August 10 Illinois History Minute

It’s August 10th, the day, in 1887, of one of the worst train wrecks in American rail history --- the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck in Livingston County. A bridge collapsed underneath a Toledo Peoria and Western excursion train carrying more than 500 passengers bound for Niagara Falls. About 85 people were killed in the accident, and scores were injured.

On this day in 1907, the recently formed Peerless Film Manufacturing Company of Chicago, changed its name to Essanay, for its founders, Highland Park native George Spoor and Gilbert Anderson, better known as western movie star Broncho Billy Anderson. During its ten years in business, Essanay made movies in Chicago and Hollywood, featuring Wallace Beery, Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin and others.