Today in History for Dec. 15, 2014

General Archibald Gracie

Dec. 15, 1654 - A meteorological office established in Tuscany began recording daily temperature readings.

Dec. 15, 1821 – West Point graduate and lawyer Edmund W. Martin was born near Montgomery, Ala. He led the “Lowndes County Volunteers” during Mexican-American War and served as an officer in the Civil War. He also represented Conecuh and Butler counties in the State Senate.

Dec. 15, 1821 – The Murder Creek Navigation Company was incorporated by the Alabama legislature and was formed to provide water transportation between Sparta, Ala. and Pensacola, Fla. The Sparta Bridge was named as the starting point.

Dec. 15, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette was feted at the first commencement ceremony of George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

Dec. 15, 1827 – Joseph Ganes Sanders, the “Turncoat of Dale County,” was born in South Carolina.

Dec. 15, 1853 – Methodist minister Robert Shaw Rabb was assigned as the first minister to the Elba, Ala. Circuit on this day.

Dec. 15, 1862 - In Fredericksburg, Va., a truce was called so that Union forces could collect their dead and wounded after the Battle of Fredericksburg on Dec. 13.

Dec. 15, 1863 - Confederate General Archibald Gracie Jr. was wounded at the Battle of Bean's Station.

Dec. 15, 1864 - The Battle of Nashville began in Nashville, Tenn. Over a two-day period, the Confederate Army of Tennessee under General John Bell Hood suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Union forces under George Thomas.

Dec. 15, 1888 – Rube Burrow and Leonard “Joe Jackson” Brock carried out Burrow’s sixth train robbery, robbing the northbound Illinois Central passenger train around 10 p.m. near Duck Hill, Miss. Robert Chester Hughes, 32, of Jackson, Tenn. was murdered during the robbery, and it was reportedly Burrow’s first murder.

Dec. 15, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Alto L. Floyd of Opp “died of disease.”

Dec. 15, 1920 – Major League Baseball first baseman Eddie (William Edward) Robinson was born in Paris, Texas. He would go on to play for the Cleveland Indians, the Washington Senators, the Chicago White Sox, the Philadelphia Athletics, the New York Yankees, the Kansas City Athletics, the Detroit Tigers and the Baltimore Orioles.

Dec. 15, 1928 – NFL fullback and punter Clarence “Butch” Edmund Avinger was born in Beatrice, Ala. Avinger was a first round selection (ninth overall pick) of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1951 NFL Draft out of the University of Alabama where he had played quarterback. As a professional, he only saw action in 1953 when he played for the New York Giants.

Dec. 15, 1933 – The Twenty-first Amendment to the United States Constitution officially became effective, repealing the Eighteenth Amendment that prohibited the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol.

Dec. 15, 1939 – “Gone with the Wind” debuted in Atlanta and became an instant hit, breaking all box office records. Produced by David O. Selznick and based on the novel by Margaret Mitchell, it premiered at Loew's Grand Theater in Atlanta. The movie starred Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable.

Dec. 15, 1940 – NFL Hall of Fame middle linebacker Nick Buoniconti was born in Springfield, Mass. He would go on to play for the Boston Patriots and the Miami Dolphins.

Dec. 15, 1942 – A large search party departed Escott Station in Australia in search of the Little Eva crash site, 13 days after the plane crashed.

Dec. 15, 1943 – NFL defensive end Pete Duranko was born in Johnstown, Pa. He would play his entire pro career for the Denver Broncos.

Dec. 15, 1944 – Major League Baseball pitcher Stan (Stanley Raymond) Bahnsen was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He would go on to play for the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox, the Oakland Athletics, the Montreal Expos, the California Angels and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Dec. 15, 1944 - A single-engine plane carrying U.S. Army Major Glenn Miller disappeared in thick fog over the English Channel while en route to Paris. The true fate of the plane and its passengers has never been determined.

Dec. 15, 1948 – Major League Baseball pitcher Doug (Douglas James) Rau was born in Columbus, Texas. He would go on to play for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the California Angels.

Dec. 15, 1950 – Lyeffion’s boys basketball team beat Repton, 28-20, in Repton, Ala. Miller Dees led Lyeffion with 10 points. James Andrews and Junior McMillan scored six points each to lead Coach Charles Pouncey’s Repton team.

Dec. 15, 1950 – Conecuh County Training School opened its 1950-51 basketball season with a pair of wins over Andalusia in Evergreen, Ala. The CCTS boys team beat Andalusia, 105-20, with Herbert Rankins leading CCTS with 42 points. The CCTS girls team beat Andalusia, 48-7.

Dec. 15, 1953 – Evergreen High School’s Sam Cope signed a football scholarship with the University of Alabama.

Dec. 15, 1960 – Sidney Earnest Manning, who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during World War I, passed away at the age of 68. He’s buried in Little Escambia Cemetery in Flomaton, Ala.

Dec. 15, 1961 – NFL wide receiver Daryl Turner was born in Wadley, Ga. He played his entire pro career for the Seattle Seahawks.

Dec. 15, 1966 - The New Orleans Saints became the 16th NFL franchise.

Dec. 15, 1966 – Walt Disney passed away, and it was rumored that he was rushed into cryogenic suspension.

Dec. 15, 1967 – The Silver Bridge across the Ohio River at Point Pleasant, West Virginia collapsed, killing 46 people. The tragedy is forever linked in esoteric circles with the infamous cryptid Mothman who reportedly made multiple appearances in the Point Pleasant area in the weeks preceding the event.

Dec. 15, 1974 - The Miami Dolphins won at the Orange Bowl for the 31st consecutive time.

Dec. 15, 1982 - Paul "Bear" Bryant announced his retirement as head football coach at the University of Alabama.

Dec. 15, 1989 – Carlisle Hall, near Marion, Ala., was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and History.

Dec. 15, 1992 - Nirvana released "Incesticide," a collection of b-sides and rarities.

Dec. 15, 1996 - Troy Aikman surpassed Roger Staubach's Dallas Cowboy record of 22,700 passing yards.

Dec. 15, 1996 - John Elway of the Denver Broncos won his 126th game to set an NFL record.

Dec. 15, 1997 - The San Francisco 49ers retired Joe Montana's No. 16 jersey during halftime of a game against the Denver Broncos.

Dec. 15, 2002 - Edgardo Alfonzo and the San Francisco Giants agreed on a four-year contract worth $26 million.