Chronology 1980-1989
1980 (March 16) Longtime District 69 teacher and principal Marjorie Wedell is killed in an automobile accident. (Skokie Review, March 20, 1980, p. 3) The Marjorie Wedell Award is later instituted to recognize those who render outstanding service to the District. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 24).
June 1 Niles East High School closes its doors for the last time. (Skokie Review, June 5, 1980, p. 6).
November 14 Rabbi Karl Weiner, founding Rabbi of Temple Judea Mizpah, and President of the Board of Trustees of the Skokie Public Library, dies. (News (Skokie), November 20, 1980, p. 16).
Membership at Central United Methodist Church is approximately 600. (Ardis Coninx, Central United Methodist Church, op.cit., 11).
Skokie population is 60,278. (1980 Census / MDR Demographics Applications, Inc., Skokie Public Library, Long Range Planning Committee, 1999).
1981 Ardis Coninx is the first recipient of the Marjorie Wedell Award. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 24).
November School Board elections are held for the first time in November and not in April. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 24).
November 17 The made-for-TV film "Skokie", based upon the Village's fight to keep the Nazis from marching in Skokie in 1977 & 1978, airs on WBBM at 7:00 pm. Actor Ed Flanders portrays Mayor Smith and Eli Wallach portrays Harvey Schwartz. Danny Kaye portrays the fictional "Max Feldman", a Holocaust survivor. (Viewers Guide to "Skokie", Archives, Skokie Historical Society).
The Skokie Park District opens "Tot Learning Center", a daycare center, at Laramie Park. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 12, Archives, Skokie Park District).
Morton Grove bans the possession of handguns. (Whitney, op.cit., p. 17).
1982 (September) The computer age dawns at Lincoln School with the installation of seven microcomputers. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 24).
December The Futabakai Japanese School renews its lease of Kenton School for another 5-year period. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 25).
1983 (Winter) Representatives from District 69 and 73½ meet for the purpose of discussing consolidation. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 25).
February Joseph J. Hansen, founder of Skokie Trust & Savings Bank, announces that he and the other majority shareholders have agreed to sell the bank to the Cole-Taylor Financial Group. (Skokie Review, February 10, 1983).
February 27 Norman Schack, proprietor of Wolke & Schack Dept. Store since 1952, Skokie Park Board President and member of the Chamber of Commerce, dies at the age of 72. (Skokie Review, March 3, 1983, p. 3).
June 6 Mayor Smith instructs the corporation counsel, Harvey Schwartz, to draft a hand-gun control ordinance for consideration at a meeting to be held September 19, 1983. (Skokie Review, June 9, 1983, p. 3).
June 6 William Miller assumes command of the Skokie Police Department succeeding Kenneth Chamberlain who retired. Skokie Trust & Savings Bank is robbed. (Skokie Review, June 9, 1983, p. 3).
September 19 The Skokie Village Board of Trustees, at a special meeting to consider the adoption of a hand-gun control ordinance, listens as approximately 1,000 people convene at the Centre East Auditorium and express their opinions. (Skokie Review, September 22, 1983, p.3).
October 3 The Skokie Village Board of Trustees, by a vote of 4-3, defeats a hand-gun control ordinance. Trustees Conrad, Gorell, McCabe and Elliott vote against the proposal. Trustees Fritzshall and Croft and Mayor Smith vote in favor. (Skokie Review, October 6, 1983, p. 3).
October 31 Chicago Bear founder George S. Halas dies at the age of 88. (Sports Illustrated, The Chicago Collection, February 11, 1998, p. 135).
1984 (August 14) The Futabakai Japanese School ends its leasehold at Kenton School. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 25).
August Bart Conner, a 1976 graduate of Niles West High School, wins the individual parallel bars gymnastics event at the 1984 Olympics held in Los Angeles. (Sports Illustrated, The Chicago Collection, February 11, 1998, p. 8).
October 7 Chicago Bear player Walter "Sweetness" Payton sets the NFL record for career rushing yards at Soldier Field against the New Orleans Saints eclipsing the record set by Cleveland Brown great Jim Brown. (Sports Illustrated, The Chicago Collection, February 11, 1998, p. 101).
1985 (July 31) Rev. Arthur Sauer, Pastor Emeritus, St. Peter Catholic Church, dies. Fr. Sauer was a charter member of the Clergy Forum, a member of the Human Relations Commission and founder of the Niles Township Human Relations Council. (Buisseret et.al., op.cit., p. 12).
September 29 A retirement luncheon is held in honor of Mary Radmacher on the occasion of her retirement as Director of the Skokie Public Library. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 26).
1986 (January 26) The Chicago Bears win Super Bowl XX in New Orleans, LA., defeating the AFC Champion New England Patriots 46-10. (Chicago Tribune, January 27, 1986, p. 1).
March 1 The shareholders of the First National Bank of Skokie sell to a group known as U.S. Ameribancs which continues to operate the bank as First National Bank of Skokie. (Archives, Skokie Historical Society).
September Northwest Special Education Organization signs a one-year lease for Kenton School. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 27).
1987 (January 13) Oliver McCracken, Ph.d., resigns as Superintendent of School District 73 ½. (Skokie Life, March 26, 1987).
March 1 U.S. Ameribancs, owner of the First National Bank of Skokie, sells to National Bank of Detroit. The bank becomes known as NBD - Skokie. (Archives, Skokie Historical Society).
March 23 The District 73½ School Board renames Oakview School "Oliver McCracken Middle School" in honor of retired Supt. Oliver McCracken, Ph.d. (Skokie Life, March 26, 1987).
June Rev. Harry Conner retires as Senior Minister of Central United Methodist Church. He is succeeded by Rev. Robert Burkhart. (Ardis Coninx, Central United Methodist Church, op.cit., 16).
July 27 Rose Gordon is appointed Principal of Edison School by the District 69 Board of Education. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 28).
September The Arie Crown Hebrew Day School leases Kenton School. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 28).
September 14 Mayor Albert J. Smith announces that he will retire, effective December 31st, after 22 years in office. (Skokie Review, September 17, 1987, p. 3 / Chicago Sun-Times, September 15, 1987, p. 22).
October 24 The Luxembourg Brotherhood of America celebrates its Centennial with a celebration at the North Shore Hilton. Crown Prince Henri and Crown Princess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg are in attendance. (Archives, Luxembourg Brotherhood of America).
1988 (January 4) Trustee Jacqueline Gorell is sworn in as Skokie's 15th Mayor succeeding Albert J. Smith, who retired on December 31st. (Skokie Review, January 7, 1988, p. 3).
February 13 Skokie's Centennial celebration begins with a black-tie dinner dance at the North Shore Hilton. (Archives, Village of Skokie).
June 30 Dr. Ralph Johnson retires as Superintendent of Education of District 69. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 28). Dr. Allan Maier is appointed to succeed Dr. Johnson as Superintendent of Education. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 29).
August 12 - 14 The Village of Skokie celebrates its Centennial with a three-day festival held at Niles West. (Archives, Village of Skokie).
August 14 The Village of Skokie celebrates its Centennial with a parade that begins at Niles East and ends at Niles West. The temperature reaches 95 degrees. (Archives, Village of Skokie).
August Mayor Gorell appoints the Downtown Skokie Task Force for the purpose of redeveloping the downtown area. (The Life, October 24, 1991).
The Skokie Park District opens the "Emily Oaks Nature Center" at Emily Park. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 12, Archives, Skokie Park District).
The Skokie Park District opens the "Oakton Park Water Playground" at Oakton Park. (History of the Skokie Park District, p. 12, Archives, Skokie Park District).
September Construction work begins at the old Teletype site for the Village Crossing Shopping Center. (Skokie Review, June 18, 1992).
1989 (March) The U.S. Office of Thrift Supervision declares Skokie Federal Savings and Loan insolvent and assumes management of the institution. (Skokie Review, December 27, 1990, p.6).
March 20 District 73½ voters approve a tax rate increase by a margin of 2:1. (Skokie Review, December 27, 1990, p.8).
June Curbside recycling is instituted village wide. (The Life, December 27, 1990, p.5)
August The Kenton School site is sold by District 69 to the Arie Crown Hebrew Day School for $3,000,000.00. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 30).
September District 69 enrollment is 1,610 pupils. (Coninx, op.cit., p. 30).
November Several new stores, including Montgomery Ward and Jewel, open in the new Village Crossing Shopping Center located at the old Teletype site at Touhy and Carpenter Road. (The Life, December 27, 1990, p. 5 / Skokie Review, June 18, 1992).
November 9 The Berlin Wall is breached. The citizens of the German Democratic Republic are now free to travel to the West. (Encyclopedia Britannica, Multimedia Edition, 1999).
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