I’ll be that you might be surprised  how this building figures into today’s feature.  On this date in 1759, the first life insurance company in the U.S. was incorporated.  Presbyterian Synods of New York and Philadelphia were  the founders, and its purpose was to provide for Presbyterian widows.  Provident Mutual Life Insurance Company acquired it 1994, and in 2002, Nationwide […]

  Okay, you might be surprised about my interest in today’s feature.  On this date in 1945, Rod Stewart was born.  And, yes, I am a Rod Stewart fan.  I could go on and on about his personal life–quite  extensive.  He has had his share of women, and I know he is getting older.  But his voice is still pretty […]

I know quite a bit about the Civil War, but this act was news to me.  On this date in 1861, the first hostile act of the Civil War occurred.  The steamship Star of the West entered Charleston Harbor, and it was fired upon immediately.  The captain had no choice but to order a retreat, and thankfully the ship survived […]

It was on this date in 1992, that AT & T released the videophone.  And just how much did it cost? Try $1500!  The joys of technology! For  more info: http://famousdaily.com/history/att-releases-video-telephone-1499.html http://www.historyorb.com/events/january/7 http://en.cyclopaedia.net/wiki/Videotelephone http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Videophone#AT.26T_Picturephone:_1964

On this date in 1838, Samuel Morse demonstrated his invention–the telegraph.  It was at the Speedwell Iron Works in Morristown, New Jersey.  For more info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/morse-demonstrates-telegraph http://www.worldculturepictorial.com/blog/content/jan-6-1838-samuel-morse-1st-demonstrated-electric-telegraph-what-hath-god-wrought-1st-formal http://famousdaily.com/history/samuel-morse-demonstrates-his-new.html

On this date in 1940, FM radio was demonstrated the FCC for the first time.   Edwin Howard Armstrong was the person who demonstrated it, but his life met a very tragic end about fourteen years later.  He was financially ruined, and his mental state was not good due to legal battles and such.  He struck out at his wife, and […]

On this date in 1937, Grace Melzia-Bumbry was born.  Never heard of her?  Nor had I.  She was one of the leading opera singers of her generation, and she paved the way for African-Americans in this profession.  At  the age of 17, she won a talent contest on a St. Louis radio station.  Part of the prize was scholarship to […]

Today is the history of a momentous day in church history.  On this date in 1521, Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Catholic Church by Pope Leo X.  If you know the story of the Reformation, Martin Luther was one who dared to question some of the long-held beliefs and tenets of the Roman Catholic Church.   He had defended his […]

This happened the year I was born (though I was not around yet).  On this date in 1974, President Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Highway Energy Conservation Act into law.   This meant that the national maximum speed limit became 55.  Before that time, it was up to the states.  They could set the limits  from 40 to 80.  Cheap Arab […]

Today, we take color TV for granted, but that was not always the case.  On this date in 1953, the first color television sets (made by RCA) went on sale for a whopping $1,175.  And just two days later, the first coast-to-coast color broadcast occurred–the Tournament of Roses Parade.  As you can imagine, the majority of people could not afford […]