Flashback: May 26, 1855 – Chicago’s Police Chief Appointment
On this day in 1855, Cyrus Bradley was appointed as Chicago’s Chief of Police. He served until his death in 1865. Bradley introduced the department’s motto: “At danger’s call, we’ll promptly fly; and bravely do or bravely die.”
Weather Highlights for May 26
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the recorded highs and lows for May 26 are as follows:
- Highest Temperature: 94 degrees (1911)
- Lowest Temperature: 34 degrees (1983)
- Precipitation Record: 1.78 inches (1913)
- Snowfall: Trace amounts (1907)
1927: The Opening of Buckingham Fountain
In 1927, the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain, one of the largest in the world, was completed. It was officially dedicated three months after its opening. The landmark was designed by architect Edward Bennet, who also contributed to the creation of Wacker Drive and the Michigan Avenue Bridge, now known as the DuSable Bridge. The fountain features four seahorses crafted by French artist Marcel Loyau, symbolizing the states bordering Lake Michigan.
The fountain was donated by Kate Buckingham in memory of her brother, Clarence. She also established a $300,000 trust, overseen by the Art Institute of Chicago, to cover maintenance costs, relieving taxpayers of this burden. This fund was vital in 1994 when the fountain underwent a $2.8 million restoration. Its basin, made from Georgia pink marble, drew inspiration from the Latona Basin in Louis XIV’s Versailles gardens.
The fountain boasts 134 water jets operated by three pumps, capable of circulating over 14,000 gallons of water per minute. Initially, its pump system was computer-operated from Atlanta. During the 1994 renovation, the control was relocated to a nearby pump house.