Today in History for Dec. 6, 2014

Aaron Burr

Dec. 6, 1768 – The first edition of the “Encyclopædia Britannica” was published.

Dec. 6, 1806 – Aaron Burr was released from a court hearing in Frankfort, Ky. and gathered his men and boats and took the Cumberland River into Tennessee, where he sought the help of an old friend, Andrew Jackson. Jackson helped Burr get deep into the Mississippi Territory, present day Alabama.

Dec. 6, 1816 – Montgomery County, Ala. was established.

Dec. 6, 1843 – The organizational charter was issued to Macon Lodge No. 7 in Grove Hill, Ala.

Dec. 6, 1847 - The Alabama legislature began its first session in the new capital of Montgomery. The capitol building cost $75,000 to build and was paid for by the citizens of Montgomery. It was destroyed by fire two years later.

Dec. 6, 1860 – The organizational charter was issued to Forest Home Lodge No. 270 in Forest Home, Ala. (Butler County)

Dec. 6, 1865 - The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution was ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery.

Dec. 6, 1866 – The organizational charter was issued to Oliver Lodge No. 334 in Thomasville, Ala.

Dec. 6, 1877 – The first edition of The Washington Post was published.

Dec. 6, 1882 – The organizational charter was issued to Andalusia Lodge No. 434 in Andalusia, Ala.

Dec. 6, 1884 - Construction of the Washington Monument was completed, with workers placing a nine-inch aluminum pyramid at the top of the tower. Made of some 36,000 blocks of marble and granite, the monument was the tallest structure in the world at the time. But, back in the 1860s, when construction was halted during the Civil War, Mark Twain described the unfinished monument as looking like a "hollow, oversized chimney."

Dec. 6, 1889 - Jefferson Davis died in New Orleans. He was the first and only president of the Confederate States of America.

Dec. 6, 1905 – The organizational charter was issued to Stokes Lodge No. 609 in Pleasant Home, Ala. (Covington County)

Dec. 6, 1923 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge became the first president to give a presidential address that was broadcast on radio.

Dec. 6, 1929 – Dan W. Presley, who was charged with first-degree murder in connection with the killing of Newman Wiggins, was found guilty in Conecuh County, Ala. Circuit Court and sentenced to 12 years. Hubert Cheatham was also found guilty of second-degree murder in connection with the killing of Ethel Averett and was sentenced to one year.

Dec. 6, 1949 – John Greel Ralls and Dickey Bozeman were named honorable mention selections to the Birmingham Age-Herald all-state football team.

Dec. 6, 1952 – Witnesses observed a UFO around 2 a.m. between Douglas and Fargo, Ga.

Dec. 6, 1955 – Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner passed away at the age of 81 in Carnegie, Pa.

Dec. 6, 1960 - Gene Autry and Bob Reynolds were granted the Los Angeles Angels baseball franchise by the American League.

Dec. 6, 1980 – Former Jefferson Davis Community College baseball player Ehren Josef Wassermann was born in Sylacauga, Ala. He would go on to play two seasons as a relief pitcher for the Chicago White Sox.

Dec. 6, 1990 - U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle was enshrined in the Little League Museum's Hall of Excellence.

Dec. 6, 1992, Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers caught his 101st career touchdown reception, breaking the record for most career touchdowns previously held by Steve Largent.