Today in History for Dec. 19, 2014

Dec. 19, 1732 - Benjamin Franklin began publishing "Poor Richard's Almanac."

Dec. 19, 1817 - Confederate General James Archer was born in Harford County, Maryland.

Dec. 19, 1843 - Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" was first published in England.

  

Dec. 19, 1870 – George A. Green was named postmaster at Burnt Corn, Ala.

Dec. 19, 1871 - The city of Birmingham was incorporated by the Alabama state legislature. The act called for the governor to appoint the first mayor and eight aldermen and allowed the mayor to require all male inhabitants ages 18-45 to work five days each year on the streets and roadways of the city.

Dec. 19, 1910 – James Smith, the son of Ben Smith, was shot and killed at Georgiana, Ala. His remains were brought to Evergreen the following day, and he was buried near the China community in Conecuh County.

Dec. 19, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. James G. Ezell of Georgiana, Ala. “died from disease.”

Dec. 19, 1918 - Robert Ripley began his "Believe It or Not" column in "The New York Globe".

Dec. 19, 1928 – Confederate soldier John S. Crawford passed away at the age of 88 and was buried at Old Bethany Baptist Church at Burnt Corn. During the Civil War, he served with Co. B, 3rd Alabama Cavalry Regiment, CSA.

Dec. 19, 1934 – Major League Baseball right fielder Al Kaline was born in Baltimore, Md. He played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers.

Dec. 19, 1941 – During World War II, Adolf Hitler became the Supreme Commander-in-chief of the German Army.

Dec. 19, 1950 – Frisco City’s boys basketball team beat Evergreen, 44-42, in Memorial Gym in Evergren, Ala. Center B.B. Barnes led Coach Wallace Joiner’s Frisco City team. Gwyn Daniels led Evergreen with 20 points.

Dec. 19, 1950 – In the early morning hours, a fire of “undetermined origin,” destroyed the home of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Potts, who had four children, on Owassa Road, about four miles from Evergreen, Ala. The home was owned by D.T. Stuart.

Dec. 19, 1955 - A fire on this night completely destroyed a house on the Loree Road, about two miles from Evergreen, Ala. The house was occupied by Willie Houston Lee and family.

Dec. 19, 1955 - The Williams Store, about a mile from Repton, Ala. on the Range Road, was broken into and robbed on this night. About $25 in currency, eight cartons of cigarettes and an automobile battery were taken during the burglary.

Dec. 19, 1959 – Penn State’s Nittany Lions beat Alabama, 7-0, in the first Liberty Bowl football game.

Dec. 19, 1959 - Walter Williams died in Houston, Texas at the age of 117. He was said to be the last surviving veteran of the U.S. Civil War.

Dec. 19, 1964 - ABC used an overhead camera for the first time. The event was the Liberty Bowl.

Dec. 19, 1972 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Warren Sapp was born in Orlando, Fla.

Dec/ 19, 1972 - The last manned lunar flight, Apollo 17, crewed by Eugene Cernan, Ron Evans and Harrison Schmitt, returned to Earth.

Dec. 19, 1975 – George and Kathy Lutz and their three children moved into the house at 112 Ocean Ave. in Amityville, N.Y.

Dec. 19, 1985 – Weather reporter Earl Windham reported a low temperature of 24 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Dec. 19, 1985 - Jan Stenerud announced his retirement from the NFL. The football kicker held the record for the most career field goals with 373.

Dec. 19, 1985 - ABC Sports announced that it was severing ties with Howard Cosell and released ‘The Mouth’ from all TV commitments. Cosell continued on ABC Radio for another five years.

Dec. 19, 1986 - Michael Sergio was sentenced to 100 hours of community service and fined $500. Sergio, a Mets fan, had parachuted into Shea Stadium during Game 6 of the World Series.

Dec. 19, 1988 - The NCAA placed the Oklahoma Sooners football program on probation for violations.

Dec. 19, 1990 – Alabama native Bo Jackson of the Los Angeles Raiders became the first athlete to be chosen for All Star Games in two sports.

Dec. 19, 1991 - Pitcher Steve Howe of the New York Yankees was arrested for cocaine possession.

Dec. 19, 1994 - A television version of Alabama author Truman Capote's book “One Christmas” was first broadcast. Directed by Tony Bill, the movie starred Katherine Hepburn and Henry Winkler.

  

Dec. 19, 1999 - Orlando Brown of the Cleveland Browns was ejected from a game for pushing referee Jeff Triplette to the ground. Triplette had accidentally hit Brown in the eye with a weighted penalty flag.

Dec. 19, 2000 – Weather reporter Harry Ellis reported a low of 15 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Dec. 19, 2000 – Conecuh County native Wade Dees Nobles Jr., 80, died at Thomas Hospital in Baldwin County, Ala. He was born Dec. 3, 1920 in Conecuh County, served in the Army for 35 years and was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War.

Dec. 19, 2003 - The baseball that was deflected by a fan in the stands during a Chicago Cubs game was sold for $106,600 at auction. The foul ball appeared to be headed for the glove of left fielder Moises Alou in Game 6 of the National League Championship series. The Florida Marlins ended up winning the game, 8-3. The Cubs then lost Game 7.