1818 – Christmas carol “Silent Night” composed by Franz Xavier Gruber is first sung at St. Nicholas parish church in Oberndorf, Austria.
1851 – Fire devastates US Library of Congress in Washington, destroys 35,000 volumes.
1860 – Joseph Jefferson’s “Rip Van Winkle” premieres in NYC.
1889 – Daniel Stover & William Hance patent bicycle with back pedal brake channels.
1893 – Henry Ford completes his first useful petroleum fuelled engine.
1901 – Private companies allowed to use the word “postcard” in the US. Previously they were labeled “Private Mailing Cards” and known as “souvenir cards”
1906 – Reginald A. Fessenden became 1st to broadcast music over radio (Mass).
1912 – Irving Fisher patents archiving system with index cards.
1920 – Enrico Caruso gives his last public performance (NYC).
1924 – Richard Rogers Theater (46th St. Chanin’s) opens at 226 W 46th NYC.
1924 – School in Babb’s Switch, Oklahoma, catches fire, 36 die.
1936 – 1st radioactive isotope medicine administered in Berkeley, California.
1943 – US President FDR appoints General Eisenhower Supreme Commander of the Allied forces.
1948 – First US completely solar heated house is occupied (Dover, Mass).
1956 – “I Love Lucy” Christmas show airs, never put in syndication.
1964 – Shooting begins on “The Cage” the pilot for Star Trek.
1970 – Walt Disney’s “Aristocats” is released.
1973 – District of Columbia Home Rule Act is passed, allowing residents of Washington, D.C. to elect their own local government.
1980 – Americans remembered Iran hostages by shining lights for 417 seconds.
1992 – US President George H.D. Bush pardons Caspar Weinberger to Iran-contra affair.
2000 – The Texas 7 hold up a sports store in Irving, Texas. Police officer Aubrey Hawkins is shot during the robbery.