Today in Chicago History: Evanston approves reparations spending

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Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 22, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

  • High temperature: 83 degrees (2012)
  • Low temperature: Minus 1 degree (1888)
  • Precipitation: 1.13 inches (1993)
  • Snowfall: 3.4 inches (1993)
On March 22, 1946, Chicago was freely given most of the acreage of Douglas Airport. This land became the first acquired for O’Hare International Airport. (Chicago Tribune)

1946: After posting an ad listing the property as available, the War Assets Administration handed over the 1,080-acre Douglas Field site to the city of Chicago — while keeping 200 acres to be used by the U.S. Army for storage — at no cost. But, there was a catch: If any atom bomb material were to be discovered at the site, then it had to be turned over to the federal government.

O’Hare International Airport: From farm to global terminal

Now the city could begin condemnation proceedings to acquire the additional property — which included 2,300 lots, 63 farms, a small cemetery, a golf course, county school land and two county schools — needed to build out what would become O’Hare International Airport.

The water tower in Hebron has been painted like a basketball since 1984 in honor of the village's legendary Green Giants basketball team, which won the state championship in 1952. (Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune)
The water tower in Hebron has been painted like a basketball since 1984 in honor of the village’s legendary Green Giants basketball team, which won the state championship in 1952. (Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune)

1952: Tiny Hebron — with an enrollment of about 100 — beat Quincy 64-59 in overtime to win the Illinois high school boys basketball tournament title game in Champaign.

Hebron’s water tower is painted like a basketball in the team’s honor still today.

"Marshall's resolute Commandos came from behind in the fourth quarter to conquer an ornery 27-year-old jinx and an equally stubborn Rock Falls team, 70 to 64, before 6,900 in Huff gymnasium," the Tribune reported when Marshall became the first Chicago team to win a men's basketball state championship on March 22, 1958. Chicago teams did not compete in the first 24 state tournaments, entering competition for the first time in 1931. (Chicago Tribune)
“Marshall’s resolute Commandos came from behind in the fourth quarter to conquer an ornery 27-year-old jinx and an equally stubborn Rock Falls team, 70 to 64, before 6,900 in Huff gymnasium,” the Tribune reported when Marshall became the first Chicago team to win a boys basketball state championship on March 22, 1958. Chicago teams did not compete in the first 24 state tournaments, entering competition for the first time in 1931. (Chicago Tribune)

1958: Marshall beat Rock Falls 70-64 in Champaign to become the first Chicago team and first predominantly Black team to win the state boys basketball championship.

A pro-reparations sign sits outside a home in the 5th Ward on March 23, 2021, in Evanston. Aldermen approved the first expenditures in the city's municipal reparations program designed to compensate Black residents for codified discrimination. (Armando L. Sanchez/ChicagoTribune)
A pro-reparations sign sits outside a home in the 5th Ward on March 23, 2021, in Evanston. Aldermen approved the first expenditures in the city’s municipal reparations program designed to compensate Black residents for codified discrimination. (Armando L. Sanchez/ChicagoTribune)

2021: Evanston became the first city in the United States to make reparations available to its Black residents for past discrimination and the lingering effects of slavery.

Officials in the suburb said the initiative, which had been in the planning stages since 2019, is designed to address the discriminatory housing policies and practices faced by Black residents. The $10 million program was funded through marijuana sales tax revenue along with some donations.

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