Dupage Policy Journal

Aug. 27, 1858 — Freeport. U.S. Senate candidates Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas faced off for a second debate. As historian Stephen B. Oates described the debate in a quote on the Mr. Lincoln and Freedom website, Lincoln was the underdog. Douglas, a Democrat, used the “arts of the practiced speaker.” In contrast, Lincoln was gaunt, his voice was pitchy and his gestures were awkward. However, once Lincoln finished, it was he, not Douglas, the crowd carried off on their shoulders.

Aug. 28, 1990 — Plainfield. A deadly tornado ripped through an apartment building and the adjacent Plainfield High School. A storm described as an unforgettable “big green wall” by Plainfield Police Commander Kevin Greco was surely in the EF5 scale with winds estimated at 310 mph. As described by Greco and others in The Herald-News, the “unique” storm left 29 dead and 350 injured during its 3 p.m. path. It is regarded as the state’s second deadliest storm.

Aug. 29, 1968 — Chicago. Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey received the Democratic presidential nomination. That year’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago is known as history’s most violent, according to History.com. A 25,000-member peacekeeping force comprised of city police, Army troops and National Guardsmen was tapped by Mayor Richard Daley to quash protestors. The unrest ended once Humphrey was nominated (replacing President Lyndon Johnson, who declined to run) and the convention ended.

Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey | Wiki Commons

Aug. 30, 1980 — Du Quoin. Burgomeister wins the final Hambletonian Stakes race held in Illinois. Lured away by the greener pastures (and pockets) of the New Jersey Meadowlands, the Hambletonian Stakes’ farewell was noteworthy for another bittersweet reason: jockey Bill Haughton crossed the finish line with Burgomeister, “his late son’s horse,” the University of Illinois Press Blog states.

Aug. 30, 1908 — Kankakee. Film and television actor Fred MacMurray was born. MacMurray starred in a few Disney movies, as well as two of director Billy Wilder’s films, the noir classic “Double Indemnity” and a comedy, “The Apartment.” His performances live on in those films, as well as in reruns of the 1960s sitcom “My Three Sons.” MacMurray became the first Disney Legend in 1987.

Aug. 31, 1955 — Chicago. U.S. automaker General Motors unveiled the world’s first solar-powered car. Though it was barely longer than 1 foot, this photovoltaic-cell powered vehicle created an entirely new space in the auto industry. It was the forerunner of today’s battery-powered cars touting sustainable energy. The unveiling took place at 250 exhibits during the Powerama Auto Show, which also featured plenty of fossil-fuel-powered offerings from GM, History.com states.

Sept. 1, 1851 — Jacksonville. The state’s first free public high school was launched by Newton Bateman, a graduate of Illinois College. Bateman’s only brush with greatness wasn’t just being Abraham Lincoln’s final visitor before the president journeyed to Washington for his inauguration. Bateman actually launched Jacksonville High School and served as principal for the first seven years, the Jacksonville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau website states.

Sept. 2, 1970 — Springfield. Organizers recess Illinois’ Sixth Constitutional Convention. Known for cementing changes to the state’s governing document with across-the-aisle political support. Con Con, as it was known, took eight months to draft, The Dispatch-Argus website states. But committee approval was swift once the convention wrapped and voters passed it that December by a nearly 300,000-vote margin. The new document included the ability for cities to levy taxes, anti-discrimination clauses and line-item veto power for the governor.