Today in History for Sept. 7, 2014

Sidney Lanier (1842-1881)

Sept. 7, 1825 – Benjamin Hunt was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1825 – During his tour of the United Sates, the Marquis de Lafayette left Washington D.C. and returned to France on the frigate USS Brandywine.

Sept. 7, 1831 – Samuel McColl was commissioned for his second of three terms as Monroe County, Alabama’s Circuit Court Clerk, and George Medlock was commissioned as Monroe County’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1863 – Confederates evacuated Battery Wagner on Morris Island near Charleston, S.C.

Sept. 7, 1863 - Union forces arrived at Sabine Pass, Texas. The next day their attack was thwarted by a small Confederate force.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Stevenson in Jackson County, Alabama.

Sept. 7, 1864 – In preparation for his “March to the Sea,” Union General William T. Sherman ordered the residents of Atlanta, Ga., to evacuate the city. Between September 11 and 16 about 446 families (about 1,600 people) left their homes and possessions. Sherman wrote, "I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove, those who prefer it to go South, and the rest North."

Sept. 7, 1876 – In Huntsville, Ala., legend says that Jesse James robbed the First National Bank of $10,000 at two o’clock in the afternoon. This robbery was never committed or even attempted, but the legend persists.

Sept. 7, 1881 - Alabama author Sidney Lanier passed away of complications from tuberculosis at the age of 39 in Lynn, N.C.

Sept. 7, 1925 – The 1925-26 school year opened at the Conecuh County High School in Castleberry with J.B. Murphy as principal.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Both of Evergreen’s schools – the Agricultural School and City School -  opened the 1931-32 school year with a joint program held in the City School auditorium at 9 a.m.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Conecuh County High School at Castleberry opened for the 1931-32 school year, the school’s 18th session, with a new principal, William English of Elba. English was the school’s seventh principal since its establishment in 1914. The principals, and years served, up to that point, were as follows: 1914-18, Sarah E. Luther; 1918-19, Lewey Dorman; 1919-22, Sellers Stough; 1922-26, J.B. Murphy; 1926-28, L.C. Kersh; 1928-31, Geo. M. Veazey; 1931- William English.

Sept. 7, 1963 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio with 17 charter members.

Sept. 7, 1979 - ESPN, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, made its debut on cable TV.

Sept. 7, 1986 - Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins threw his 100th career touchdown pass, in only his 44th NFL game, which set a NFL record.

Sept. 7, 1998 - Mark McGwire set a new major league baseball record for most homeruns hit in a single season. The previous record was 61 set in 1961.

Sept. 7, 2001 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants became the only the fifth player in major league baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season.

Sept. 7, 2004 – Hurricane Ivan, a Category 5 hurricane hits Grenada, killing 39 and damaging 90 percent of its buildings.