A couple walks on Oak Street Beach in Chicago during a fall day in September 1976 at Lake Michigan.

A couple walks on Oak Street Beach in Chicago during a fall day in September 1976 at Lake Michigan. (Arthur Walker/Chicago Tribune)

Photos: Highlights from autumns past

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When the leaves start to fall and the temperature turns crisp, Chicago area residents of decades past did the same thing we do now: Head outdoors.

People sit on a bench during an autumn day in Lincoln Park on Sept. 23, 1981, in Chicago.

People sit on a bench during an autumn day in Lincoln Park on Sept. 23, 1981, in Chicago. (Ernie Cox Jr./Chicago Tribune)

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A couple walks on Oak Street Beach in Chicago during a fall day in September 1976 at Lake Michigan.

A couple walks on Oak Street Beach in Chicago during a fall day in September 1976 at Lake Michigan. (Arthur Walker/Chicago Tribune)

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Two boys were among the more than 220,000 students participating in the Freedom Day school boycott on Oct. 22, 1963, in Chicago. They used their time to rake up and burn leaves in the front yard of their South Side home.

Two boys were among the more than 220,000 students participating in the Freedom Day school boycott on Oct. 22, 1963, in Chicago. They used their time to rake up and burn leaves in the front yard of their South Side home. (Frank Berger/Chicago's American)

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A bicyclist is caught up in his thoughts as the fall season surrounds him in Lincoln Park on Sept. 22, 1982, in Chicago.

A bicyclist is caught up in his thoughts as the fall season surrounds him in Lincoln Park on Sept. 22, 1982, in Chicago. (Carl Hugare/Chicago Tribune)

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Meg Nickle, left, adds a leaf to a bagful gathered by her mother, Sue Nickle, who plans to use the leaves in a compost heap for fertilizer in Lincoln Park, circa October 1972.

Meg Nickle, left, adds a leaf to a bagful gathered by her mother, Sue Nickle, who plans to use the leaves in a compost heap for fertilizer in Lincoln Park, circa October 1972. (Bob Fila/Chicago Today)

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Louis Rosio and his daughter, Sandra, 4, sit and look out over the boats at Burnham Harbor on Sept. 21, 1982, in Chicago.

Louis Rosio and his daughter, Sandra, 4, sit and look out over the boats at Burnham Harbor on Sept. 21, 1982, in Chicago. (Walter Neal/Chicago Tribune)

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Jogging paths in Lincoln Park are especially appealing on a brisk autumnal morning after the rain on Sept. 22, 1982, in Chicago.

Jogging paths in Lincoln Park are especially appealing on a brisk autumnal morning after the rain on Sept. 22, 1982, in Chicago. (Phil Greer/Chicago Tribune)

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A boy holds his free pumpkin in the Winston Hills community in Woodridge in October 1966.

A boy holds his free pumpkin in the Winston Hills community in Woodridge in October 1966. (Tribune archive photo)

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Tom Graziano sweeps up leaves along a sidewalk on Mohawk Street on the North Side, a sure sign that fall is here and winter is not far off, on Oct. 14, 1982, in Chicago.

Tom Graziano sweeps up leaves along a sidewalk on Mohawk Street on the North Side, a sure sign that fall is here and winter is not far off, on Oct. 14, 1982, in Chicago. (Carl Hugare/Chicago Tribune)

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A few weeks ago, it was bikini weather on North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Now, a couple of joggers wear sweaters as they run past piles of fallen leaves on Oct. 1, 1973.

A few weeks ago, it was bikini weather on North Avenue Beach in Chicago. Now, a couple of joggers wear sweaters as they run past piles of fallen leaves on Oct. 1, 1973. (Bob Fila/Chicago Today)

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Piles of colorful fall leaves mean piles of fun for preschoolers and kindergartners from St. Luke's Lutheran School in suburban Montgomery on a recent trip to Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora on Oct. 13, 1989.

Piles of colorful fall leaves mean piles of fun for preschoolers and kindergartners from St. Luke's Lutheran School in suburban Montgomery on a recent trip to Red Oak Nature Center in North Aurora on Oct. 13, 1989. (James Mayo/Chicago Tribune)

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Mrs. Ben Spurr is lost in a cloud of smoke from burning leaves in Maywood on Oct. 8, 1963.

Mrs. Ben Spurr is lost in a cloud of smoke from burning leaves in Maywood on Oct. 8, 1963. (Steve Lasker/Chicago's American)

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Pausing under a fruit-ladden apple tree, a hiker romps with his dog on Oct. 9, 1962.

Pausing under a fruit-ladden apple tree, a hiker romps with his dog on Oct. 9, 1962. (Howard Borvig/Chicago's American)

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In the fall, milkweed seeds pop from pods, like these in Thatcher Woods in River Forest, Oct. 27, 1971.

In the fall, milkweed seeds pop from pods, like these in Thatcher Woods in River Forest, Oct. 27, 1971. (James DePres/Chicago Today)

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Steven Katt pours Champagne for Terry Strunck on Oct. 28, 1983, as they enjoy a view of the last remaining sailboats anchored in Burnham Harbor on a perfect fall afternoon.

Steven Katt pours Champagne for Terry Strunck on Oct. 28, 1983, as they enjoy a view of the last remaining sailboats anchored in Burnham Harbor on a perfect fall afternoon. (Ovie Carter/Chicago Tribune)

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Leaves that are beautiful to many are an obstacle for Nancy Granda, 14 months, as she tries to move her walker along the sidewalk on Oct. 22, 1986, in the 3500 block of Wood Street in Chicago.

Leaves that are beautiful to many are an obstacle for Nancy Granda, 14 months, as she tries to move her walker along the sidewalk on Oct. 22, 1986, in the 3500 block of Wood Street in Chicago. (Frank Hanes/Chicago Tribune)

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Cyclists and strollers move through a sunlight-dappled forest strewn with fallen leaves on Oct. 10, 1982.

Cyclists and strollers move through a sunlight-dappled forest strewn with fallen leaves on Oct. 10, 1982. (Ernie Cox Jr./Chicago Tribune)

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The Chicago skyline can be seen through leaves at Montrose Harbor on Sept. 22, 1982.

The Chicago skyline can be seen through leaves at Montrose Harbor on Sept. 22, 1982. (Jerry Tomaselli/Chicago Tribune)

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