It was on this date in 1923, that one of the worst coal mining disasters in Scottish history occurred.  The pit wall between an abandoned pit and the pit in which the miners were working did not hold up when the water began to flood the area.  The pit flooded almost instantly, and forty miners were drowned. There were some […]

This was news to me. On this date in 1890, the Mormon church officially renounced polygamy. The leaders reluctantly released the Mormon manifesto. For more info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-mormon-church-officially-renounces-polygamy http://historyforliars.tumblr.com/post/62296143041/september-24-1890-the-mormon-church-officially http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1890_Manifesto

On this date in 1981, Jack Henry Abbot was captured in the field of Louisiana after a two-month manhunt. And just who was this guy?  He killed Richard Adan as he had been on parole after the officials had been assured that he had a great writing talent.  He was a despicable character who went to reform school at age […]

On this date in 1991, the Dead Sea Scrolls were made available to the public for the first time. For more info: http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/dead.sea.scrolls.asp

It was on this date in 1862, that the Battle of Antietam was fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland and Antietam Creek.  It was the first major battle of the Civil War that was fought on Union soil.  It was also the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history.  There was a combined total of 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing. For more info: […]

On this date in 1920, an act of terrorism occurred in the U. S.  that is still unsolved and was,  at the time, the most heinous act of terror perpetrated against the U. S.  During the height of lunch hour in the heart of New York’s financial district, a horse-drawn carriage stopped in front of the J. P.  Morgan building. […]

On this date in 1959, Nikita Khruschev became the first Soviet head of state to visit the U. S. He was here for two weeks. For more info: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/khrushchev-arrives-in-washington

Another forage into ancient history today.  On this date in 81 A.D., Domitian was confirmed as emperor of Rome.  I know of this emperor because he was cruel, harsh, and absolute.  He also was known for killing Christians as well as senators at the drop of a hat. For more info: http://www.biblestudytools.com/history/foxs-book-of-martyrs/the-second-persecution-under-domitian-a-d-81.html http://www.pbs.org/empires/romans/empire/titus_domitian.html http://www.biography.com/people/domitian-9276772#synopsis http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domitian  

Today’s feature is a bit unusual, but it involves an amazing musical that I still have yet to see live on stage.  I was going to several years ago, but I went to England instead.  Not a bad trade-off.  Anyway, on this date in 1989, Les Miserables opened at the Fisher Theater in Detroit, Michigan. For more info: http://point11.tripod.com/lmfacts.htm http://www.brainyhistory.com/days/september_13.html

I may have featured this fact before, but on this date in 1846, Robert and Elizabeth Browning eloped.  Elizabeth’s father didn’t like Robert.  So she sneaked out of the house.  She went back home for a week and kept the marriage secret. Then she ran off and never saw her father again. For more info: www.history.com/this-day-in-history/elizabeth-barrett-and-robert-browning-elope http://www.victorianweb.org/authors/ebb/ebbio1.html