Today in Chicago History: Illinois Officially Recognizes MLK Day

Chicago: Let’s take a stroll down memory lane to January 15. Back in 1974, Illinois celebrated its first Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was a big deal! A crowd of about 1,000 people gathered at Operation PUSH for a lively celebration, while others lit candles at St. Martin Catholic Church to honor Dr. King.

Schools and city colleges closed their doors, and all city, state, and county offices in Chicago took a break too. Even the courts and some motor vehicle facilities were shut down for the day.

But that’s not all that happened on this date. In 1831, Cook County was created, becoming the 54th county in Illinois. Fast forward to 1916, and the Chicago Cubs were sold to a group of big names, including Charles Weeghman and William Wrigley Jr.

In 1925, the Chicago Bruins, the city’s first pro basketball team, played their first game. They lost to the Beloit Fairies, but hey, they were the pioneers of basketball in the city!

And let’s not forget about 1981 when “Hill Street Blues” premiered on NBC. This cop drama, filmed in Chicago, went on to win a ton of Emmys.

So, there you have it! A quick look at some of the notable events that took place in Chicago on January 15 over the years.