Today in History for April 24, 2018

Alabama Senator Frank S. White

April 24, 1704 – The first regular newspaper in British Colonial America, The Boston News-Letter, was published in Boston, Mass.

April 24, 1781 - British General William Phillips landed on the banks of the James River at City Port, Va. He then combined forces with British General Benedict Arnold to launch an attack on Petersburg, Va.

April 24, 1800 – The United States Library of Congress was established when President John Adams signed legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress." Congress ordered 740 books and three maps from London, and in just over a decade, the library had more than 3,000 items. Today, the Library of Congress has 650 miles of shelves, and 150 million items, including more than 35 million books.

April 24, 1815 – Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope was born in London, England.

April 24, 1821 – Daniel Bozeman became postmaster at Burnt Corn Spring, Ala.

April 24, 1827 – Israel Pickens, the third governor of Alabama, passed away at the age of 47 in Matanzas, Cuba. He was originally buried in a family graveyard but his remains were later moved to City Cemetery, Greensboro, Ala.

April 24, 1844 - Alabama author Clifford Lanier was born in Griffin, Ga.

April 24, 1861 – The Conecuh Guards mustered at Sparta, Ala. and were presented a flag from the ladies of the community at the Sparta Depot before departing by train for Lynchburg, Va.

April 24, 1861 - These were anxiety filled days in the capital of the United States. Virginia had seceded on one side. If Maryland did the same, the capital was defenseless. A gunboat kept steam up at all times in case the President and Cabinet should need to flee.

April 24, 1862 - Seventeen ships under the command of Union Admiral David Farragut moved up the Mississippi River past two Confederate forts toward New Orleans. Only one ship was lost.

April 24, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought in the vicinity of Corinth, Miss.; at Lick Creek, Tenn. in the vicinity of the Shiloh battlefield; on the Shelbyville Road in Tennessee; and in the vicinity of Harrisonburg, Va.

April 24, 1862 - Union Admiral David Farragut had been trying to shell the Confederates out of the two forts below New Orleans, La. for a week now. On this night he set out to run past them anyway. The barricades, chains stretched across the river, had been damaged enough that ships could slip past. Moving at 2 a.m., all but three small vessels of his flotilla managed to make their way above the forts. He scattered some Confederate ships and sailed to New Orleans the next day, capturing one of the Confederacy's major cities with barely a shot fired.

April 24, 1863 - Union Colonel Benjamin Grierson's troops tore up tracks and destroyed two trainloads of ammunition headed for Vicksburg, Miss.

April 24, 1863 - The Union army issues General Orders No. 100, which provided a code of conduct for Federal soldiers and officers when dealing with Confederate prisoners and civilians. The code was borrowed by many European nations, and its influence can be seen on the Geneva Convention. The orders were the brainchild of Francis Lieber, a Prussian immigrant whose three sons had served during the Civil War.

April 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, like all governments, that of the Confederate States of America was faced with the obligation of raising funds to support its operations. When the operations included fighting a war for independence, it became a case of desperate times calling for desperate measures. On this day, a “tax in kind” was enacted, requiring a one-tenth contribution of all produce of the land.

April 24, 1863 – During the Civil war, a month-long Federal operation against Indians in the Owen’s River and adjacent valleys began in California.

April 24, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Garlandville and Birmingham, Miss. as part of the Grierson raid; out from St. Louis, Mo. along the Iron Mountain Railroad; on the Edenton Road in the vicinity of Suffolk, Va.; in and around Gilmer County, West Virginia; near Lake Saint Joseph, La.

April 24, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought near Decatur, Ala.; in the vicinity of Camden, Ark.; near Pineville, La.; and in the vicinity of Middletown, Va. A two-day Federal operation between Ringgold and La Fayette, Ga. began.

April 24, 1865 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Rodger’s Plantation, Ark. and at Linn Creek, Mo.

April 24, 1865 – U.S. General William T. Sherman learned of President Johnson's rejection of his surrender terms to Joe Johnston. General Grant, who personally delivered the message, ordered Sherman to commence operations against Johnson within 48 hours. Sherman was incensed but obeyed orders.

April 24, 1868 - Author William Garrott Brown was born in Marion, Ala.

April 24, 1877 - Federal troops were ordered out of New Orleans, bringing an end to the North's post-Civil War rule in the South.

April 24, 1879 – The Evergreen Star reported that the Hon. F.M. Walker, Conecuh County’s “popular” Probate Judge, was “rusticating for a while in Henry County.”

April 24, 1879 – The Evergreen Star reported that “Jack” Jones, Evergreen’s “efficient and obliging” postmaster, had given a new bond to the amount of $16,500. “Some of the best men of our county are upon Mr. Jones’ bond.”

April 24, 1879 – The Evergreen Star published the following notice “TO THE PUBLIC” – “The undersigned returns thanks to the public for the generous patronage bestowed in the past (especially during court) and respectfully solicits a continuance of same in the future. My saloon is well stocked with the BEST brands of wines, brandies, whiskies, cigars, etc. and my endeavors will be to please all. Give me a call. – W.H. Hawkins, Proprietor, Gem Saloon.”

April 24, 1879 – This day’s edition of The Evergreen Star included the following advertisement – “A.W. JOHNSTON – Practical Boot and Shoe Maker, Evergreen, Ala. – Offers his services to the people of Evergreen and vicinity. All work guaranteed and prices satisfactory.”

April 24, 1879 – The Evergreen Star reported that “a new candidate for your patronage made its appearance on our streets yesterday under the name of the Evergreen News. Mr. C.S. James is the proprietor.”

April 24, 1886 – Monroe County (Ala.) Circuit Court adjourned on this Saturday evening.

April 24, 1895 – Douglas Woolley “Dixie” Parker was born in Forest Home in Butler County, Ala. He went on to play catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1923 season. He also played parts of 16 minor league seasons, spanning 1918–1941, while playing or managing for 17 teams in 13 different leagues. Parker died in Tuscaloosa at the age of 77 on May 15, 1972. He is buried in the Green Pond Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Bibb County.

April 24, 1895 – Joshua Slocum, the first person to sail single-handedly around the world, set sail from Boston, Mass. aboard the sloop "Spray".

April 24, 1898 - Spain declared war on the U.S., rejecting America's ultimatum for Spain to withdraw from Cuba.

April 24, 1905 – Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and novelist Robert Penn Warren was born in Guthrie, Ky.

April 24, 1906 – American-born Irish-British Nazi propaganda broadcaster William Joyce was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

April 24, 1907 - The one-of-a-kind Hershey Park opened its doors. However, unlike today, back then the amusement park was not for the general public, instead it was meant to be a leisure center exclusively for Hershey Candy Company employees.

April 24-25, 1908 - In Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia, 310 people were killed by 18 tornadoes.

April 24, 1912 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Prof. J.T. McKee of Cullman had been elected President of the Agricultural School in Evergreen, Ala., succeeding Prof. H.T. Lile.

April 24, 1915 – On this Saturday afternoon, “quite a crowd of boys and girls attended the baseball game” in the Brownville community of Conecuh County, Ala.

April 24, 1916 – Ernest Shackleton and five men of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition launched a lifeboat from uninhabited Elephant Island in the Southern Ocean to organize a rescue for the ice-trapped ship Endurance.

April 24, 1916 - Around noon on this Easter Monday, some 1,600 Irish nationalists – members of the Irish Volunteers – launched the so-called Easter Rising in Dublin, seizing a number of official buildings and calling on all Irish patriots to resist the bonds of British control.

April 24, 1917 - Members of the military company stationed in Evergreen were treated to a picnic dinner on this Wednesday on the lawn at the home of W.H. Wild by the ladies of Evergreen under the auspices of the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. The boys devoured the splendid dinner with evident relish and were deeply appreciative of the kindness of the good ladies, according to The Evergreen Courant.

April 24, 1918 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Eugene Binion of Evergreen, Ala. and John Peagler of Conecuh County’s China community had been wounded by Germans while fighting overseas in World War I.

April 24, 1918 - The third annual basket picnic of the Pine Barren Association was scheduled to be held at the farm of R.E. Lambert at Darlington on this Wednesday. Ex-Senator Frank S. White of Birmingham was expected be present and to deliver an address.

April 24, 1922 - Alabama’s first radio station, WSY, began broadcasting. The station was started by Alabama Power Company to help keep in touch with line crews in isolated areas. In 1925, the station merged with Auburn’s WMAV to become WAPI.

April 24, 1933 – The season’s shipment of Castleberry, Ala. strawberries topped the 100-car mark on this day as 10 more cars of strawberries were loaded. The total number of cars after April 25 stood at 111 cars, which was 78 less than in 1932.

April 24, 1933 – Nazi Germany began its persecution of Jehovah's Witnesses by shutting down the Watch Tower Society office in Magdeburg.

April 24, 1934 - Acclaimed actress and paranormal enthusiast Shirley MacLaine was born in Richmond, Va.

April 24, 1940 – Mystery novelist Sue Grafton was born in Louisville, Ky.

April 24, 1947 – Evergreen High School’s baseball team improved to 1-1 on the season with a 10-7 win over Monroe County High School. James Carpenter got the pitching win. Ivey, Jones and Cunningham led Evergreen’s offense with two hits each.

April 24, 1947 – German SS officer Hans Biebow was executed by hanging.

April 24, 1948 – Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on this Saturday for Sgt. John W. Morgan, who had been killed in Europe during World War II, at Asbury Methodist Church in Conecuh County, Ala. Members of the National Guard and American Legion acted as pallbearers. Morgan, age 25, was killed on July 15, 1944. He was born on Oct. 24, 1918 and was serving with the 12^th Infantry, 4^th Infantry Division when killed.

April 24, 1948 – Novelist and journalist Clare Boylan was born in Dublin.

April 24, 1950 – Monroe County High School’s baseball team beat Clarke County High School, 7-6, on this Monday afternoon in Grove Hill. Bert McCullough was the winning pitcher for MCHS.

April 24, 1955 - Mixonville, of the Conecuh Amateur Baseball League, beat Lyeffion, 19-10, on this Sunday at Mixonville. Mixonville scored seven runs in the first inning off Lyeffion right-hander Gene Davis. Mixonville’s big righthander, Charlie Roberts, turned in a marvelous piece of pitching until the eighth when he had to be relieved by southpaw Lavail Robinson. Roberts struck out 11 batters and allowed only five hits during his pitching stint. Stuckey, Mixon, Lane and H. Pugh led the batting for Mixonville.

April 24, 1955 - The Monroe County entry in the Dixie Amateur Baseball League, unleashing a powerful 14-hit attack at the State Farm on this Sunday afternoon, tallied four runs in the eighth inning to break a tie and defeat the State Farm squad, 11-7. Leftfielder Les Prouty tripled after one man was out and scored what proved to be the winning run on Forrest Watkins’ grounder to second base. Other players on the Monroe team included Al Clenner, Ben Cooper, Reg Cooper, Paul Fowler, Frank Hadley and Curt Wideman.

April 24, 1961 - Sandy Koufax of the Los Angeles Dodgers struck out 18 batters, becoming the first Major League pitcher to do so on two different occasions.

April 24, 1967 - At a news conference in Washington, General William Westmoreland, senior U.S. commander in South Vietnam, caused controversy by saying that the enemy had “gained support in the United States that gives him hope that he can win politically that which he cannot win militarily.”

April 24, 1971 - North Vietnamese troops hit Allied installations throughout South Vietnam.

April 24, 1972 – Major League Baseball third baseman and left fielder Chipper Jones was born in DeLand, Fla. He would go on to play his entire career for the Atlanta Braves.

April 24, 1973 – Novelist and short-story writer Judy Budnitz was born in Atlanta, Ga.

April 24, 1975 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Trooper Sgt. J.T. Smelley, commander of the Evergreen Post, had bagged a trophy turkey over the weekend. The Tom weighed 18 pounds and had a 9-1/2 inch beard.

April 24, 1975 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Conecuh County Sheriff Edwin L. Booker had announced that Larry Morrison had been named chief deputy sheriff. Morrison formerly served with the Evergreen Police Department and had been a law enforcement officer for the previous seven years. Morrison was a graduate of Evergreen High School and the Alabama Police Academy.

April 24, 1975 – The Monroe Journal reported that George Singleton Jr. of Monroeville had been appointed to the Class of 1979 at the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Rep. Jack Edwards announced that week. Singleton, the son of Mr. and Mrs. G.B. Singleton Sr. of Monroeville and a senior at Monroe County High School, was one of five appointees to the Military Academy from the First District, Edwards said. Singleton was to report to the academy in West Point, N.Y. on July 7.

April 24, 1975 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Excel High School baseball team was in its second season after fielding its first team in 1974. Members of the 1975 team were Ivan Watson, Carl Reed, David Hutcherson, Roy Black, Keith Bender, Bruce White, Joe Sims, Mitchell Guy, Monty Scruggs, Noel Stacey, Rhett Barnes, Al Hall, Butch Grissette, Randy Manning, Johnny House, Leon Black, Mike McQueen, James Jordan, Jerry Nall and Coach Lee Holladay.

April 24, 1985 - A $10-million manufacturers’ outlet retail complex for Monroeville, Ala. was announced on this Wednesday, with groundbreaking expected to take place within six weeks. Plans for Monroeville Outlet Center were announced jointly by Monroe County Probate Judge Otha Lee Biggs, Monroeville Mayor Pro Tempore Bill Owens and Gary Lyle, a partner in the project developer, Manufacturers Retail Outlets, Inc. of Huntsville. The announcement was made on this Wednesday morning at the office of Plaza Realty, a Monroeville real-estate firm that had done the local legwork for the project. Monroeville Outlet Center was to be built on 20 acres across Drewry Road from the VF Outlet Store.

April 24, 1989 – Miss Alabama USA 2012 and model Katherine Webb was born in Montgomery, Ala.

April 24, 1990 - The Hubble Space Telescope, one of NASA's longest lasting science missions, was launched. Funding for the mission to build and launch a large space telescope was approved by Congress in 1977. NASA chose Marshall Space Flight Center in Alabama to manage the design, development, and construction of telescope. The telescope was officially named in honor of Edwin P. Hubble, one of America's foremost astronomers, in 1983. Since its launch, Hubble has beamed hundreds of thousands of images back to Earth and transformed the way scientists look at the universe.

April 24, 1996 - Monroe Academy wrapped up its non-conference schedule on this Wednesday at Escambia Academy at Canoe, beating the Cougars, 13-6. Keith Gohagin, a senior center fielder, went four-for-four at the plate, slapping two doubles. Other players on MA’s baseball team that season included Trey Andrews, Travis Black, Justin Brown, Bud Hare, Ashley Hayward, Rob Hudson, Jake McCall. Joey Cameron was MA’s head baseball coach.

April 24, 1999 - The first Alabama Bound book fair was held in Birmingham, Ala.

April 24, 1999 – Evergreen’s Little League was scheduled to hold its opening day ceremonies on this Saturday at 10 a.m. at Evergreen City Park.

April 24, 1999 – Monroe County High School was scheduled to play Area 3 runner-up Andalusia High School in the opening round of the Class 5A state baseball playoffs. The game was scheduled to begin on this Saturday at 2 p.m. in Monroeville. MCHS entered the playoffs with a 20-10 record and a third straight Area 2 championship under head coach Reid Utsey. Players on MCHS’s team that year included Jonathan Black, Ben Busby, Trent Eager, Justin Hawarah, P.J. Holley, Curt Hutcherson, Eric Johnson, Jason Moye and Jamie Porterfield.

April 24, 2000 – A ground-breaking ceremony was held at the site of the EverFun playground site at Evergreen Municipal Park in Evergreen, Ala. Mayor Lomax Cassady and Zebbie Nix unearthed the first two shovelfuls of dirt and the work began.

April 24, 2003 – Army Sgt. Troy Jenkins, age 25, a graduate of Hillcrest High School in Evergreen, Ala., died from wounds received as a result of an explosion April 19, 2003 while on a dismounted patrol with other soldiers in Iraq. He died at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. He was assigned to B Co., 3rd Bat., 187th Inf. Reg., Ft. Campbell, Ky. He was buried in Riverside, Calif.

April 24, 2007 - The 35th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence on Magnolia Avenue in Evergreen, Ala. and seized 29 grams of methamphetamine ice, one of the purest forms of methamphetamine. To qualify as ice, the meth must be at least 98 percent pure.