The Chicago area celebrates its 25th March 25th birthday, with a list of notable events highlighted by the Tribune's archives. An explosion at the Centralia Coal Co.’s No. 5 mine in 1947 killed 111 people, making it the third-worst mining disaster in state history. The Rotunda Building at O’Hare International Airport opened with a dinner attended by Mayor Richard J. Daley and over 200 other civic leaders. A fire at the L. Fish Furniture Co. killed 12 people in 1910, and a fire started by a 21-year-old man, Leo Stoeckel, who was taken into custody for starting the blaze. Charles T. Yerkes bought control of the North Chicago City Railway in 1886 and became its president, leading to a 13-year campaign by the newspaper for 13 years. The Tribune fought against Yerke's attempt to gain a monopoly over the public transportation system.