1777 – Vermont declares independence from NY.
1847 – John C. Fremont is appointed Governor of the new California Territory.
1865 – Drunken sailor attacks munitions at Ft. Fisher NC, 40 die.
1868 – Refrigerator car patented by William Davis, a fish dealer in Detroit.
1870 – Virginia becomes 8th state readmitted to US after civil war.
1883 – Pendleton Act creates basis of US Civil Service system.
1900 – The US gains control over Tutuila in Samoa and several smaller Pacific islands.
1920 – The 18th Amendment is ratified, prohibiting the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages (repealed 1933)
1936 – 1st photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah Florida.
1952 – US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary.
1964 – “Hello, Dolly!” opens at St. James Theater NYC for 2,844 performances.
1965 – The Searchers’ “Love Portion Number 9” peaks at #3.
1967 – Lucius Amerson becomes 1st southern (Ala) black sheriff in 20th century.
1973 – NBC presents 440th & final showing of “Bonanza”
1976 – “Donny & Marie” {Osmond} musical variety show premieres on ABC-TV.
1981 – Boxer Leon Spinks is mugged, his assailants even took his gold teeth.
1985 – “Playboy” announces end of stapling centerfolds.
1989 – 5th Soap Opera Digest Awards – Days of Our Lives wins.
2001 – US President Bill Clinton awards former President Theodore Roosevelt a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in the Spanish-American War.
2003 – The Space Shuttle Columbia takes off for mission STS-107 which would be its final one. Columbia disintegrated 16 days later on re-entry.
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