Today in History for Feb. 24, 2018

Boeing B-52 Stratofortress long-range bomber.

Feb. 24, 1607 - Claudio Monteverdi's opera “L’Orfeo” received its premiere in Mantua, Italy.

Feb. 24, 1730 - The Natchez had destroyed the French Fort Rosalie. Le Sueur, with 700 Choctaw warriors, came to their aid. Soon, with both sides running out of ammunition, the French and the Natchez agreed on a peace settlement. The Natchez released all of their prisoners, and the French
withdrew to the Mississippi River. The French were anxious to make the agreement because their Choctaw allies wanted to quit the fight. The prisoners were released to the Choctaws, who demanded a ransom for their services. The Natchez all escaped into the woods.

Feb. 24, 1786 – Writer, folklorist and story collector Wilhelm Grimm was born in Hanau, Hesse-Kassel.

Feb. 24, 1803 – In “Marbury v. Madison,” the Supreme Court of the United States established the principle of judicial review – the ability of the Supreme Court to limit Congressional power by declaring legislation unconstitutional – in the new nation.

Feb. 24, 1813 - The Tennessee volunteers returned to Georgia as heroes. They paraded around one Seminole boy, a Seminole woman with a baby and one wounded Seminole woman, along with one elderly Negro. These were the only prisoners they returned with from Florida. They claimed that only one of the Tennessee volunteers was killed. Roving bands of whites continued to loot and burn Indian villages and killed all the Seminole they found in northeast Florida.

Feb. 24, 1831 - The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek between the Choctaw and the United States Government was signed on Sept. 27, 1830, but was not ratified and proclaimed until this day. The first removal treaty that was carried out under the Indian Removal Act, it ceded 11 million acres of the Choctaw Nation in Mississippi in exchange for 15 million acres in Indian Territory. The principal Choctaw negotiators were Chief Greenwood LeFlore, Musholatubbee and Nittucachee. The U.S. negotiators were Colonel John Coffee and Secretary of War John Eaton. The site of the signing of the treaty was in the southwest corner of Noxubee County, known to the Choctaw as Dancing Rabbit Creek. With ratification by the U.S. Congress, the treaty allowed those Choctaw who choose to remain in Mississippi to become the first major non-European ethnic group to gain recognition as U.S. citizens. Their descendants in the 20th Century organized as the federally recognized Mississippi Band of Choctaw.

Feb. 24, 1831 – The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, the first removal treaty in accordance with the Indian Removal Act, was proclaimed. The Choctaws in Mississippi ceded land east of the river in exchange for payment and land in the West.

Feb. 24, 1836 – Texan Col. William Barrett Travis assumed overall command of the Alamo after Jim Bowie became too ill to actively serve as co-commander. Santa Anna ordered an artillery battery constructed on the west side of the river. Travis sent out his famous “Victory or Death” letter that began with the words “To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World” and dispatched couriers to San Felipe and Goliad for assistance.

Feb. 24, 1836 – Artist Winslow Homer was born in Boston. Harper's Weekly later hired him as a freelancer, and they sent him to the front lines of the Civil War, where he drew scenes of camp life and ordinary soldiers.

Feb. 24, 1852 – Irish novelist George Augustus Moore was born in Ballyglass, Ireland.

Feb. 24, 1862 – Col. Pinckney D. Bowles married Alice Irene, daughter of Judge H.F. and Anna C. Stearns, at Sparta.

Feb. 24, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Mingo Creek and New Madrid, Missouri; and at Pohick Church and Occoquan, in Virginia. Federal forces occupied Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia.

Feb. 24, 1863 – Arizona was organized as a United States territory.

Feb. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Stoner Bridge, Ky. and near Strasburg, Va.

Feb. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, the Yazoo Pass Expedition began in an attempt by Federal forces to get behind Vicksburg by way of Moon Lake, Yazoo Pass and the Coldwater and Tallahatchee River. This attempt was thwarted at Fort Pemberton, which is near present-day Greenwood, Miss. This phase of the Vicksburg Campaign did not end until April 8.

Feb. 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, Confederates sank the Federal gunboat, Indianola, south of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River. The Queen of the West, former Union ramship on the Mississippi which had been damaged and partly sunk earlier in the month, was raised and put to work by the Confederacy. Her assignment was to abate the nuisance posed by the USS Indianola. One attempt at ramming was fended off by a coal barge. On the second ramming attempt the ram simply bounced off Indianola’s armor plating. But the third shattered her starboard wheelhouse. Taking on water, Indianola limped to shore where her commander, Lt. Cmdr. Brown, surrendered.

Feb. 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill passed by Congress that offered up to $300 compensation for any Union master whose slaves volunteered to join the Army. The slave would be freed at the end of his service. The act also offered increased compensation for volunteers, increased penalties for draft resistance, allowed blacks to be subject to the draft, and ordered alternative service in non-combat roles for those who would not bear arms for religious reasons.

Feb. 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Buzzard Roost, Tunnel Hill and Rocky Face Ridge in Georgia; at the Tippah River and at Canton in Mississippi; and with Indians near Camp Mimbres in the New Mexico Territory.

Feb. 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, the Battle of Dalton, Georgia began when Union General George Thomas attacked Joseph Johnston's Confederates near Dalton, Georgia, as the Yankees probed Johnston's defenses in search of a weakness. Thomas found the position too strong and he ceased the offensive the next day. Thomas suffered just fewer than 300 men killed, wounded, or captured, while Johnston lost 140.

Feb. 24, 1865 – During the Civil War, a Federal operation began between Helena and Clark’s Store in Arkansas. Skirmishes were fought at Swiztler’s Mill, Mo. and at Camden, S.C.

Feb. 24, 1868 – The first U.S. parade with floats was held during Mardi Gras in Mobile Alabama.

Feb. 24, 1868 – Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the United States House of Representatives due to his attempt to dismiss Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. He was later acquitted in the Senate.

Feb. 24, 1872 – According to the Alabama League of Municipalities, the Town of Pine Apple in Wilcox County, Ala. was officially incorporated.

Feb. 24, 1874 – National Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop Honus Wagner was born in Chartiers, Pa. Nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman,” he would go on to play for the Louisville Colonels and the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would also manage the Pirates in 1917. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1936.

Feb. 24, 1887 – Educator and writer Mary Ellen Chase was born in Blue Hill, Maine.

Feb. 24, 1904 – The Evergreen Courant reported, in news from the Zeru community, that people in that community had “been listening to a mysterious songster the past few evenings during twilight. We cannot tell from its voice whether it is a frog or a bird. It croaks and sings with many different tinkling thrills and seems to waver above, around, under, near and far away, again settling back to the starting point on the ground. All attempts to get a glimpse of it have been futile.”

Feb. 24, 1904 – The Evergreen Courant reported, in news from the Belleville community, that the new Methodist minister, Mr. Breedlove, at his regular appointment, delivered an earnest and impressive sermon. Although the weather was threatening, there was a good crowd out.

Feb. 24, 1904 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the recent improvements of the streets and sidewalks were appreciated by everybody. “One can now cross the streets in rainy weather without wading through mud and water.”

Feb. 24, 1904 - Work on the remodeling and enlargement of Mr. J.W. Fore’s store began on this Wednesday and was to “be pushed rapidly to completion,” according to The Monroe Journal.

Feb. 24, 1905 - Alabama author John Weld was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Feb. 24, 1905 – Alabama State Superintendent of Education I.W. Hill visited Monroeville, Ala. and addressed the Monroe County Educational Association “in the interest of local taxation for the maintenance of public schools.”

Feb. 24, 1911 - An order was issued by Adjutant General J.B. Scully on this Friday declaring that Capt. P.M. Bruner of Evergreen, Co. K, 1^st Infantry, was elected Major in the recent election held in that regiment. Bruner was ordered before the board of examiners of the 1^st Regiment, and upon the recommendation of the board, his commission would be issued. An election was expected to be held in Co. K to fill the vacancy caused by the promotion of Bruner. In accordance with requirements of the Dick law, physical examinations were then required of every applicant for a commission, and enlistment in the Alabama National Guard, and every enlisted man had to be examined and passed upon by a surgeon as to his physical qualifications.

Feb. 24, 1913 – According to the Alabama League of Municipalities, Vredenburgh was officially incorporated as a municipality.

Feb. 24, 1914 – Poet Weldon Kees, who vanished in 1955, was born in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Feb. 24, 1915 – Alabama Gov. Charles Henderson approved the Monroe County Highway Commission Act and appointed three men to the commission: L.J. Bugg of Monroeville, chairman, two years; Dr. W.G. Hairston of Burnt Corn, four years; and J.U. Blacksher of Uriah, six years.

Feb. 24, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that The Living Truth, a paper formerly published in Greenville, was to be re-established with V.R. Thagard as editor and A. Newberry as manager.

Feb. 24, 1916 – The Conecuh Record reported that “nearly 100 children at the Orphanage are down with the la grippe. Dr. Stallworth has the situation well in hand and thinks they will all recover.”

Feb. 24, 1916 – The Monroe Journal reported that Miss Jennie Faulk, who had been “in the market for the last few weeks, studying the latest styles in millinery and selecting her spring stock, is expected home in a day or two. She advises her sister and associate in business that she has chosen one of the largest and most up-to-date stocks ever shown in this city.”

Feb. 24, 1917 – During World War I, the U.S. ambassador Walter Hines Page to the United Kingdom was given the Zimmermann Telegram, in which Germany pledged to ensure the return of New Mexico, Texas and Arizona to Mexico if Mexico declared war on the United States.

Feb. 24, 1917 - The Allied war against Turkish forces gained momentum (and ground) in Mesopotamia as British and Indian troops moved along the Tigris River in early 1917, recapturing the city of Kut-al-Amara and taking 1,730 Turkish prisoners.

Feb. 24, 1920 – The Nazi Party was founded.

Feb. 24, 1924 – Future Auburn University center and linebacker Hal Herring was born in Lanett, Ala. He went on to play for Auburn University, the Buffalo Bills and the Cleveland Browns.

Feb. 24, 1927 – JFK assassination conspiracy theorist Mark Lane was born.

Feb. 24, 1928 – Major League Baseball third baseman and outfielder Bubba Phillips was born in West Point, Miss. He would go on to play for the Detroit Tigers, the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians.

Feb. 24, 1928 – Early on this Friday morning, tear gas drove bank robbers from the Butler County Bank in McKenzie, Ala., leaving more than $10,000 in currency in the safe. The robbers had forced the door open and attempted to cut through the door of the vault with an acetylene torch. The intense heat released tear gas that had been place inside the vault to attempt a robbery, and employees discovered the attempted robbery when they arrived later that morning.

Feb. 24, 1928 - The Eastern Star of Castleberry planned to give an entertainment on this evening, which promised to be quite interesting. A program of music, readings and two very amusing plays was to be given. The plays were to include “Sister Masons” and “Can a Woman Keep a Secret?” The price of admission was 25 cents for adults and 15 cents for children. High school pupils, 20 cents.

Feb. 24, 1930 - Great excitement prevailed in Monroeville, Ala. on this Monday afternoon when a new fire truck with the name Monroeville painted on its side was driven about town. The truck was presented by the Town Council and steps were then being taken to organize a much needed fire department. At their next meeting, the council planned to perfect a plan for a volunteer fire company and to appoint a chief.

Feb. 24, 1936 - The man who got shot was convicted of a charge of assault and battery with a weapon in Conecuh County Court on this Monday when Isadore Nunley was convicted and fined $25 and costs. Tried on a warrant sworn out by Harvey Reid, who shot Nunley during “an affray” at Repton sometime before, testimony showed that Nunley advanced on Reid with an axe, whereupon Nunley was shot in the leg. Reid was not injured.

Feb. 24, 1937 – Baseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig did a screen test for the role of Tarzan, but Johnny Weissmuller eventually got the part.

Feb. 24, 1942 – The “Battle of Los Angeles,” one of the largest documented UFO sightings in history, occurred as eyewitness reported an unknown object or objects over Los Angeles, California. This triggered a massive anti-aircraft artillery barrage, and a photo posted in the LA Times showed nine beams of light converging on an aerial object. The event lasted into the early hours of February 25.

Feb. 24-25, 1943 – Little Eva crash survivor 2nd Lt. Arthur Speltz (co-pilot) died in Australia.

Feb. 24, 1952 – Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Fred Dean was born in Arcadia, La. He would go on to play for Louisiana Tech, the San Diego Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers.

Feb. 24, 1953 – Major League Baseball pitcher Frank Riccelli was born in Syracuse, N.Y. He would go on to play for the San Francisco Giants and the Houston Astros.

Feb. 24, 1953 – NFL linebacker Greg Westbrooks was born in Chicago, Ill. He would go on to play for Colorado, the New Orleans Saints, the Oakland Raiders, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.

Feb. 24, 1953 – Major League Baseball third baseman Mike Sember was born in Hammond, Indiana. He would go on to play his entire career for the Chicago Cubs.

Feb. 24, 1953 – Poet Jane Hirshfield was born in New York City.

Feb. 24, 1956 – National Baseball Hall of Fame first baseman and designated hitter Eddie Murray was born in Los Angeles, Calif. He would go on to play for the Baltimore Orioles, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Cleveland Indians and the Anaheim Angels. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2003.

Feb. 24, 1961 - After a lapse of some years (no one knew for sure just how many), the P.D. Bowles Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy was reactivated by the last known chapter officers. Re-activation coincided with the observance of the War Between the States Centennial in Conecuh. The Bowles Chapter was named in honor of Capt. P.D. Bowles who commanded the Conecuh Guards when they left April 24, 1861 for the Virginia front. Before the war’s end, it was General Bowles, but he always preferred the title “Colonel,” which was in keeping with the time-honored title accorded his profession as an attorney at law. The history of the Bowles Chapter was incomplete, but records at the courthouse indicated that it was in existence as early as 1903 and probably earlier.

Feb. 24, 1966 – The Evergreen Chamber of Commerce’s annual banquet meeting was scheduled to be held at 7 p.m. in the Evergreen High School lunchroom. Former Alabama Attorney General MacDonald Gallion of Montgomery was scheduled to be the guest speaker.

Feb. 24, 1966 – Southern Pine Electric Cooperative President Hugh Brown of Brownville and Manager Tom Perry of Brewton announced plans for the opening of a Southern Pine office in Evergreen, Ala. The office was scheduled to open on March 1 in a new building on Desplouse Street, across from the Evergreen Methodist Church in Evergreen.

Feb. 24, 1966 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Beverly Sue Griffin of Evergreen, Ala. had recently represented Conecuh County in the Alabama Junior Miss Pageant in Birmingham. Sue was sponsored by the Evergreen Jaycees who staged the Conecuh Junior Miss Pageant.

Feb. 24, 1966 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the son of a Repton, Ala. woman had been decorated for B-52 Strato Fortress bombing missions in South Vietnam. Capt. Jerry E. Ikner, son of Mrs. Lottie B. Ikner of Rt. 1, received the U.S. Air Force Air Medal at Carswell AFB, Texas, where he was permanently assigned. The electronics warfare officer was cited for outstanding airmanship on bombing runs against Viet Cong targets.

Feb. 24, 1967 – Alabama defensive tackle Richard Cole was the featured speaker at the annual Sweetheart Banquet at the Evergreen Baptist Church. Cole, an active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, was a key player on Alabama’s 1966 team. During his career at Alabama, the Crimson Tide went 30-2-1 and won three straight SEC titles.

Feb. 24, 1968 – During the Vietnam War, the Imperial Palace in Hue was recaptured by South Vietnamese troops.

Feb. 24, 1968 – During the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive ended as U.S. and South Vietnamese troops recaptured the ancient capital of Hue from communist forces.

Feb. 24, 1969 – During the Vietnam War, after a North Vietnamese mortar shells rocked their Douglas AC-47 gunship, Airman First Class John L. Levitow threw himself on an activated, smoking magnesium flare, dragged himself and the flare to the open cargo door, and tossed it out of the aircraft just before it ignited. For saving his fellow crewmembers and the gunship, Airman Levitow was later awarded the Medal of Honor. He was one of only two enlisted airmen to win the Medal of Honor for service in Vietnam and was one of only five enlisted airmen ever to win the medal.

Feb. 24, 1970 – NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia was born in Gilroy, Calif. He would go on to play for San Jose State, the Calgary Stampeders (CFL), the San Francisco 49ers, the Cleveland Browns, the Detroit Lions, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Oakland Raiders, the Omaha Nighthawks (UFL) and the Houston Texans.

Feb. 24, 1971 – Explorer, author and television host Josh Bernstein in New York City.

Feb. 24, 1973 – Evergreen High School’s boys basketball team, led by head coach Charles Branum, beat Alba, 72-65, to win the 3A Region 1 title, which gave them a berth in the 3A state tournament in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Feb. 24, 1974 – Major League Baseball third baseman Mike Lowell was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He would go on the play for the New York Yankees, the Florida Marlins and the Boston Red Sox.

Feb. 24, 1974 – NFL defensive end Simeon Rice was born in Chicago, Ill. He would go on the play for Illinois, the Arizona Cardinals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Denver Broncos, the Indianapolis Colts and the New York Sentinels.

Feb. 24, 1976 – Actress and screenwriter Crista Flanagan was born in Mount Vernon, Ill.

Feb. 24, 1982 – Lyeffion played Brilliant in the quarterfinal round of the Class 1A state tournament at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Lyeffion entered the tourney as the 1A Area II and 1A Region I champs and with a 24-3 overall record.

Feb. 24, 1989 – Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini offered a $3 million bounty for the death of “The Satanic Verses” author Salman Rushdie.

Feb. 24, 1992 - Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love were married in Hawaii.

Feb. 24, 1995 – The Snow Hill Normal and Industrial Institute and the Tait-Ervin House, both in Wilcox County, Ala., were added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Feb. 24, 1995 – J.F. Shields High School’s girls basketball team beat McIntosh, 46-30, in the AHSAA’s 2A girls Southwest Region basketball tournament championship game at Faulkner State Community College in Bay Minette. Renee Fountain, a 5-foot-9 sophomore guard, led Shields with 21 points and was named tournament MVP.

Feb. 24, 2000 – Four locations in Clarke County, Ala. were added to the National Register of Historic Places. Those locations included the Airmount Grave Shelter, also known as the Hope Family Grave Shelter, located in Airmount Cemetery near Thomasville; the Doit W. McClellan Lustron House and the J.P. McKee Lustron House, both in Jackson; and the Isaac Nettles Gravestones in the Mount Nebo Baptist Church Cemetery near Carlton.

Feb. 24, 2001 - Sparta Academy seniors Ashley Hammonds and Jill Pate participated in the AISA All Star basketball game at Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Hammonds was the daughter of Wayne Hammonds and the late Pam Hammonds, and Pate was the daughter of Joel and Carol Pate.

Feb. 24, 2004 - The Conecuh County Chapter of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association planted a tree in front of Evergreen Elementary School on this Tuesday in celebration of Arbor Day. Evergreen Mayor Lomax Cassady, as well as members of Mrs. Kit Moss’ second grade class, were on hand for the tree planting ceremony. Don Stinson and Victor Howell represented the Conecuh chapter of the ATFA. Also on Tuesday the ATFA gave away approximately 5,000 nursery grown tree seedlings in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. The promotion of tree planting was one of the many projects sponsored by the Conecuh Chapter of the ATFA.

Feb. 24, 2010 - Evergreen’s Chris Hines grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds on this Wednesday as the Crimson Tide fell to Mississippi State, 74-66, in Starkville, Miss. Hines started at forward for Alabama and logged 29 minutes of playing time against the Bulldogs. Hines grabbed a team-best and career-high 10 rebounds, eight on defense and two on offense. He also scored four points, blocked three shots, made three steals and had an assist.

Feb. 24, 2010 - Members of the Evergreen Garden Club attended the Conecuh Forestry Planning Committee tree giveaway event on this Wednesday at T.L. Sims Memorial Park in Evergreen, Ala. In honor of Arbor Day, club members planted an oak tree at the park with the assistance of urban forester Jack Rowe, who donated the tree and assisted in planting it.

Feb. 24, 2010 - Monroe County Commissioner Charlie McCorvey Jr., 59, died on this Wednesday at home following a lengthy illness. McCorvey taught school at Monroeville Middle School for 35 years and served on the county commission for 21 years. McCorvey was in the middle of his fifth four-year term at the time of his death.

Feb. 24-25, 2010 - Weather observer Harry Ellis reported lows of 25 degrees on these two days in Evergreen, Ala.

Feb. 24, 2011 - Harriett Hyde was named the Evergreen-Conecuh County Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year at the annual membership on this Thursday night. New Chamber President Bob Humphrey presented Hyde with her award.

Feb. 24, 2013 – The Frisco City United Methodist Church in Frisco City, Ala. was devastated by fellowship hall fire.