I was completely unaware of today’s feature.   On this date in 1775, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Olive Branch petition as a way to keep the colonies out of war with Great Britain. They pledged allegiance to the king of England while affirming the rights of the colonists. The king refused to read the petition, and by August of […]

Here is an interesting tidbit I saw on Fox News this morning.  On this date in 1826, we lost our second and third president on the same day within hours of each other.   Monroe died on July 4 of 1831, and Coolidge was born on July 4, 1872.  I had no idea July 4th had such an intriguing tie-in to […]

Today’s feature might help you win a million dollars some day.   On this date in 1921, President Harding appointed former President Taft to the office of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.   He was approved the same day, and became the only person to serve as president and chief justice.   I had no idea this had happened. For more info: […]

I am grateful to feature something nice.  On this date in 1683, William Penn made a great treaty with the Native Americans at Shackamaxon.  On that date, Penn said the folowing: “We meet on the broad pathway of good faith and good-will; no advantage shall be taken on either side, but all shall be openness and love. We are the […]

Although I have never officialy visited this National Park, I have driven through this area, and it is gorgeous.  On this date in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains were officially designated as a national park.  It is the most visited national park in the U.S. as well as one of the largest protected aeas of our country. For more info: […]

Seven years before my birth on this date in history (1967), President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated the first African American to the Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall.  After a heated debate, he began serving in August of that year and continued to serve for 24 years.  I seem to remember when he retired and possibly even when he died in 2005. […]

On this date in 1949, the FBI published a report that kicked off the notorious “Red Scare” in this country.  We were so concerned with discovring who might be a Communist, so the FBI relied on anonymous tips and dubious hints to discover which high-level actors, actreses, and more might be “un-American.” Included on this report was Edward G. Robinson, […]

What other day could I feature?  On this date in 1944, D-Day occurred.  Today marks the seventieth anniversary of this solemn event.  May we never forget the ultimate sacrifices that so many servicemen and women have made for our freedom. For more info: http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/wwii/dday/prelude.aspx

It was on this date in 1946, that a terrible fire broke out at the La Salle hotel in Chicago, Illinois.  The fire supposedly began in the nearby grill, and it burned a good ten minutes before being reported.  Some 900 guests were able to safely leave, but 61 people were killed–many were children. For more info: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Salle_Hotel http://morthouse.com/post/10363341980/la-salle-hotel-fire-showing-corpse-spread-on-third http://illinoisstatesoceity.typepad.com/photos/19411950_illinois_state_s/lasalle-hotel-fire-1946.html

I was a Floridian for many years.  I even graduated from a college in that state.  On this date in 1539, Hernando de Soto claimed Florida for Spain.  At this point, de Soto was the governor of Cuba, and he had landed in the Tampa Bsy area towards the end of May. Or more info: http://all-len-all.com/on-this-day-june-3-1539-hernando-de-soto-claims-florida-for-spain/ http://www.floridahistory.com/inset5.html