In 1908 the Tunguska Event happened. A meteor exploded in the air over Eastern Siberia, leveling about 80 million trees. No record of economic danger or casualties as far as we know, but I’m sure there were some very startled inhabitants if only animals. In 1906 food security got better through the US Congress passing the Pure Food and Drug Act. In 1921 President Harding appointed former president William Howard Taft to the position he had wanted all along -US Supreme Court Chief Justice. And in 1937 the world’s first emergency number 999 was introduced in London.
In 1953 my favorite car, the Chevrolet Corvette, first drove off the assembly line in Flint Michigan. In 1966 the NOW, National Organization for Women was established. And in 1990 another sign of the end of the Cold War – the economies of West Germany and East Germany were merged.
There were two actresses and one actor born on this date: Susan Hayward and Lena Horne – who was also a singer and activist – were both born in 1917. And Vincent D’Onofrio (Full Metal Jacket) was born in 1959. And multiple Olympic Gold Medal winner Michael Phelps was born in 1985.
This date marked the passing of Georgia colony founder James Oglethorpe in 1785 and comedian Buddy Hackett in 2003.
And probably due to the Tunguska Event this is Asteroid Day
Leave a Reply