Historical Events in Chicago on October 18

Historical Telephone Call

On October 18, 1892, the first telephone call was made between Chicago and New York. However, there were issues in communication. Chicago Mayor Hempstead Washburne could hear New York Mayor Hugh J. Grant, but Grant could not hear Washburne. Despite this, a cornet solo was heard clearly. The Chicago Tribune noted that the use of forty receivers in the circuit reduced the sound volume.

Weather Records

According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the highest temperature recorded on this date was 87 degrees in 1950. The lowest was 20 degrees in 1948. The heaviest recorded precipitation was 2.09 inches in 1985, and the most snowfall was 0.7 inches in 1989.

Duchess the Elephant’s Escape

In 1892, Duchess, the first elephant at Lincoln Park Zoo, escaped after being purchased from the Barnum & Bailey Circus. At 18 years old, Duchess left her handler and caused damage, including destroying a saloon door and a window before being recaptured and returned to her enclosure by noon.

Football History at Memorial Stadium

Memorial Stadium in Champaign was the venue for a historic football game on October 18, 1924. Harold “Red” Grange delivered a stunning performance by scoring five touchdowns as Illinois defeated Michigan 39-14 during the stadium’s dedication.

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Arrival

In 1938, prominent German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe arrived in Chicago to lead the architecture department at the Armour Institute of Technology, now known as the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Eric Morse Case

In 1995, Jesse Rankins, 11, and Tykeece Johnson, 12, were found guilty of murdering Eric Morse, 5, by pushing him from the 14th floor of the Ida B. Wells housing complex after he refused to steal candy. Following their arrest, Illinois changed the law to lower the age for prison sentencing from 13 to 10.