Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Dec. 25, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Chicago’s Christmas weather: The warmest and coldest since 1872

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

High temperature: 64 degrees (1982)
Low temperature: Minus 17 degrees (1983)
Precipitation: 0.5 inches (1950)
Snowfall: 5.1 inches (1950)

William Thomas Cosgrave, the first president of the Irish Free State, left, and the Rev. Father William J. McNamee, of Old St. Patrick’s Church at DesPlaines and Adams Streets, shake hands during Cosgrave’s visit to Chicago on Jan. 22, 1928. Old St. Pat’s was the cornerstone of Irish culture in Chicago and was undergoing a beautifying project at the time, directed by McNamee, to add Celtic art to the historic church. Old St. Pat’s is the oldest standing church in Chicago. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

1856: Old St. Patrick’s Church at 123 S. Desplaines St. in Chicago — the oldest public building in the city — was dedicated.

Chicago’s Union Stock Yards, long a familiar sight and smell to residents, is shown in 1956. (AP)

1865: Chicago’s Union Stock Yards received its first shipment of animals, and officially opened.

The yards, which covered a half square mile west of Halsted Street between Pershing Road and 47th Street, were soon filled “with so many cattle as no-one had ever dreamed existed in the world,” noted one writer. “Red, black, white and yellow cattle. Great bellowing bulls and little calves not an hour born. Meek-eyed milch cows and fierce, long-horned Texas steers.”

The Drovers’ National Bank building, one of the tallest structures in the stockyards area and housing one of its most important financial institutions, was left in ruins by the fire in May 1934. It stood at 4201 S. Halsted St. The structures in the foreground contained living quarters for stockyard workers. (Chicago Tribune historical photo)

A massive fire, which took out nearly 90% of the stockyards, erupted at the site in 1934. Fifty firefighters were injured in the blaze and hundreds of cattle were killed.

But the stockyards had moments of glory, too. Research laboratories funded by the packers turned animal byproducts into everything from medicine to cosmetics. From 1900, there was a yearly International Livestock Exposition as well as a 4-H Club show. In 1952, the Republicans and Democrats held their presidential nominating conventions at the International Amphitheatre, an exposition center located in the stockyards complex.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: The International Livestock Exposition

Called “Union” for the seven separate stockyards that contributed to build it, the stockyards opened on more than 300 acres of swamp land purchased from two-time Chicago Mayor “Long” John Wentworth. More than 18.6 million head of cattle, hogs and sheep were marketed at its peak in 1924.

The gate to the former Union Stock Yards, 850 W. Exchange Ave., in Chicago on April 27, 2016. (E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune)

The Union Stock Yards closed on the city’s South Side in 1971.

All that remains of the stockyards is its gate, which includes a sculpted version of a prize-winning steer.

Bears running back Thomas Jones celebrates his first-half touchdown during a 24-17 victory over the Packers on Christmas Day in 2005 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. (Jim Prisching/Chicago Tribune)

2005: The Chicago Bears’ 24-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers clinched the team’s first division title since 2001, guaranteeing a first-round bye and a home playoff game. The win also secured a season sweep of the Packers for the first time in 14 years and ended Green Bay’s three-year stranglehold on the division title.

The Chicago Bears have played 9 times on Christmas Eve and twice on Christmas Day. Here’s how they’ve done since 1989.

Making his first start since Sept. 26, 2004, Bears quarterback Rex Grossman finished 11-for-23 for 166 yards and one touchdown with one interception.

Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers have played 212 times in the past 100 years: How the rivalry has unfolded

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