An interesting historical story.
The Butler Act had been passed earlier in 1925. It forbade the teaching of evolution in Tennessee schools. The American Civil Liberties Union immediately put out a press release asking for someone to challenge the law. George Rappelyea of Dayton, Tn. felt a trial would bring recognition to his city Read more…
He was born during a lightning storm in Serbia. When the midwife proclaimed this was a dark omen, his mother responded: “No, he will be a child of light.” After witnessing the death of his older brother, he started having visions. He had obsessive compulsive disorder. He was obsessed with Read more…
The flight was almost cancelled before the CIA decided to make it the last of 24 flights. It was determined that May 1 would be a good day because the Soviets would be celebrating May Day and the air defenses would thus be lax. Actually, the fact that there were Read more…
He was the son of a Baptist minister. He went to the California gold fields where he caught a disease and died, leaving his wife to bring up Frank, Jesse, and Susan. She remarried a couple of times and remained a staunch supporter of her boys. When the Civil War Read more…
He was a member of the Sauk and Fox tribe. His Native American name was “Bright Path.” He learned to break horses from his father. He used to spend hours observing horses and patterned his running after them. At age 6, he and his twin brother Charlie were sent to Read more…
It was written by a five man committee: Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, Robert Livingston, and Roger Sherman. John Adams was supposed to write the draft, but he deferred to the more talented writer, Jefferson. The committee made 86 edits, but left the Preamble the way Jefferson wrote it. The Declaration was Read more…
It would have been more accurately called “Longstreet’s Charge” as it involved three of his divisions – Pickett, Pettigrew, and Trimble. That was a total of 12,500-15,000 men. It was Lee’s desperate attempt to end the Civil War in one day. In the first two days of the battle, he Read more…
On this day in 1937, Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared during her attempted flight around the world. Her Lockheed Electra took off from New Guinea destined for tiny Howland Island over 2,500 miles away. They never arrived. Since the tragedy, many theories have been advanced to explain Read more…
One of the greatest upsets in sports history occurred on June 29, 1950. In 1950, the World Cup was hosted by Brazil. The squad from England was the favorite. Oddly, it was their World Cup debut, having sat out the first three tournaments in a pay dispute with FIFA. Read more…
Harold Hardrada was the King of Norway who was killed at the Battle of Stamford Bridge in 1066. Before attempting to lay his claim to the throne of England, he and his Viking army had found employment with the Byzantine Empire. They were tasked with conquering Sicily. One city Read more…