Today in Chicago History: Chicago Stadium — the original ‘Madhouse on Madison’ — opens

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 28, 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: 79 degrees (1986)
  • Low temperature: 9 degrees (1887)
  • Precipitation: 1.48 inches (2020)
  • Snowfall: 5.3 inches (1894)

1918: Grace Wilson became the first Black woman to join the Chicago police. She remained on the force for almost 25 years.

1920: The “Palm Sunday” tornadoes : Around noon, with temperatures rising through the 60s, Chicago-area skies turned dark as waves of thunderstorms swept into the area. By 1:15 p.m., wide portions of the metropolitan area from DeKalb east to Joliet and north to Wauconda and Wilmette were in shambles; 28 people had perished and more than 400 had been injured…

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