Today in History for Sept. 2, 2017

Lillian Russell

Sept. 2, 1666 - The Great Fire of London broke out, a major conflagration that burned for three days. When it was over, 400 acres of the city had been charred, and thousands of homes and buildings were destroyed.

Sept. 2, 1752 – Great Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar, nearly two centuries later than most of Western Europe.

Sept. 2, 1789 - The United States Treasury Department was founded. President George Washington named his former aide-de-camp, Alexander Hamilton, to head the new office.

Sept. 2, 1813 – About 100 Creek Indians, led by Prophet Francis, attacked Fort Sinquefield in Clarke County, Ala.

Sept. 2, 1821 – Richard Francis Burton was baptized at Elstree Church in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.

Sept. 2, 1824 – During his tour of the United States, the Marquis de Lafayette visited Boston, Mass. and Lexington, Mass.

Sept. 2, 1842 – Confederate soldier William Augustus Riley was born at Pineville in Monroe County, Ala. He enlisted in May 1861 in Montgomery with Co. H, 2nd Alabama Cavalry, but was discharged for disability in September 1861. He re-enlisted with Co. G, 7th Alabama Cavalry in the fall of 1863. In the 1907 Confederate census, he was living in Evergreen.

Sept. 2, 1849 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Albert Spalding was born in Byron, Ill. He went on to play for the Rockford Forest Citys, the Boston Red Stockings and the Chicago White Stockings and he also managed the White Stockings. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.

Sept. 2, 1850 – Humorist and newspaperman Eugene Field was born in St. Louis, Mo.

Sept. 2, 1861 – During the Civil War, at the Battle of Big Dry Wood Creek (also known as Big Dry Wood Creek and the Battle of the Mules) was fought in Vernon County, Mo.

Sept. 2, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Dallas, Mo.

Sept. 2, 1862 - U.S. President Abraham Lincoln reluctantly restored Union General George B. McClellan to full command after General John Pope’s disaster at the Second Battle of Bull Run, Va., on Aug. 29 and 30. McClellan, commander of the Army of the Potomac, saw much of his army transferred to Pope’s Army of Virginia after his failure to capture Richmond, Va. during the Seven Days’ Battles in June 1862.

Sept. 2, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought with Indians at Acton and Birch Cooley in Minnesota; at Flint Hill, near Fairfax Court House, Vienna, Leesburg and Falls Church in Virginia; and near Nashville and Memphis in Tennessee.

Sept. 2, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought at Trinity, La.

Sept. 2, 1863 – During the Civil War, Union troops occupied Knoxville, Tenn. without having to fight a battle. The city had been essentially conceded to the opposition, and Burnside’s men just walked in. The major military consequence of this was the fact that Knoxville held the connection for the railroad link from Virginia to other points in the Confederacy, principally Chattanooga. Henceforth when supplies, troops, or even communications were to be sent to Gen. Braxton Bragg, a roundabout route would have to be used from Virginia, down the Atlantic coast into Atlanta, then into Tennessee. Union Gen. William Rosecrans, Bragg’s opposition, was the major beneficiary of this day’s move.

Sept. 2, 1864 - Union General William T. Sherman's troops marched into Atlanta, Ga. Confederate troops had evacuated the city the day before.

Sept. 2, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Little Rock Quitman, Ark.; near Mount Vernon, Mo.; and at Union City, Tenn.

Sept. 2, 1864 – General John Herbert Kelly of Wilcox County, then in charge of cavalry troops, was mortally wounded while leading a charge during a skirmish near the town of Franklin, Tenn. Sources say that a Yankee sharpshooter shot Kelly through the chest, knocking him off his horse. Fellow soldiers carried Kelly off the field in a blanket to the Harrison House, a plantation home just south of Franklin, where sources say he died in his bed two days later as a Union prisoner. He was just 24 years old.

Sept. 2, 1865 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought with Indians along the Powder River in Montana.

Sept. 2, 1892 – J.D. Foster was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 2, 1894 – Novelist and journalist Joseph Roth was born in Brody, Ukraine.

Sept. 2, 1895 - The Monroe County, Alabama board of commissioners held a special meeting on this Monday “to consider a contested public road.”

Sept. 2, 1895 – Former slave Joe Scott, a former resident of Camden, passed away at the age of 96 at Mount Pleasant in Monroe County, where he lived under the nursing care of Maj. Charles L. Scott and his wife, Hattie Scott. Joe Scott was born in South Carolina and for many years lived with the family of Sarah Willison (who later married Charles L. Scott), who owned him as a slave in South Carolina and Florida. She moved from central Florida to Wilcox County around 1854 with her son Edward F. Willison and brought Joe Scott with her.

Sept. 2, 1901 -  The Southwest Alabama Agricultural School in Evergreen, Ala. opened for the 1901-02 school year. Prof. J.A. Duncan was principal, N. Stallworth was president of the Board of Control and Jonathan A. McCreary was board secretary.

Sept. 2, 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt, then Vice President, said "Speak softly and carry a big stick" in a speech at the Minnesota State Fair.

Sept. 2, 1909 – Napoleon B. Watson, “one of the most prominent citizens” of Conecuh County, passed away at the age of 53 at his home a few miles west of Evergreen “after being ill about three weeks.”

Sept. 2, 1911 - Author Sara Elizabeth Mason was born in Demopolis, Ala.

Sept. 2, 1912 – Arthur Rose Eldred was awarded the first Eagle Scout award of the Boy Scouts of America.

Sept. 2, 1914 – A baseball game between the “Fats” and the “Leans” in Monroeville, Ala. was cancelled “on account of rain and the sloppy condition of the diamond.”

Sept. 2, 1915 – “Wildfire,” starring Lillian Russell, was scheduled to be shown at the Arcade Theater in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 2, 1917 - Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Philadelphia Phillies pitched and won two entire games of a doubleheader versus Brooklyn (5-0 and 9-3).

Sept. 2, 1917 - Militarist conservatives within Germany formally launched a new political party, the Vaterlandspartei or Fatherland Party, a move that reflected the growing hold of the army over all aspects of German society during the First World War.

Sept. 2, 1918 – Clyde Williams, the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Williams of Evergreen, Ala., reached home on this Monday morning from Austin, Texas, where he graduated from a three-month aviation training school. He was on a 13-day furlough.

Sept. 2, 1930 – In Lovecraftian fiction, Miskatonic University’s Pabodie Antarctic Expedition left Boston Harbor, destined for the Antarctic, where it was to collect fossils from the rock there.

Sept. 2, 1934 – Humorist and Southern Baptist minister Grady Nutt was born in Amarillo, Texas.

Sept. 2, 1935 - Legislation requiring licenses for Alabama drivers and authorizing the creation of a State Highway Patrol was approved. Beginning in October, annually renewable licenses were issued to qualified drivers at least 16 years old. License fees were designated to fund the State Highway Patrol, which Gov. Bibb Graves established in December.

Sept. 2, 1935 – George Gershwin finished his opera “Porgy and Bess.”

Sept. 2, 1939 – During World War II, following the start of the invasion of Poland the previous day, the Free City of Danzig (now Gdańsk, Poland) was annexed by Nazi Germany.

Sept. 2, 1943 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mrs. A.C. Lee and Miss Maggie Dees had returned home after spending several days in Biloxi.

Sept. 2, 1943 – The Monroe Journal reported that Lt. Israel Katz of Monroeville graduated from the West Texas Bombardier Quadrangle at Big Springs, Texas during the previous week.

Sept. 2, 1945 - Japan surrendered to the U.S. aboard the USS Missouri, ending World War II. The war ended six years and one day after it began.

Sept. 2, 1945 - The USS ALABAMA led the US fleet into Tokyo Bay where the Japanese Instrument of Surrender was signed aboard the USS Missouri, officially ending World War II.

Sept. 2, 1945 – Hours after Japan’s surrender in World War II, Vietnamese communist Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of Vietnam from France.

Sept. 2, 1946 - Football practice began at Evergreen High School on this Labor Day as Coach Wendell Hart greeted some 25 football candidates with an opening drill of passing, punting and calisthenics. Two drills a day were on schedule for the rest of the week. Mickey Logue, James Carpenter and R.E. Ivey were passing the ball while Rex Carpenter, R.E. Ivey, Harold Potts and James Carpenter were also getting off some long punts. All boys were urged to attend these practice sessions due to the short time remaining until the opening of the season with Hayneville on Sept. 20 at the High School Athletic Field.

Sept. 2, 1946 - Val T. Ivey, former Conecuh County agent, died at a Selma hospital on this Monday morning at an early hour.

Sept. 2, 1948 – Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw was born in Shreveport, La. He went on to play for Louisiana Tech and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Sept. 2, 1951 – The Eighth District of the American Legion was scheduled to meet at the Community House in Evergreen, Ala., beginning at 2 p.m.

Sept. 2, 1957 - Warren Spahn of the Milwaukee Braves set a record for left-handed pitchers when he recorded his 41st shutout.

Sept. 2, 1957 – President Ngô Đình Diệm of South Vietnam became the first foreign head of state to make a state visit to Australia.

Sept. 2, 1959 – Major League Baseball outfielder Drungo Hazewood was born in Mobile, Ala. He played one season (1980) for the Baltimore Orioles.

Sept. 2, 1960 – Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson was born in Sealy, Texas. He went on to play for SMU, the Los Angeles Rams, the Indianapolis Colts, the Los Angeles Raiders and the Atlanta Falcons.

Sept. 2, 1961 - The estate of Ty Cobb was estimated at $11.78 million. Cobb had died two months earlier.

Sept. 2, 1962 - Ken Hubbs of the Chicago Cubs set a Major League Baseball fielding record when he played errorless for his 74th consecutive game.

Sept. 2, 1963 - Gov. George Wallace postponed the opening of Tuskegee High School to prevent its integration. State troopers enforced the order, preventing the school from becoming Alabama's first racially integrated public grade school. Wallace took similar action in Birmingham, Huntsville, and Mobile, but four Huntsville schools were integrated on September 9.

Sept. 2, 1964 – Clay Carroll, a 23-year-old pitcher from Clanton, Ala., made his Major League debut, taking the field for the first time for the Milwaukee Braves and hurling two shutout innings against the Cardinals.

Sept. 2, 1965 – The Monroe Journal reported that Billy Dailey had resigned from the Monroeville, Ala. Police Department, which he joined on April 15. W.H. Hines was Monroeville’s mayor.

Sept. 2, 1965 – A four-team football jamboree was scheduled to be held in Monroeville, Ala. on this Thursday night. The jamboree included Monroe County High School, W.S. Neal, Andalusia and Chatom. Ronald Dees was MCHS’s head coach.

Sept. 2, 1966 - The Miami Dolphins played their first regular-season game. They lost the game to the Oakland Raiders, 23-14.

Sept. 2, 1969 - NBC-TV canceled "Star Trek." The show had debuted on Sept. 8, 1966.

Sept. 2, 1969 - President Ho Chi Minh of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam died of a heart attack in Hanoi. North Vietnamese officials announced his death the next day.

Sept. 2, 1970 - Billy Williams of the Chicago Cubs set a National League record when he played in his 1,117th consecutive game.

Sept. 2, 1971 – Monroe County High School’s football practice field was officially named “Reddoch Field” in honor of longtime athletic supporter Joe Reddoch. A ceremony marking the official naming of the field took place at halftime during a 21-14 MCHS win over Flomaton.

Sept. 2, 1972 - Phuc Yen, 10 miles north of Hanoi, and one of the largest air bases in North Vietnam, was smashed by U.S. fighter-bombers.

Sept. 2, 1973 - J.R.R. Tolkien, the author of the best-selling fantasy novels “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” died at the age of 81 in Bournemouth, England.

Sept. 2, 1973 - Billy Martin was fired as manager of the Detroit Tigers. Martin was relieved of his duties three days after ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs against Cleveland Indians batters.

Sept. 2, 1976 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Terry G. Davis, a recent Alabama State University graduate, had been appointed to serve as Legal Research Analyst for the Department of Court Management, Alabama Supreme Court. Appointed by Chief Justice Howell T. Heflin, Davis was the first black to work in an administrative capacity for the Alabama Supreme Court. He performed duties for the Chief Justice, the Permanent Study Commission on the Alabama Judicial System and served as a Legal Research Analyst for the Department of Court Management. Davis, a native of Evergreen, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Davis of Evergreen.

Sept. 2, 1976 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Butler County Judge of Probate Steindorff reported that Taft Skipper, president of the Hank Williams Memorial Association had made a request that the county road leading from I-65 to its intersection with Alabama 106 at Hanks’ Store be named the Hank Williams Memorial Drive. This was to be done in memory of the singer, who was born in the Mount Olive community. Judge Steindorff read a resolution to this effect that would be presented to the State Highway Department seeking to make this possible. Commissioner Sellers made a motion that the court submit the request and the motion was seconded by Wood with all members voting in favor.

Sept. 2, 1981 - The Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners played to a 7-7 tie after 19 innings. It was the longest game in Fenway Park history. The game was resumed the following day and the Mariners won 8-7 in 20 innings.

Sept. 2, 1982 – The Howard-Raybon House in Greenville, Ala. was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.

Sept. 2, 1985 - It was announced that the Titanic had been found on Sept. 1 by a U.S. and French expedition 560 miles off Newfoundland. The luxury liner had been missing for 73 years.

Sept. 2, 1986 - The Houston Astros and the Chicago Cubs played 14 innings and used 53 players in the game. Houston won the game, 8-7, when the game resumed the next day.

Sept. 2, 1986 – Alabama native Bo Jackson made his Major League Baseball debut when he took the field for the Kansas City Royals.

Sept. 2, 1990 - Bobby Thigpen of the Chicago White Sox set a Major League record with his 47th save.

Sept. 2, 1994 – The Dellet Plantation at Claiborne, Ala. added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Sept. 2, 1995 - In Cleveland, Ohio, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum officially opened.

Sept. 2, 1996 - Mike Greenwall of the Boston Red Sox set a Major League record when he drove in all nine runs in a 9-8 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Sept. 2, 1996 - David Cone of the New York Yankees pitched in a game for the first time in four months after an aneurysm was removed from his shoulder.

Sept. 2, 1998 - Mark McGwire of the St. Louis Cardinals hit his 58th and 59th home runs of the season. The record at the time was 61 held by Roger Maris.

Sept. 2, 1998 - Sammy Sosa of the Chicago Cubs hit his 56th home run of the season.

Sept. 2, 1998 - Nomar Garciaparra of the Boston Red Sox hit his 30th home run of the season. He joined Mark McGwire, Rudy York, Ron Kittle and Jose Canseco as a player that hit 30+ home runs in his first two years.

Sept. 2, 1998 - Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers signed a six-year contract for $36 million. The deal made him the highest paid wide receiver in the league.

Sept. 2, 1999 - Cal Ripken of the Baltimore Orioles hit his 400th career home run.

Sept. 2, 2002 – The Geocaching.com Web site officially launched with 75 geocaches.

Sept. 2, 2003 - Eric Gagne of the Los Angeles Dodgers established a Major League record with his 55th consecutive save.

Sept. 2, 2004 – The movie “A Love Song for Bobby Long” was first released at the Venice Film Festival. Written and directed by Shainee Gabel, the screen play was based on the novel “Off Magazine Street” by Ronald Everett Capps. John Travolta played Bobby Long, and Scarlett Johansson played Purslane Will.