Today in History for Dec. 30, 2017

Dec. 30, 1803 - Francis Lewis, signer of the Declaration of Independence, died in New York City, at the age of 90.

Dec. 30, 1813 – During the War of 1812, British soldiers burned Buffalo, New York.

Dec. 30, 1816 – Percy Bysshe Shelley and Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin were married.

Dec. 30, 1821 – James Hayes became the postmaster at Burnt Corn Spring, Ala.

Dec. 30, 1825 - The “1825 Treaty of St. Louis” between the United States and the Shawnee Nation was proclaimed on this day. The treaty was signed on Nov. 7, 1825 between William Clark and delegates from the Shawnee Nation. In this treaty, the Shawnee ceded lands near Cape Geredeau, Mo. In return, the government gave the Shawnee $11,000 and leased to them a blacksmith shop for five years, agreeing to provide all the tools and 300 pounds of iron annually.

Dec. 30, 1837 - Several crude log structures with a log fence surrounding them were hastily built on Christmas day to house and protect a contingent of United States Army soldiers. The soldiers had been dispatched to the area to aid the local settlers during the war with the Seminole. General Jesup with a contingent of soldiers began occupation of the fort on this day.

Dec. 30, 1841 – Camden, Ala. was officially incorporated as a municipality.

Dec. 30, 1853 - The United States bought about 45,000 square miles of land from Mexico in a deal known as the Gadsden Purchase to facilitate railroad building in the Southwest.

Dec. 30, 1861 – During the Civil War, Confederate Commissioners James Mason and John Slidell were released to the British Minister, Lord Lyons. Their release effectively ended the Trent International Incident.

Dec. 30, 1861 – During the Civil War, the United States Government, as well as independent banks in several cities, suspended “specie payment.” This refered to the fact that at this time paper money was viewed with suspicion unless it could be readily converted into the equivalent amount of gold or silver. The suspension of specie frequently led to drastic inflation as the value of paper currency declined, sometimes to zero if the bank issuing it failed. The matter of a stable and uniform currency for the entire country was not yet settled and would not be for some time.

Dec. 30, 1862 – During the Civil War, the U.S.S. Monitor sank in a storm off Cape Hatteras, N.C., and 16 sailors were unable to be rescued. Just nine months earlier, the ship had been part of a revolution in naval warfare when the ironclad dueled to a standstill with the C.S.S. Virginia (Merrimack) off Hampton Roads, Virginia, in one of the most famous naval battles in American history – the first time two ironclads faced each other in a naval engagement.

Dec. 30, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at New Haven and Springfield in Kentucky; and at Blountsville, Carter’s Depot and the Watauga Railroad Bridge, Clarksburg, Huntingdon, Jefferson, La Vergne, Nolensville, Rock Springs and Union in Tennessee. A two-day Federal operation between Falmouth and Warrenton in Virginia began, and a two-day Federal operation between Potomac Creek and Ellis’ Ford in Virginia began.

Dec. 30, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Waldron, Ark.; in the vicinity of Greenville, N.C.; and in the vicinity of Saint Augustine, Fla.

Dec. 30, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Leighton in Colbert County, Ala.

Dec. 30, 1864 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought in the vicinity of Cartuthersville, Mo.

Dec. 30, 1865 – Short-story writer, poet, novelist and prominent Freemason Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India. He would go on to publish his best-known book, “The Jungle Book,” in 1894.

Dec. 30, 1868 – Baker County, Ala. (present-day Chilton County) was established and named in honor of Alfred Baker with its county seat at Grantville. Residents of the county petitioned the Alabama legislature for the renaming of their county and on Dec. 17, 1874, the petitioners accepted the suggestion of Chilton County, in honor of William Parish Chilton Sr. (1810–1871). Chilton was a lawyer who became Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court and later represented Montgomery County in the Congress of the Confederate States of America.

Dec. 30, 1868 – Chilton County, Ala. was created by act of the state legislature from part of Bibb County. Bounded on the north by Shelby County, on the east by Coosa County and Elmore County, on the south by Autauga County and Dallas County, and on the west by Perry County and Bibb County. First named Baker County for Alfred Baker, a promiment local citizen who owned the land where the county seat was located. Renamed Chilton County on Dec. 17, 1874 for William Parrish Chilton (1810-1871), a member of the Confederate Congress and a chief justice of the state supreme court. Clanton is the county seat.

Dec. 30, 1890 - The Drexel Mission Fight took place on this day, the day after the “Massacre of Wounded Knee,” between Brulé Lakota warriors and the Army. The fight took place on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on White Clay Creek, about 15 miles north of Pine Ridge. The Lakota, fleeing from the continued hostile situation surrounding the battle at Wounded Knee, had set up camp there.

Dec. 30, 1895 - A “light fall” of snow was witnessed in Monroeville, Ala. on this Monday.

Dec. 30, 1895 - After a week’s vacation, the Monroeville Academy resumed operations on this Monday with an increased enrollment.

Dec. 30, 1895 - D.W. Powell, the postmaster and a merchant at Excel, visited The Monroe Journal office on this Monday and reported “a quiet but pleasant Christmas in the Fork.”

Dec. 30, 1899 – Norwegian explorer, lawyer and politician Helge Ingstad was born in Meråker.

Dec. 30, 1900 - The residence of J.T. Amos was destroyed by fire on this Sunday night. The fire originated in the kitchen and was discovered at seven o’clock by Amos, who gave the alarm. In a short space of time, a large crowd had gathered to fight the mad flames, but it had gained such headway that it was soon evident that the house could not be saved, and the people set about to save the furniture and adjoining buildings.

Dec. 30, 1900 – Conecuh County Sheriff W.W. Pridgen returned on this Sunday from Hot Springs, where he had been for several weeks past for the benefit of his health.

Dec. 30 1903 – The Iroquois Theatre fire took place in Chicago with a death toll of 500 that made it the worst single-structure fire in American history.

Dec. 30, 1910 – Novelist, composer and poet Paul Bowles was born in New York City. He is best known for his 1949 novel, “The Sheltering Sky.”

Dec. 30, 1915 – The Monroe Journal reported that “Christmas in Monroeville was unusually quiet and uneventful. All business houses were closed throughout the day and a Sabbath stillness pervaded. It (was) gratifying to note that not the slightest indication of intoxication was observable on the streets.”

Dec. 30, 1916 – Russian mystic Grigori Rasputin, a 47-year-old self-fashioned holy man, was murdered in Petrograd by Russian nobles eager to end his sway over the royal family. In the early hours of this day, a group of nobles lured Rasputin to Yusupovsky Palace, where they attempted to poison him. Seemingly unaffected by the large doses of poison placed in his wine and food, he was finally shot at close range and collapsed. A minute later he rose, beat one of his assailants, and attempted to escape from the palace grounds, where he was shot again. Rasputin, still alive, was then bound and tossed into a freezing river.

Dec. 30, 1924 - Pioneering astronomer Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galaxies.

Dec. 30, 1926 - The Chicago Tribune broke a story that the Detroit Tigers threw a four-game series to the Chicago White Sox in 1917.

Dec. 30, 1935 – National Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He would play his entire career (1955-1966) for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1972.

Dec. 30, 1939 - Joseph J. Jernigan, 73, one of the early settlers of the Tunnel Springs community, died at his home on this Saturday about 3 p.m., following a long period of ill health. For many years he was closely identified with the business and industrial development of Monroe County. For about 20 years he was a member of the Board of Directors of the Monroe County Bank, was a member of the Board of Directors of the Excel Bank, from the organization until the institution was liquidated.

Dec. 30, 1940 – California opened its first freeway, “The 110,” connecting Pasadena to Los Angeles.

Dec. 30, 1941 – Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Mel Renfro was born in Houston, Texas. He went on to play for Oregon and the Dallas Cowboys. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1996.

Dec. 30, 1949 - Alabama author Dara Wier was born in New Orleans, La.

Dec. 30, 1953 - The first color TV sets went on sale for about $1,175.

Dec. 30, 1954 - Alabama author Truman Capote's only musical, “House of Flowers,” opened at the Alvin Theatre on Broadway, where it ran for 165 performances. The musical was based on Capote’s short story, “House of Flowers,” which was first published in his 1958 book, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” where the story was included as one of three extra pieces besides the novella, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Dec. 30, 1954 - Boy Scout Troop 24 and the Explorer Scout Post staged a combination Court of Honor and Family Night at the Monroeville Community House on this Thursday night at which time 28 merit badges and 29 advancements in rank, including an Eagle Award, were presented. Receiving the Eagle Award was Cecil Murphy, 15, with the presentation being made by Morton McMillan, leader of the Explorer Post.  Other advancement awards were made with Bill Owens being presented the Life Scout Award by Ed Michaels.

Dec. 30, 1954 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Conecuh County Sheriff John Brock was recovering from “severe injuries” he sustained Saturday night, Dec. 25, when his car struck a cow on State Highway 83, about seven miles north of Evergreen, Ala. “He was answering an urgent call from the Skinnerton community when the wreck occurred,” The Courant reported. “According to reports of the accident given The Courant, the cow suddenly leaped in the highway directly in front of the Sheriff’s automobile. After hitting the cow, the car turned over several times.” Brock was rushed to the Conecuh County Hospital where examination by doctors revealed he had fractures of the pelvis bones and a vertebra. He was carried to Mobile Infirmary later that night where he was as of Dec. 30. Reports indicated he was rapidly recovering and would be able to return to Evergreen sometime the following week.

Dec. 30, 1958 - A holiday basketball double header was planned to be held at the gymnasium at Frisco City High School in Frisco City, Ala. on this Tuesday afternoon with four leading teams in the area scheduled to compete. Three Monroe County teams were to be included in the group - Frisco City High School as hosts, Excel High School and J.U. Blacksher. Atmore, from neighboring Escambia County, was to be the fourth team. Frisco City was to play Excel at 2 p.m. while Atmore was to take on Uriah at 3:15 p.m. The winning teams and losing teams were to meet each other later that night.

Dec. 30, 1959 – Richard Hickock and Perry Smith, who were the subjects of Truman Capote’s book “In Cold Blood,” were identified as suspects in the November 1959 Clutter family murders, and were arrested in Las Vegas.

Dec. 30, 1964 – Wreckage from a June 17, 1961 Cessna 182 crash that killed John O. Leu, 22, of Nashville, Tenn. and Gene McGill, 18, of Mobile was discovered 12 miles northwest of Uriah, near Jeddo, by Edmond Jerkins of Stapleton.

Dec. 30, 1970 - The South Vietnamese Navy received 125 U.S. vessels in a ceremony marking the end of the U.S. Navy’s four-year role in inland waterway combat.

Dec. 30, 1972 – During the Vietnam War, the United States halted heavy bombing of North Vietnam.

Dec. 30, 1972 - Officials in Washington, D.C., announced that the peace talks in Paris between National Security Adviser Henry Kissinger and North Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho would resume on Jan. 2.

Dec. 30, 1976 – Major League Baseball catcher A. J. Pierzynski was born in Bridgehampton, New York. He made his MLB debut on Sept. 9, 1998 with the Minnesota Twins and went on to play for the San Francisco Giants, the Chicago White Sox, the Texas Rangers, the Boston Red Sox, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Atlanta Braves.

Dec. 30, 1976 – NFL defensive end Patrick Kerney was born in Yardley, Pennsylvania. He went on to play for the University of Viginia and 11 seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks.

Dec. 30, 1977 – For the second time, Ted Bundy escaped from his cell in Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

Dec. 30, 1978 - Ohio State University fired football coach Woody Hayes one day after Hayes punched Clemson University player Charlie Bauman during the Gator Bowl. Bauman had intercepted an Ohio State pass.

Dec. 30, 1981 – The Old LaSalle Hotel and Restaurant in Monroeville was sold to Monroe County Library Board by Dwight Harrington, who bought the building in 1979.

Dec. 30, 1996 - Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers became only the second player to win consecutive NFL MVP Awards.

Dec. 30, 1999 – The Evergreen Courant reported that banks in Conecuh County were prepared for the Y2K computer bug and had been working on the problem for over a year. Pat Bolton, Vice President of Information Systems at the Bank of Evergreen, said she began working on the Y2K problem in September of 1998.

Dec. 30, 1999 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Conecuh County Sheriff’s Deputy Allison Blackmon had recently attended a Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) course taught at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. Blackmon was certified as a RAD instructor. She had to take a minimum of 30 hours, but her particular class took 35 hours of instruction.

Dec. 30, 2006 – Former President of Iraq Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging at Camp Justice, an Iraqi army base in Kadhimiya, a neighborhood of northeast Baghdad, Iraq.

Dec. 30, 2010 – This was the final day Kodachrome film was developed by Dwayne's Photo, the last remaining Kodachrome processor, concluding the iconic film's 74-year run.

  

Dec. 30, 2015 – A trace of rain was recorded in Excel, Ala.

Dec. 30, 2015 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Doug Atkins died at the age of 85 in Knoxville, Tenn. During his career, he played for Tennessee, the Cleveland Browns, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1982.