Significant Events in Chicago’s History on July 25

CTA Worker Cecil Calimee Set Ablaze

In a shocking incident on July 25, 1994, Chicago Transit Authority employee Cecil Calimee was set on fire. This occurred around 4 a.m. as he opened his ticket booth at the Blue Line station on Kedzie Avenue and 19th Street. Calimee, who had a background as a semipro football player and a Farragut basketball coach, suffered burns on his face, chest, and left arm.

Historical Weather Records

According to the National Weather Service in Chicago, the weather on July 25 has varied significantly over the years.

High temperature: 101 degrees (1940)
Low temperature: 53 degrees (1911)
Precipitation: 1.22 inches (1993)
Snowfall: None

Arrival of Sea Lions at Lincoln Park Zoo

In July 1889, Lincoln Park Zoo welcomed nineteen sea lions from Santa Barbara, California. Capt. Cyrus Alvah Eastman captured and cared for the animals during their weeklong train journey to Chicago. Although most sea lions adapted quickly to humans, neighbors later complained about the noise, noting that the animals barked incessantly at night due to their cramped conditions.

Development of O’Hare International Airport

In 1942, the Douglas Aircraft Co. announced plans to build an assembly plant on 1,347 acres at Orchard Place. The site, located near Mannheim and Higgins roads south of Des Plaines, later evolved into O’Hare International Airport. This development entailed demolishing homes and leveling land to create a new rail spur.

Incident at St. John of God Catholic Church

On July 25, 1984, a gunman entered St. John of God Catholic Church in the New City neighborhood and fired shots at a statue of the Virgin Mary. One bullet struck the statue’s robe, while others embedded in the wall. Despite the attack, none of the 40 people present were injured. The gunman managed to flee and was never apprehended.

Renaming of Congress Parkway

In 2018, Chicago’s City Council voted to rename Congress Parkway as Ida B. Wells Drive. This decision honored Ida B. Wells, a renowned activist, and made this the first downtown street named for a woman of color.