Today In History- October 8

A decidedly ambitious effort to resolve the conflict in Vietnam, on October 8, 1970, communist groups in Paris voice their opposition to the October 7 Peace Proposal championed by U.S. President Richard Nixon.  They believed the proposal to be "a maneuver to deceive world opinion." This was significant given increased American public opposition to their involvement in the Vietnam War.

Sometime around 9 PM on October 8, 1871, a fire began in the O'Leary's barn on the West Side of Chicago.  In the following days, the fire burned almost four square miles of Chicago's business district.

The cause of the fire is still not known, although Mrs. O'Leary and her cow are often blamed.

However the fire started, this disaster killed hundreds, destroyed millions of dollars worth in property, and left thousands homeless.

From the smoldering ashes, the citizens of Chicago began to rebuild and a new era of building began in the city's history. The new building spurt made Chicago one of the most populous, most economically profitable, and most modern cities in the United States.

The Great Chicago Fire caused huge tragedy, but out of the ashes arose the modern Chicago metropolis.