March 23, 2007 (Press Release) --
With considerable and good-natured assistance from two local experts -- Chicago cultural historian Tim Samuelson and Encyclopedia of Chicago co-editor Ann Durkin Keating (also the history department chairwoman at North Central College) -- we used the system to whittle down a list of quintessential Chicago people, places, things and events to determine who or what is most emblematic of our city.
We hope you do, too. For as in March Madness, the fun is in getting there. And you get to pick the champ.
TIM SAMUELSON
1. Great Chicago Fire (1871)
2. First Chicago Skyscraper (1885)
Winner: Great Chicago Fire (1871)
The demand for more space was tied to the new people coming in after the fire. I would say it was the fire that was the core of the cause and effect that made the skyscraper happen.
3. Haymarket Square Riots (1886)
4. Democratic National Convention Riots (1968)
Winner: Haymarket Square Riots
Haymarket is more far-reaching in terms of serious social issues being brought forth.
5. World’s Fair (1893)
6. Future Olympics (2016)
Winner: World’s Fair
The World’s Columbian Exposition, commonly known as the World’s Fair, was an important step in establishing Chicago’s reputation as a city of importance and cultural value. It put us on the map.
7. William Wrigley Sr.
8. Samuel Insull
Winner: Samuel Insull
Insull, although many people revile him, took over the transit systems, the utilities of the city ... and actually created an efficient infrastructure for utilities and transit in the city that benefitted the public.
9. St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1929)
10. Fort Dearborn Massacre (1812)
Winner (by a conflicted nose): St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
In some ways I worry about saying that the gangland thing is more important than innocent people and children [dying]. [But] the Valentine’s Day Massacre was so horrific that it was a major factor in putting the wheels in motion for the government to take strong action to break up the criminal organizations and to jail the participants.
Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY MIKE THOMAS
We hope you do, too. For as in March Madness, the fun is in getting there. And you get to pick the champ.
TIM SAMUELSON
1. Great Chicago Fire (1871)
2. First Chicago Skyscraper (1885)
Winner: Great Chicago Fire (1871)
The demand for more space was tied to the new people coming in after the fire. I would say it was the fire that was the core of the cause and effect that made the skyscraper happen.
3. Haymarket Square Riots (1886)
4. Democratic National Convention Riots (1968)
Winner: Haymarket Square Riots
Haymarket is more far-reaching in terms of serious social issues being brought forth.
5. World’s Fair (1893)
6. Future Olympics (2016)
Winner: World’s Fair
The World’s Columbian Exposition, commonly known as the World’s Fair, was an important step in establishing Chicago’s reputation as a city of importance and cultural value. It put us on the map.
7. William Wrigley Sr.
8. Samuel Insull
Winner: Samuel Insull
Insull, although many people revile him, took over the transit systems, the utilities of the city ... and actually created an efficient infrastructure for utilities and transit in the city that benefitted the public.
9. St. Valentine’s Day Massacre (1929)
10. Fort Dearborn Massacre (1812)
Winner (by a conflicted nose): St. Valentine’s Day Massacre
In some ways I worry about saying that the gangland thing is more important than innocent people and children [dying]. [But] the Valentine’s Day Massacre was so horrific that it was a major factor in putting the wheels in motion for the government to take strong action to break up the criminal organizations and to jail the participants.
Source: http://www.msn.com
POSTED BY MIKE THOMAS

Brackets, it turns out, aren't just for the NCAA basketball tournament. A new book by Mark Reiter and Richard Sandomir called.We've gone an admittedly screwy step further.
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