Skip to content
Miserable was the word for the weather all over Chicago on March 29, 1964. Mrs. Helen Marshall holds the hand of her daughter Gale, 3, as they cross a slushy Randolph Street at State Street. (John Vogele/Chicago Tribune)
Miserable was the word for the weather all over Chicago on March 29, 1964. Mrs. Helen Marshall holds the hand of her daughter Gale, 3, as they cross a slushy Randolph Street at State Street. (John Vogele/Chicago Tribune)
PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 29, 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: 88 degrees (1986)
  • Low temperature: 9 degrees (1887)
  • Precipitation: 1.33 inches (1979)
  • Snowfall: 7.7 inches (1954)
Wendy Johnson, 11, manages a big smile for shovel-wielding Elmo Peterson, despite the snow that was coming down like confetti on Chestnut Street, east of Rush Street, on March 29, 1964. Johnson was celebrating her birthday as well as Easter and was enroute with her parents to Fourth Presbyterian Church for Easter Sunday services. (Hardy Wieting/Chicago Tribune) published March 30, 1964 Date Created: 1964-03-29 Copyright Notice: Chicago Tribune Folder Description: Chicago Weather Folder Extended Description: Snow 1962 - 1964 Title: CHICAGO WEATHER SNOW 1962-1964 Subject: CHICAGO WEATHER SNOW
Wendy Johnson, 11, manages a big smile for shovel-wielding Elmo Peterson, despite the snow that was coming down like confetti on Chestnut Street, east of Rush Street, on March 29, 1964. Johnson was celebrating her birthday as well as Easter and was enroute with her parents to Fourth Presbyterian Church for Easter Sunday services. (Hardy Wieting/Chicago Tribune) published March 30, 1964 Date Created: 1964-03-29 Copyright Notice: Chicago Tribune Folder Description: Chicago Weather Folder Extended Description: Snow 1962 - 1964 Title: CHICAGO WEATHER SNOW 1962-1964 Subject: CHICAGO WEATHER SNOW

1964: Chicago experienced 7.1 inches of snow on Easter Sunday — the heaviest Easter snowfall on record and the largest last snow of the winter ever for the city.

Turf was first added to Soldier Field in 1971, but by 1988 real grass returned. (Chicago Tribune)
Turf was first added to Soldier Field in 1971, but by 1988 real grass returned. (Chicago Tribune)

1988: Workers began ripping out the 9-year-old artificial turf at Soldier Field. Turf was first installed at the stadium in 1971 — but did anyone really like it? Bears fans scooped up drink coasters and even doormats made of the plastic grass.

The turf was replaced with real grass, which is still used on the field.

In the first Major League Baseball regular-season game played outside North America, the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 5-3 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. (Chicago Tribune)
In the first Major League Baseball regular-season game played outside North America, the Chicago Cubs beat the New York Mets 5-3 at the Tokyo Dome in Japan. (Chicago Tribune)

2000: The Chicago Cubs faced the New York Mets in the Tokyo Dome for the first Major League Baseball opening day outside North America.

“Starter Jon Lieber gave a superb effort and third baseman Shane Andrews whacked a two-run homer as the Cubs ushered in 2000 with a 5-3 victory over the Mets before a mostly docile crowd of 55,000,” Tribune reporter Teddy Greenstein wrote.

Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) celebrates with emergency backup goaltender Scott Foster after the Blackhawks defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 6-2, at the United Center Thursday, March 29 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Erik Gustafsson (56) celebrates with emergency backup goaltender Scott Foster after the Blackhawks defeated the Winnipeg Jets, 6-2, at the United Center Thursday, March 29 2018. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)

2018: Scott Foster — a 36-year-old accountant — stepped in as emergency backup goaltender for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Want more vintage Chicago?

Subscribe to the free Vintage Chicago Tribune newsletter, join our Chicagoland history Facebook group, stay current with Today in Chicago History and follow us on Instagram for more from Chicago’s past.

Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com