1914: Tragedy at Taliesin
On August 15, 1914, a servant at Taliesin, the residence of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Spring Green, Wisconsin, committed a violent act. Julian Carlton, the handyman, set the house ablaze and attacked the occupants with a hatchet as they attempted to escape. Seven individuals, including Martha “Mamah” Borthwick Cheney and her children Martha and John, succumbed to their injuries. Carlton later ingested acid and died.
Historical Weather Highlights
According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, notable weather records for August 15 feature a high temperature of 98 degrees in 1944 and a low of 48 degrees in 2004. The day experienced 1.87 inches of precipitation in 1993, with no snowfall recorded.
1812: The Battle at Fort Dearborn
On August 15, 1812, 500 Potawatomi and their allies encircled 110 individuals who marched out of Fort Dearborn, situated at the Chicago River’s mouth, intending to reach Fort Wayne in Indiana Territory. The soldiers formed a line against the Native Americans. Sixty-eight of the Fort Dearborn group perished in the ensuing conflict and its aftermath. The Potawatomi casualties remain undocumented but were significantly fewer. The incident, previously labeled the Fort Dearborn Massacre, has since been redefined as the Battle of Fort Dearborn, acknowledging the mutual atrocities committed during the ongoing strife between Native Americans and European settlers.
1967: Picasso Sculpture Unveiled
On August 15, 1967, Pablo Picasso, although never visiting Chicago, provided a ‘gift’ to the city. Architects from the Civic Center encouraged the renowned Spanish artist to design a pivotal piece for the plaza. Following an orchestral performance and a poem by Pulitzer Prize winner Gwendolyn Brooks, around 50,000 Chicagoans viewed Picasso’s creation. The untitled 50-foot steel sculpture faced mixed reactions, with interpretations ranging from birds and horses to Viking ships and baboons. The Tribune noted that the art piece would spark debate for generations, perhaps eventually earning affection.
2006: Elvira Arellano’s Sanctuary
In 2006, Elvira Arellano, facing deportation orders, found refuge at Adalberto United Methodist Church in Chicago’s Humboldt Park with her U.S.-born son. Arrested in a post-9/11 sweep at O’Hare International Airport, where she worked as a cleaner, authorities discovered her use of a fake Social Security number and her previous deportations to Mexico. Arellano spent a year residing in the church, with her story capturing national attention.