SPRINGFIELD – Illinois residents have often come together in the aftermath of some the state’s most heartbreaking tragedies.
Illinois’ bicentennial best-of voters have spent the past two weeks ranking Illinois’ most heartbreaking moments.
Chris Wills with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency said the latest list includes the universally known tragedies for the state, including Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the Great Chicago Fire.
“A lot of these really horrible tragedies are familiar to us,” Wills said. “We’ve heard of them, but we may not think of them very often. And this list is a good chance to look back and think of all of the hard times that Illinois has gone through.”
Wills said the list goes back over 100 years, but includes recent tragedies that many people alive today have vivid memories of, like the 1990 Plainfield tornado, the 1993 Mississippi River flood and the 1982 panic over poisoned Tylenol.
“The Tylenol murders are something that a lot of people will remember, whether they were adults at the time or fairly young,” Wills said. “The horror of finding out that something you pick-up off your drug stores shelves could be poisoned was a really powerful feeling at the time.”
Wills said the list also includes a reminder of the deaths in Illinois’ coal mines, the sinking of the Lady Elgin, and the 1887 Chatsworth train wreck.
Voting is open until the end of the day Friday, Wills said the most heartbreaking moment will be announced next week.
After that, Illinois Top 200 voters will decide the state’s best musicians.
