Today in History for Jan. 31, 2018

GA-ANA Theatre in Georgiana, Alabama.

Jan. 31, 1606 - Guy Fawkes was executed after being convicted for his role in the "Gunpowder Plot" against the English Parliament and King James I.

Jan. 31, 1646 - A total lunar eclipse was predicted by Jesuits Priests by the use of an almanac. The prediction led to many religious conversions of the Huron of Ossossane.

Jan. 31, 1686 – Norwegian missionary and explorer Hans Egede was born in Harstad, Northern Norway.

Jan. 31, 1729 – Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen died at the age of 69 in Middelburg, Netherlands.

Jan. 31, 1752 – American Revolutionary Patriot Gouverneur Morris was born to the wealthy Morris family in New York City, New York.

Jan. 31, 1786 - Articles of a Treaty were concluded at Fort Finley near the Mouth of the Great Miami, on the North-western Bank of the Ohio between the U. S. and the chiefs and warriors of the “Shawanoe” Nation. The Shawnee acknowledged the sovereignty of the United States over the lands ceded by the British in 1784 under the Treaty of Paris. New boundary lines were established, and no whites could stay on Indian lands without Indian approval.

Jan. 31, 1836 - The Seminole burned “Bulowville,” leaving other plantations along Old Kings road in flames.

Jan. 31, 1838 - Mystery surrounded the death of Osceola on this day. It is said that he died either by an attack of quinsy, malaria, by his own will or was poisoned. He was buried at Fort Moultrie, South Carolina with military honors. After his death, Dr. Weedon secretly removed Osceola’s head before burial for his private collection.

Jan. 31, 1861 – During the Civil War, in New Orleans, La., the U.S. Branch Mint, the Customs House, and U.S. schooner “Washington” were seized by Louisiana State Troops.

Jan. 31, 1862 - Telescope maker Alvin Clark discovered the dwarf companion of Sirius.

Jan. 31, 1862 – During the Civil War, Special War Order Number 1 was issued by President Abraham Lincoln. The order was directed toward Union Major General George B McClelland to advance toward Manassas prior to Feb. 22, 1862.

Jan. 31, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought on Bull Island, and Confederates attacked the Federal blockading squadron of Charleston, S.C. Also on that day, a Federal operation took place between Murfreesborough and Franklin in Tennessee, with skirmishes at Unionville, Middleton and Rover in Tennessee.

Jan. 31, 1864 – During the Civil War, an eight-day Federal operation between Maryville, Tenn. and Quallatown, N.C. began. A Federal cavalry reconnaissance also took place between Madison Courthouse and Mount Carmel Church in Virginia.

Jan. 31, 1865 - General Robert E. Lee was named general-in-chief of the Confederate armies.

Jan. 31, 1865 - The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery in the United States, was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and it was submitted to the states for ratification. It was ratified by the necessary number of states on Dec. 6, 1865.

Jan. 31, 1865 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Oxford, Kansas. Three months of Federal operations in North Alabama and East Tennessee also began. A Federal expedition began from Fort Pike (near present day Slidell, La) to Bayou Bonfouca, La. A two-day Federal expedition from Morganza to New Roads in Louisiana began.

Jan. 31, 1872 – Western writer Zane Grey was born in Zanesville, Ohio. He is best known for his novel, “Riders of the Purple Sage,” which was published in 1912.

Jan. 31, 1876 - All Native American Indians were ordered to move into reservations.

Jan. 31, 1876 - The U.S. ordered “all” Native Americans to move onto reservations. The hope of creating these reservations was to reduce altercations between the white settlers and the Natives.

Jan. 31, 1893 - The trademark "Coca-Cola" was first registered in the United States Patent Office.

Jan. 31, 1899 - A general election is held for determining the purpose of the Dawes Commission Treaty. The full-bloods lost by 2,015. The Keetoowah Society was united in their opposition to the allotment of lands and dissolution of their government.

Jan. 31, 1902 - Tallulah Bankhead, star of stage, screen, and radio in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, was born in Huntsville, Ala. The daughter of U.S. Congressman William B. Bankhead, Tallulah was most famous for her flamboyant lifestyle, throaty voice, and stage role in “The Little Foxes” (1939) and her part in the film “Lifeboat” (1943). (There is some question of the exact birthdate; this is the most generally accepted.)

Jan. 31, 1905 – Writer John O’Hara was born in Pottsville, Pa.

Jan. 31, 1910 - J.E. Miller of Herbert on this Monday presented the editor of The Evergreen Courant with two of the largest turnips he had ever seen. The weight of the two was about 14 pounds.

Jan. 31, 1910 – According to The Monroe Journal, an attempt was made to burglarize the store of Roberson & Knight at Repton on this Monday night. A son of Mr. Roberson, who was sleeping in the store, was awakened by a suspicious noise at the front door. Locating as best he could the would-be burglar, he fired through the door, whereupon the burglars retreated. On examination, it was found that an attempt had been made to cut out the fastening with a brace and bit, and blood stains on the sidewalk indicated that the shot had been well directed, but no further clue could be found. On Wed., Feb. 2, however, a young white man severely wounded in the ankle and giving his name as Cammack made his appearance at the place of Mr. J.W. Brown at Conoly and surrendered himself to Mr. Brown who brought him to Monroeville for medical attention. After Dr. Coxwell dressed the wound the man was turned over to the sheriff and was in custody as of Feb. 3, 1910.

Jan. 31, 1912 – The home of J.S. Daw near Hampden Ridge, Ala. was destroyed by fire.

Jan. 31, 1913 – Pro Football Hall of Fame split end, safety and kicker Don Hutson was born in Pine Bluff, Ark. Hutson was an All-American at Alabama and played his entire pro career for the Green Bay Packers.

Jan. 31, 1914 – This day, a Saturday, was the deadline to pay poll taxes in Conecuh County, Ala. because Feb. 1 fell on a Sunday.

Jan. 31, 1914 - Alabama author and illustrator Dorothy Warren Fox was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Jan. 31, 1915 – Author, poet and diarist Thomas Merton was born in Prades, France.

Jan. 31, 1915 – Musicologist Alan Lomax was born in Austin, Texas

Jan. 31, 1915 – During World War I, Germany was the first to make large-scale use of poison gas in warfare in the Battle of Bolimów against Russia.

Jan. 31, 1916 – According to The Conecuh Record, “Chief Jones created a ripple of excitement” in Evergreen, Ala. on this Monday “by shooting a dog on the streets.”

Jan. 31, 1917 – During World War I, Germany announced the renewal of unrestricted submarine warfare in the Atlantic as German torpedo-armed submarines prepared to attack any and all ships, including civilian passenger carriers, said to be sighted in war-zone waters.

Jan. 31, 1917 - Dr. D.R. Nettles of Peterman visited Monroeville on this day.

Jan. 31, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Lt. Emmet Kilpatrick of Oglethorpe, Ga. and Mr. Rufus Hall Kilpatrick of Mt. Olivet, Miss. were called to Camden during the previous week on account of the death of their sister, Miss Ella Mae.

Jan. 31, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Sheriff McDowell had received a cablegram from his brother, Lt. Sam McDowell, briefly stating his safe arrival “over there.”

Jan. 31, 1918 – The Wilcox Progressive Era reported that Mr. C.B. Bryant of Canton Bend had been appointed member of the Equalization Board by Gov. Henderson to succeed Mr. W.T. Alford, who resigned. Bryant was a substantial planter in Wilcox County and was “in every way qualified to serve in this important position,” the newspaper said.

Jan. 31, 1919 – National Baseball Hall of Fame second baseman Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Ga. He played his entire Major League career (1947-1956) with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962.

Jan. 31, 1923 – Norman Mailer, the author of 1948’s “The Naked and the Dead,” was born in Long Branch, N.J.

Jan. 31, 1931 – National Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop and first baseman Ernie Banks was born in Dallas, Texas. He played his entire Major League career (1953-1971) with the Chicago Cubs. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

Jan. 31, 1938 - Alabama author Faye Gibbons was born in Carter's Quarter, Ga.

Jan. 31, 1939 – The GA-ANA Theatre was first opened in Georgiana, Ala. by Fred McClendon.

Jan. 31, 1945 – U.S. Army private Eddie Slovik of Detroit, Mich. was executed for desertion, the first such execution of an American soldier since the Civil War.

Jan. 31, 1946 – The Democratic Republic of Vietnam introduced the đồng to replace the French Indochinese piastre at par.

Jan. 31, 1947 – Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan was born in Refugio, Texas and raised in Alvin, southeast of Houston. He would go on to play for the N.Y. Mets, the California Angels, the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1999.

Jan. 31, 1957 - A.C. Lee and Miss Alice Lee visited on this Thursday afternoon in Pensacola, Fla. with Mr. Lee’s brother, H.A. Lee.

Jan. 31, 1959 – Members of the Dyatlov Expedition arrived at the edge of a highland area and began to prepare for climbing. In a wooded valley, they cached surplus food and equipment that would be used for the trip back.

  

Jan. 31, 1960 - Coach Jack Akins’ J.U. Blacksher High School Bulldogs of Uriah added to their basketball trophy case on this Saturday night by emerging champions in the Pine Belt Conference tournament at Leroy High School in Leroy. Blacksher, recent winners of the Monroe County tournament championship, won the Pine Belt finals, 56-38, over a fellow Monroe foe, the Beatrice High School Eagles of Beatrice. All-tournament players from Monroe County included Jerry Thomas, Curtis Harris and Bill Solomon, all of Blacksher; Phil Brogden and Vance McCrory of Frisco City High School; Donald Brown of Beatrice; and Doug Stacey of Excel High School.

Jan. 31, 1961 - Voters approved financing for a domed stadium in Houston, Texas.

Jan. 31, 1963 – Lyeffion High School junior Peggy Tanner was crowned Miss Lyeffion 1963 during a program held on this Thursday night in the school auditorium. Nancy Ikner, an eighth-grader, was named Junior Miss Lyeffion.

Jan. 31, 1963 - Conecuh County businessman Frank Preston Sharpe was killed when his pickup crashed into a truck early on this Thursday night near Evergreen, Ala. Sharpe, 56, was killed instantly when the pickup he was driving crashed into a truck about 2.4 miles north of Evergreen on Highway 83 at 7:15 p.m. He was driving toward Evergreen after completing his day’s route selling fish. Sharpe was the owner of a seafood market in Evergreen and resided on a McKenzie Route. He was well and favorably known in the Evergreen area. Born on Dec. 4, 1906, he was buried in the Fairmount Cemetery in Red Level, Covington County, Ala.

Jan. 31, 1967 – The Conecuh County CowBelles and Cattlemen held their annual banquet meeting at the Evergreen High School lunch room. The following CowBelle officers were elected for 1967: Katie Sue Burt, President; Myrtle Robison, vice president; Louise Ptomey, treasurer; Marjorie Stacey, secretary.

Jan. 31, 1968 – As part of the Tet Offensive, a squad of Viet Cong guerillas attacked the U.S. Embassy in Saigon, and Marine Cpl. James Conrad Marshall of Monroeville, a 1964 graduate of Monroe County High School, died defending the embassy. The guerillas managed to seize the embassy and held it for six hours until an assault force of U.S. paratroopers landed by helicopter on the building’s roof and routed the Viet Cong. Marshall Hall, the Marine Corps Security Guard training center at Quantico, Va. was later named in James Marshall’s honor.

Jan. 31, 1971 – The Winter Soldier Investigation, organized by the Vietnam Veterans Against the War to publicize war crimes and atrocities by Americans and allies in Vietnam, began in Detroit.

Jan. 31, 1972 - In a communiqué charging President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger with “unilaterally” divulging the substance of the secret talks, creating the impasse at the secret meeting, and distorting the facts, North Vietnam published the nine-point plan they submitted during the secret talks.

Jan. 31, 1976 – Race car driver Buddy Rice, who won the 2004 Indianapolis 500, was born in Phoenix, Az.

Jan. 31, 1976 – Comedian, actor, producer and screenwriter Paul Scheer was born in Huntington, N.Y.

Jan. 31, 1977 – Local weather reporter Earl Windham reported a low of 16 degrees in Evergreen, Ala.

Jan. 31, 1979 – The Butler Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church in Greenville was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Jan. 31, 1985 - The Monroe County Cattlemen’s Association held its annual banquet on this Thursday evening at the Monroeville Community House. Newly-elected officers were secretary William Carter of Monroeville, vice president Jimmy Dale Dawson of Excel and president Bill Harper of Monroeville. State director O’Neil Smith of Uriah also attended the banquet. County Extension agent Mike Gamble awarded a plaque for Cattleman of the Year to Randolph Raines of Pine Orchard.

Jan. 31, 1985 - Monroe County High School’s girls basketball team won the 5A Area 2 tournament by beating Escambia County High School, 61-36, on this Thursday. Top players on MCHS’s girls team that season included Rosa Ball, Becky Hairelson, Barbara Lane, Samantha Malone, Carla McKenzie, Alicia Morrissette, Carolyn Richardson, Patricia Richardson, Brenda Stallworth and Jennifer Stallworth. Diana Harris Lyons was MCHS’s girls coach.

Jan. 31, 1986 - The movie “Stripper,” screenplay by Alabama author Charles Gaines, was released.

Jan. 31, 1988 - The first episode of "The Wonder Years" aired on ABC.

Jan. 31, 1988 - Herb Alpert performed the U.S. national anthem at Super Bowl XXII. The Washington Redskins beat the Denver Broncos, 42-10.

Jan. 31, 1993 - Weather observer Harry Ellis recorded 6.14 inches of rain in Evergreen, Ala. during the month of January 1993.

Jan. 31, 1999 - The Denver Broncos won Super Bowl XXXIII, their second consecutive Super Bowl win. Cher sang the national anthem.

Jan. 31, 1999 – Former Major League first baseman Norm Zauchin passed away in Birmingham, Ala. at the age of 69. He started his professional career in 1950 with the Double-A Birmingham Barons, where he set a Rickwood Field record with 35 home runs. He went on to play for the Boston Red Sox and the Washington Senators.

Jan. 31, 2000 – Weather reporter Harry Ellis reported a total of 4.42 inches of rain during the month of January 2000.

Jan. 31, 2003 - The Chicago White Sox announced a deal that would change the name of Comiskey Park after a 93-year association with the Comiskey name.

Jan. 31, 2005 – Hillcrest High School retired the basketball jersey of player Chris “C.J.” Riley, who died over the Christmas holidays.

Jan. 31, 2007 – Suspects were arrested in Birmingham in the UK, accused of plotting the kidnap, holding and eventual beheading of a serving Muslim British soldier in Iraq.

Jan. 31, 2010 - Weather observer Harry Ellis reported a low of 28 degrees on this day in Evergreen. He also reported 10.49 inches of total rainfall for the month of January 2010.

Jan. 31, 2013 – Major League Baseball first baseman Fred Whitfield, a native of Vandiver, Ala., passed away at the age of 75 in Gadsden due to complications from non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He played pro baseball from 1962 to 1970 for the St. Louis Cardinals, the Cleveland Indians, the Cincinnati Reds and the Montreal Expos.

Jan. 31, 2016 – A UFO was reportedly seen around 6:22 p.m. on this Sunday in Leeds, a suburb of Birmingham. The witness in this case was outside helping his son work on his truck when they looked up and saw a bright, slow-moving light coming from the southwest. The father ran inside for a pair of binoculars and through the binoculars he could see the light had a “fog-like hue” around it. They continued to watch as the object, which emitted no sound, made a 45-degree turn “really different than a normal aircraft.” They watched the object until it disappeared from view behind the tree line.