less. The event, traditionally known as the Fort Dearborn Massacre, was later renamed the Battle of Fort Dearborn to recognize the mutual atrocities during the prolonged conflict between Native Americans and European settlers.

Unveiling Picasso’s Sculpture: 1967

On August 15, 1967, Chicago unveiled a new sculpture by the renowned artist Pablo Picasso, who never visited the city. Architects of the Civic Center, now named after Richard J. Daley, had persuaded Picasso to create a centerpiece for the plaza. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra performed and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks recited a tribute during the unveiling. Reactions to the 50-foot steel sculpture were mixed, with some spectators offering critiques and interpretations ranging from admiration to confusion.

Elvira Arellano’s Stand: 2006

In 2006, Elvira Arellano sought sanctuary in Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago after being ordered for deportation. She and her U.S.-born son found shelter in the church, becoming a symbol of the immigration debate. Arellano had been previously deported to Mexico following her arrest during a security sweep at O’Hare International Airport due to using a fake Social Security number. Her situation gained national attention as she lived in the church for a year.