Today in History for Jan. 9, 2015

Jan. 9, 1493 - While sailing near the Dominican Republic, Christopher Columbus described seeing three "mermaids" who were "not half as beautiful as they are painted." In reality, he was actually observing manatees.

Jan. 9, 1643 - Giovanni Riccioli first reported the elusive phenomenon known as the Ashen Light of Venus, a faint luminescence on the night side of our sister planet.

Jan. 9, 1788 – Connecticut became the fifth state to be admitted to the United States.

Jan. 9, 1829 – Confederate officer William Joel Lee born in Conecuh County, Ala.

Jan. 9, 1836 – The Alabama State Legislature created Cherokee County, DeKalb County and Marshall County. Cherokee County was named for the Cherokee Indians who controlled the territory until the early 19th century. DeKalb County was named for the Revolutionary War hero, General John B. DeKalb. Marshall County was named in honor of John Marshall, chief justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835. The new counties were created from Cherokee land acquired in the 1835 Treaty of New Echota, which ceded all Cherokee Nation land east of the Mississippi and stated that the Cherokees would remove in two years.

Jan. 9, 1836 – William Barrett Travis (commander of the ill-fated Alamo) and Rosanna Cato Travis were officially divorced by the Marion County, Ala. courts by Act No. 115.

Jan. 9, 1861 – Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union before the outbreak of the American Civil War. Mississippi followed South Carolina in seceding from the Union when a state convention at Jackson ratified an article of secession by a vote of 84 to 15.

Jan. 9, 1861 - The Union ship Star of the West was fired upon as it approached Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. This event was the first time that shots were fired between the North and South, and it is considered by some historians to be the "First Shots of the American Civil War."

Jan. 9, 1863 – During the Civil War, the Battle of Fort Hindman began in Arkansas.

   

Jan. 9, 1909 – Ernest Shackleton, leading the Nimrod Expedition to the South Pole, planted the British flag 97 nautical miles from the South Pole, the farthest anyone had ever reached at that time.

Jan. 9, 1913 - Richard Milhous Nixon was born in Yorba Linda, California. He went on to become the 37th President of the United States.

Jan. 9, 1932 – Conecuh County teachers were called to a meeting at the Conecuh County Courthouse by Superintendent M.A. Hanks for the purpose of starting an educational survey of the county for the State Department of Education.

Jan. 9, 1934 – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr was born in Montgomery, Ala. After starring at Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, he went on to play for the University of Alabama from 1952 to 1956. He went on to play for the Green Bay Packers from 1956 to 1971. He was the head coach of the Packers from 1975 to 1983.

Jan. 9, 1937 - The first issue of "LOOK" magazine went on sale. Within a month, "LOOK" became a biweekly magazine.

Jan. 9, 1941 - Alabama journalist Grover C. Hall died in Montgomery, Ala.

Jan. 9, 1947 – Elizabeth "Betty" Short, the Black Dahlia, was last seen alive.

Jan. 9, 1952 - Jackie Robinson became the highest paid player in Brooklyn Dodger history.

Jan. 9, 1953 – During their annual meeting at the Evergreen Community House, the Conecuh County Cattlemen’s Association elected M.M. “Bill” Cardwell as its new president, succeeding Howard Dees. Cardwell had previously served as vice president during 1952 before becoming the association’s third president. C.E. Robinson was the first president. Other officers elected include the following Vice-President Carl M. Stacey, Secretary M.H. Huggins and Treasurer Rutland Rowe (re-elected) and members of the board of directors, Howard Dees (State Association Director), H.S. Barrow, Melvin Johnson, C.E. Robinson and Hugh Brown.

Jan. 9, 1953 – Holtville High School’s boys basketball team beat Evergreen High School in Evergreen. Shirley Frazier led Evergreen with 23 points.

Jan. 9, 1955 - The western TV series "Rawhide" premiered. The show was cancelled in 1966.

Jan. 9, 1957 - A radio version of Alabama author Ambrose Bierce's story "The Man and the Snake" was broadcast as part of the “Sleep No More” series.

Jan. 9, 1962 - The NFL banned the grabbing of face masks.

Jan. 9, 1965 – Battleship Park, which featured the USS Alabama, officially opened in Mobile, Ala. The battleship USS Alabama was dedicated in Mobile as a World War II memorial. Commissioned in August 1942, the Alabama served primarily in the Pacific, earning nine battle stars. She was awarded to the state in 1964 through the efforts of the USS Alabama Battleship Commission, and since her dedication has become a primary Mobile tourist attraction.

Jan. 9, 1977 - Super Bowl XI set a pro attendance record with 103,438. The NBC telecast was viewed by 81.9 million.

Jan. 9, 1991 - A special committee of Major League Baseball authorities officially banned Pete Rose from being elected into the Hall of Fame.

Jan. 9, 1992 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Sparta Academy senior Steven Gall had been named the Most Valuable Player during the Alabama Independent School Association All-State Football Game in Selma. Gall was chosen MVP for the West Squad after catching four passes for 65 yards, completing a pass and scoring his team’s only touchdown.

Jan. 9, 2004 - A movie version of Alabama author Daniel Wallace's book “Big Fish” was released.

Jan. 9, 2005 - Randy Moss of the Minnesota Vikings pretended to pull down his pants and moon the Green Bay Packer crowd during a playoff win. On Jan. 13, the NFL fined Moss $10,000 for the act.

Jan. 9, 2012 - No. 2-ranked University of Alabama defeated No. 1-ranked Louisiana State University, 21-0, to earn the BCS National Championship in New Orleans, making it the third national championship won by Coach Nick Saban.