This Day in History – January 16
1493—Columbus leaves the new world and sets sail for Spain on his 1st trip.
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.
1870—Virginia becomes 8th state readmitted to US after Civil War.
1883—Pendleton Act creates basis of US Civil Service system.
1905—Baseball outfielder Frank Huelsman completes eighth transaction in 8 months.
1919—Prohibition ratified by 3/4 of US states; Nebraska is 36th.
1920—Georgia declares independence.
1936—1st photo finish camera installed at Hialeah Race track in Hialeah, Florida.
1942—William Knudsen becomes 1st civilian appointed a general in US army.
1944—Gen. Eisenhower took control of Allied Invasion Force in London.
1951—World’s largest gas pipeline opens (Brownsville, TX, to 134th St. NYC)
1952—US Standard Board clears Stan Musial to get an $85,000 salary.
1954—“South Pacific” closes at Majestic Theater NYC after 1928 performances.
1962—Shooting begins on “Dr. No”
1964—“Hello Dolly!” opens at St. James Theater NYC for 2,844 performances.
1965—The Searchers’ “Love Potion Number 9” peaks at #3.
1967—Lucius Amerson, becomes 1st southern (Ala) black sheriff in 20th century.
1970—Curt Flood files a civil lawsuit challenging baseball’s reserve clause.
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.
1988—NFL St. Louis Cardinals announce move to Phoenix.
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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