Today in History

[goofywife]

1959: Mercury Seven introduced
Seven test pilots were introduced to the public today as the Americans best qualified for space flight. The group consisted of M. Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper, Jr, John H. Glenn, Jr, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra, Alan B. Shepard, Jr and Donald K. Slayton.

"Which one actually will be the first American in space won't be known until sometime in 1961 when NASA launches its first manned satellite. All, however, will be thoroughly trained in the next two years to take on the hazardous and historic job," reported the Eureka Humboldt Standard on April 9, 1959.

NOTE: Because of the small space in the space capsule, candidates had to be shorter than 6 feet and weigh no more than 180 pounds. On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard Jr. became the first American in space.

2005: Prince Charles marries Camilla
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles were married in a civil ceremony today. Their marriage was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams in St. George's Chapel. "Despite years of public and media criticism, even ridicule, Charles and Camilla's shared affection appeared to finally to have won them a measure of acceptance from the British public, many of whom blamed their relationship for poisoning Charles' marriage to Princess Diana," explained The Post-Standard on April 10, 2005.

1963: Churchill becomes honorary U.S. citizen
Winston Churchill of Great Britain became an honorary U.S. citizen today. "Never before in history has this country, by congressional action, made anyone an honorary citizen," informed the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern on April 9, 1963. "Only the scrawl of presidential signatures on a bill enacted by Congress and on the proclamation the bill authorized was needed today to make Churchill an honorary American citizen."

1959: Frank Lloyd Wright dies
Architecture genius Frank Lloyd Wright died today in Phoenix, Arizona, at the age of 89. "A giant on the national and international architectural scene, Wright underwent an operation Monday for removal of an intestinal obstruction. He had been stricken Saturday at his winter home near Scottsdale," reported The Sheboygan Press on April 9, 1959. NOTE: Throughout his life, Wright designed more than 1,000 buildings, resulting in more than 500 completed structures around the world. In 1991, the American Institute of Architects recognized Wright as the “greatest American architect of all time.”

1957: Large ships use Suez Canal again
The Suez Canal was open to ships up to 20,000 tons today after U.N. salvage crews cleared the water of the last obstacle left from the Suez Crisis. "While whistles shrilled and hundreds of persons watched from the banks, U.N. salvage crews raised and towed away the sunken Egyptian frigate Abukir yesterday. That cleared the channel for all shipping adapted to its 34-foot depth. The Egyptian Suez Canal Authority gave no indication when capacity operation would be resumed. Before the canal was blocked, ships of about 40,000 tons could go through," explained The Times on April 9, 1957.

1939: 75,000 attend concert at Lincoln Memorial
After African-American contralto Marian Anderson was denied use of Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. by the Daughters of the American Revolution, she held an outdoor Easter concert at the Lincoln Memorial in front of 75,000 people today. "Secretary Ickes, introducing her made no direct reference to the controversy over the D.A.R. auditorium which was credited with causing Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt's resignation from the organization. But he said: 'There are those, even in this great capital of our Democratic republic, who are either too timid or too indifferent to lift up the light that Jefferson and Lincoln carried aloft,'" reported The Kingsport Times on April 10, 1939.

[goofywife]

1979: 'Terrible Tuesday' tornadoes hit
Thirteen tornadoes ripped through Texas and Oklahoma today in a deadly outbreak that meteorologists later referred to as "Terrible Tuesday." The twisters destroyed thousands of homes, and one Texas resident compared the storm’s effect to bomb damage.

"Tornadoes smashed into four communities in North Texas and Oklahoma, sucking up people and property, tossing cars about and leveling homes and businesses. Authorities said at least 57 persons were killed and more than 800 were injured," reported the Syracuse Herald Journal on April 11, 1979. "Gov. Bill Clements toured the north Texas city of Wichita Falls, site of the worst damage, as National Guard troops patrolled debris-strewn streets today to ward off any looters who might want to take advantage of the disaster that struck yesterday afternoon."

NOTE: Wichita Falls, Texas, was hit the hardest, with at least 42 people reported dead and more than $200 million in property damage. The tornado that hit the city was estimated to have traveled 47 miles, remaining on the ground for at least an hour.

(We had one worse than this a few years ago)

1998: Belfast Agreement is signed
The Belfast Agreement was signed today by the British and Irish governments. The accord raised hopes for an end to the violence that ravaged Northern Ireland. On April 11, 1998, the Daily Herald commented on the agreement, explaining, "In a sweeping accord that reduced many hard-bitten politicians to tears, negotiators cleared the way Friday for a 'new beginning' for Northern Ireland after 30 years of bitter rivalries and bloody attacks. Exhilarated and exhausted, the eight participating parties approved a settlement presented by the talks chairman, former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell, after a 32-hour negotiating marathon."

1970: Beatles split
Paul McCartney announced today that he has split from the Beatles. "Paul, 27-year-old song writer, lead guitar and singer, blamed the break on 'personal differences, business differences, musical differences - but most of all because I have a better time with my family,'" informed The Port Arthur News on April 10, 1970. NOTE: The announcement coincided with the release of his first solo album. After the split, McCartney’s album spent three weeks at the top of the American charts.

1963: Submarine lost at sea
The nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Thresher was lost at sea today during a deep-diving routine. Admiral George W. Anderson, chief of naval operations, determined that the vessel and her crew of 129 had sunk. "The Navy said an oil slick had been sighted – the traditional sign that a submarine has met disaster," reported The Post Standard on April 11, 1963. "The craft was missing some 220 miles east of Boston – in an area where the ocean is 8,400 feet deep. Underwater pressure at the depth makes rescue impossible, the Navy said, even if a submarine could survive the hydraulic force."

1919: Emiliano Zapata is shot
Mexican rebel and revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata was shot today by government soldiers. The former sharecropper had joined forces with Pancho Villa to oppose the Mexican government, fighting for agrarian reform and land redistribution. "The rebel chief is said to have been killed in an unnamed part of the mountains of southern Morelos by troops under command of Colonel Guajardo. The war department has promoted the colonel to a generalship for his feat," explained The Van Wert Daily Bulletin on April 12, 1919.

1912: Titanic sets sail
The RMS Titanic set sail on its maiden voyage today from Southampton, London to New York. "The Titanic is a sister ship to the Olympic, placed in commission last year. She is 840 feet in length and has a displacement of 60,000 tons," explained The Evening News on April 10, 1912. "She is literally a floating hotel, provided with dancing rooms, smoking rooms, cafes, a library and even a garden of Oriental palms and beds of roses and carnations. A swimming tank and a skating rink are among her other features." NOTE: The Titanic's passengers spent just five days on the ship before it collided with an iceberg and sank.

[Janet]

I love these Michelle. Thank you so much sweetie for posting them everyday, I really appreciate it.

[DianaB]

There is a building in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's been turned into a museum and it's very interesting! They also have some furniture that was designed by him too! I was with a Girl Scout troop that went to see it otherwise I'd have never known that we had one of his buildings so close.

[katcarasella]

When I first got married I lived 4 blocks from this house in Oak Park. (15 min. away now.)

Studio2.jpg
This extraordinary building in Oak Park, Illinois was the Wright family residence from 1889 to 1909. Wright began the construction of this house in 1889 shortly after his marriage to Catherine Tobin, using $5,000 borrowed from Louis Sullivan. The Wright family - Frank and Catherine, and their six children - lived here while he developed his architectural practice, creating what became the "Prairie Style" of architecture.

[goofywife]

That house is beautiful.

Originally Posted by katcarasella

When I first got married I lived 4 blocks from this house in Oak Park. (15 min. away now.)

Attachment 2842
This extraordinary building in Oak Park, Illinois was the Wright family residence from 1889 to 1909. Wright began the construction of this house in 1889 shortly after his marriage to Catherine Tobin, using $5,000 borrowed from Louis Sullivan. The Wright family - Frank and Catherine, and their six children - lived here while he developed his architectural practice, creating what became the "Prairie Style" of architecture.

[DianaB]

It's called Price Tower. It's suppose to be the only skyscraper that he built. Here's some pictures--

http://www.merryweatherphoto.com/web/price.html#

http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/o...ice/price.html

[goofywife]

That is too cool. I didn't know it was there.

Originally Posted by DianaB

There is a building in Bartlesville, Oklahoma, that was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's been turned into a museum and it's very interesting! They also have some furniture that was designed by him too! I was with a Girl Scout troop that went to see it otherwise I'd have never known that we had one of his buildings so close.