Today in History

[katcarasella]

1894: Pullman employees go on strike

Ahh I remember that well

[Forgivenmom5]

Good memory Kat!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by katcarasella

1894: Pullman employees go on strike

Ahh I remember that well

LOL, I actually do remember this. From my history class. I just finished the second US history (1877 to present) and this was on one of our tests. It was really a big deal because it led to some of the first steps to fair wages and working conditions. Pullman was a real jerk in my opinion...

[goofywife]

1949: Soviets lift blockade in Berlin

Traffic into Berlin was restored today when the Soviets lifted their 11-month-old blockade. In one of the major Cold War crises, the Soviet Union had blocked railroad and street access to West Berlin in hopes that the Allies would abandon the city. Instead, British and American planes flew in vital supplies like food and fuel to help West Berliners survive. Although the blockade was lifted today, air lifts did not stop until September 30. This was done as a precautionary measure to build up adequate supplies in case the Soviets issued another blockade.

"Thus-ended the dependence of 2,000,000 west Berliners on British and American planes for food and fuel," reported the Galveston Daily News on May 12, 1949. "But the air lift was going ahead at full schedule, and pilots said their instructions were to keep right on for at least 80 days."

NOTE: Despite uneasiness regarding whether the lift would last, there was a celebratory mood in Berlin. Schools closed for a holiday, and newspapers said that Berlin was in "a carnival mood." The blockade had began on June 24, 1948, and the Berlin Airlift supplied food for the city throughout the entire winter, dropping a total of 2,326,406 tons of food and supplies.

1970: Banks becomes member of 500 home run club

Ernie Banks hit the 500th home run of his National League career today, making him the ninth member of the 500-homer club. The milestone hit was made at Wrigley Field in Chicago with the Cubs playing the Atlanta Braves. "The 39-year-old Mr. Cub lined a Pat Jarvis 1-1 pitch into the leftfield bleachers in the second inning for his third homer of the season and joined eight others in the coveted 500-homer club, headed by Babe Ruth with 714," explained The Stars and Stripes on May 14, 1970. NOTE: After making the hit, Banks admitted to feeling pressure to reach his 500th.

1965: Soviet spacecraft crash-lands on moon

Russia failed to achieve the first "soft" lunar landing today when its spacecraft crashed on the moon's surface. On May 12, 1965, an article in The Sheboygan Press informed, "The observers said if Luna 5 landed successfully, the mission might encompass collecting samples of the Lunar surface and radioing back information, or scanning the moon with a camera and transmitting pictures." NOTE: Although a "soft" landing was not achieved, the Soviets still called the mission a success because they gathered information for future lunar landings.

1932: Lindbergh baby found dead

The infant son of Charles Lindbergh was found dead just miles away from the Lindbergh home today. "Charles Augustus Lindbergh, Jr., was kidnapped on the night of March 1 from the crib in which it was sleeping peacefully. The only clues that could be found on the following morning were a home-made ladder, footprints of a man and a woman, a blanket and an abandoned blue sedan," reported The Coshocton Tribune on May 12, 1932. NOTE: The body was discovered about six weeks after the family paid a ransom of $50,000 in exchange for what proved to be false information on the baby's location.

[katcarasella]

1949: Soviets lift blockade in Berlin.......
I was 3 months old

1970: Banks becomes member of 500 home run club
Jenny was 6 weeks old

[AngieDoogles]

Originally Posted by katcarasella

1949: Soviets lift blockade in Berlin.......
I was 3 months old

1970: Banks becomes member of 500 home run club
Jenny was 6 weeks old

Aww, how sweet!

[goofywife]

1981: Pope John Paul II is shot

Pope John Paul II, the first non-Italian pope in 455 years, was shot today in Vatican City. He was immediately taken to the Agostino Gemelli University Policlinic, considered Rome's most modern hospital.

"Vatican radio said the pontiff had been driven through St. Peter's Square in his jeep and was about to leave the jeep to start a general audience when shots were heard at about 5:25 p.m.," reported the Syracuse Herald-Journal on May 13, 1981. “The pontiff collapsed into the arms of his aides as the jeep returned inside the Vatican at high speed, the radio said.”

NOTE: The Pope made a full recovery. Police in the square apprehended Turkish citizen Mehmet Ali Agca after he shot the pontiff. Agca was sentenced to life in prison, but was pardoned in 2000 at the request of the Pope.

1985: MOVE headquarters bombed

Philadelphia police dropped a bomb made from C-4 onto the headquarters of MOVE, a radical African-American neo-Luddite group. “The concussion-like bomb, dropped Monday from a police helicopter, smashed through a crude wood-and-steel battlement atop the house and caved in the roof,” informed the Daily News on May 14, 1985. “A fire, fanned by hot winds, spread to as many as 60 surrounding structures, and gunfire from within the building kept firefighters from dousing the swirling flames for about an hour.” NOTE: The bomb ultimately destroyed more than 50 homes and killed eleven people, including four children.

1980: Tornado hits Kalamazoo, Michigan

A tornado devastated Kalamazoo, Michigan, today, killing five people and causing heavy damage in the downtown area. "About 85 people were treated for injuries at the city's two major hospitals. Two were reported critically injured. Most of the injured were cut by flying glass or bruised by falling debris in the rush-hour storms," explained The Daily Intelligencer on May 14, 1980. NOTE: The tornado that ripped through downtown Kalamazoo was part of a severe weather system that produced another tornado which also hit areas in Kalamazoo County.

1958: Nixon's car is attacked by mob

While traveling in Venezuela, Vice President Richard M. Nixon's car was attacked by a mob as he rode from the airport. The attackers hurled rocks, smashed the car's windows and shouted, "Go Home Yankee Dog." "The Vice President, winding up his tour of South America, arrived amid rumors that he was to be the victim of an assassination attempt. Venezuelan authorities in advance of his arrival had discounted these reports and given assurances that Nixon would be well guarded," reported the Oakland Tribune on May 13, 1958. "The violence of the demonstrations against the Vice President obviously surprised officials."

1940: Wilhelmina takes refuge in England

Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands safely arrived in England today where she took refuge from Nazi invaders. Crown Princess Juliana, her husband, Prince Bernhard, and their children we also welcomed by King George's family. "A sailor of the British ship which brought the royal family here said, 'for some time it was murder, but we got clear and had a steady journey,'" informed the Dunkirk Evening Observer on May 14, 1940. NOTE: According to newspaper reports from 1940, the Germans tried to kill the royal family as they fled for Great Britain.

[goofywife]

1998: Seinfeld finale airs

The final episode of the top-rated comedy Seinfeld aired tonight on NBC. To commemorate the sitcom's last episode, a number of the fans threw parties, while others watched at home.

"The 75-minute episode had a 41.3 rating and 58 share, Nielsen Media Research said Friday. A rating point represents 980,000 households. The share means that 58 percent of in-use televisions were tuned to 'Seinfeld,'" reported The Chronicle Telegram on May 16, 1998.

NOTE: A NBC spokesperson said they were "thrilled" by the ratings, but the final Seinfeld episode still fell below the finales for Cheers and M-A-S-H. When Cheers went off the air in 1993, its finale had a 45.9 rating and 72 share. In 1983 when the final M-A-S-H aired, it is estimated that 105 million people watched. Today, M-A-S-H still holds the all-time record for the most-watched finale with a 60.2 rating and 77 share.

1998: Frank Sinatra dies at 82

Frank Sinatra, one of the most influential singers in U.S. history, died today of a heart attack at the age of 82. "The blunt, often aggressive son of Italian immigrants communicated across generational lines with love songs filled with a rare mix of vulnerability and verve – from 'Strangers in the Night' to 'One for My Baby,'" explained The Chronicle Telegram on May 15, 1998.

1973: Skylab is sent into space

Skylab, the first U.S. space station, was sent into space today to serve as a "cabin in the sky" for astronauts. "No more cramped quarters like the Mercury, Gemini or Apollo capsules. Skylab is as large as a three-bedroom house and has 60 times more volume than Apollo," informed The Post Crescent on May 14, 1973. While the first three-man crew was to enter space on May 15 to link up with the space station, the flight was postponed when temperatures of 100 degrees were recorded inside the lab. NOTE: Two of the six solar panels also failed to extend properly, which reduced the Skylab's power supply.

1963: Kuwait is admitted to the United Nations

The oil-rich country of Kuwait became the 111th member of the United Nations today. "The tiny Persian Gulf state was welcomed at a brief session in which the assembly, called to devise a formula for financing its expensive peace-keeping operations, referred the problem to its budgetary and administrative committee," reported the Winnipeg Free Press on May 15, 1963.

1948: Israel is proclaimed

"The State of Israel, first Hebrew nation in 2000 years, was born today in a Jewish Declaration of Independence asserting the 'historic right' of the Jews of Palestine to reconstitute their national home," explained the Oakland Tribune today in 1948. NOTE: The proclamation was to become effective after midnight, once Great Britain no longer ruled the land.