Today in History for Sept. 7, 2017

Wilcox Mineral Springs

Sept. 7, 1776 – During the American Revolutionary War, according to American colonial reports, Ezra Lee made the world's first submarine attack in the Turtle, attempting to attach a time bomb to the hull of British Admiral Richard Howe’s flagship, the HMS Eagle, in New York Harbor (no British records of this attack exist). The bomb exploded but did not do damage to either craft. This is considered the first use of a submarine in warfare.

Sept. 7, 1778 – During the American Revolutionary War, France invaded Dominica in the British West Indies, before Britain was even aware of France's involvement in the war.

Sept. 7, 1813 - The nickname "Uncle Sam" was first used as a symbolic reference to the United States when a reference to it appeared in an editorial in the New York's Troy Post. Samuel Wilson, a meat packer in New York, supplied barrels of beef to the US Army during the War of 1812, and marked them with the initials "U.S." for United States. Soldiers began referring to the food as "Uncle Sam's," and a local newspaper picked up the story.

Sept. 7, 1815 – Scottish explorer and surveyor John McDouall Stuart was born in Dysart, Fife, Scotland.

Sept. 7, 1825 – Benjamin Hunt was commissioned as Monroe County, Alabama’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1825 – During his tour of the United Sates, the Marquis de Lafayette left Washington D.C. and returned to France on the frigate USS Brandywine.

Sept. 7, 1831 – Samuel McColl was commissioned for his second of three terms as Monroe County, Alabama’s Circuit Court Clerk, and George Medlock was commissioned as Monroe County’s Sheriff.

Sept. 7, 1861 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought with Indians near the Santa Ana Canyon in California.

Sept. 7, 1861 – During the Civil War, a Federal expedition to Big Springs, Mo. took place.

Sept. 7, 1862 – During the Civil War, Federal forces occupied Bowling Green, Ky.; and Federal forces surrendered the outpost of Shepherdsville, Ky.

Sept. 7, 1862 – During the Civil War, a two-day Federal operation began between Carrollton and Saint Charles Courthouse in Louisiana.

Sept. 7, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Point of Rocks, Md.; at Lancaster, Mo.; at Riggin’s Hill (near Clarksville,) Murfreesborough and Pine Mountain in Tennessee; and at Darkesville, W.Va.

Sept. 7, 1863 – Confederates evacuated Battery Wagner on Morris Island near Charleston, S.C.

Sept. 7, 1863 - Union forces arrived at Sabine Pass, Texas. The next day their attack was thwarted by a small Confederate force.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, a skirmish occurred at Stevenson in Jackson County, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Ashley’s Mills or Ferry Landing in Arkansas; at Bath, W.Va.; at Morgan’s Ferry on the Atchafalaya River in Louisiana; at Holly Springs and another at Jacinto (or Glendale) in Mississippi; and on Battery Island, S.C.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, a Federal expedition to Big Lake, in Mississippi County, Ark. took place, and a Federal expedition from Springfield, Mo. into Arkansas and the Indian Territory began.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, an engagement was fought in Charleston Harbor, S.C. as the USS Ironsides and five monitors attacked the Confederate batteries at Moultie and Sullivan’s Island.

Sept. 7, 1863 – During the Civil War, Federal reconnaissance was conducted toward Chattanooga and a skirmish was fought in Lookout Valley, Tenn. A three-day Federal operation also began that would result in the capture of Cumberland Gap, Tenn.

Sept. 7, 1864 – During the Civil War, in preparation for his “March to the Sea,” Union General William T. Sherman ordered the residents of Atlanta, Ga., to evacuate the city. Between September 11 and 16 about 446 families (about 1,600 people) left their homes and possessions. Sherman wrote, "I have deemed it to the interest of the United States that the citizens now residing in Atlanta should remove, those who prefer it to go South, and the rest North."

Sept. 7, 1864 – During the Civil War, Federal expeditions were conducted to Grand Lake, Grand River, Lake Fausse Pointe, Bayou Pigeon and Lake Natchez in Louisiana.

Sept. 7, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Centralia, Mo.; near Winchester and Brucetown in Virginia; and near Homersville and Gayoso in Missouri.

Sept. 7, 1865 – During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought with Indians at Powder River in the Montana Territory.

Sept. 7, 1870 – Russian pilot, explorer, and author Aleksandr Kuprin was born in Narovchat, Penza, Governorate, Russian Empire.

Sept. 7, 1876 – In Huntsville, Ala., legend says that Jesse James robbed the First National Bank of $10,000 at two o’clock in the afternoon. This robbery was never committed or even attempted, but the legend persists.

Sept. 7, 1876 – In Northfield, Minn., Jesse James and the James–Younger Gang attempted to rob the town's bank but are driven off by armed citizens.

Sept. 7, 1881 - Alabama author Sidney Lanier passed away from complications from tuberculosis at the age of 39 in Lynn, N.C.

Sept. 7, 1887 – Modernist poet Edith Sitwell was born in Scarborough, England.

Sept. 7, 1893 – The Evergreen Star reported that since it had been decided that the agricultural school would be located in Evergreen, many improvements had been made on the local academy. Work had been in progress for the past month, and everything was expected to be ready for opening on the following Monday. Besides the improvements on the house, 75 new double desks had been purchased and 275 students could be seated. In this connection, and at the suggestion of The Star, the matriculation fees had been made payable monthly.

Sept. 7, 1893 – In this day’s edition of The Evergreen Star, J.A. McCreary, the secretary of the board of directors of the Evergreen Academy, announced that the school would open on Mon., Sept. 11. There was to be a matriculating fee of $2.50 or $5 charge for each scholar entering the school, established by the board of directors and payable in advance. This fee or more was charged in every regulated school, whether the tuition was free or not. On account of the stringency of money, those of the board that could be gotten together decided to allow all those who do not feel able to pay the whole fee in advance to pay at the beginning of each scholastic month.

Sept. 7, 1893 – This day’s edition of The Evergreen Star carried the following announcement under the headline “SCHOOL BOARDERS” - The Farmers’ Hotel will be prepared on the opening of the school to take as many as half a dozen young men to board. Rates reasonable. Apply to Mrs. M.E. Cobb.

Sept. 7, 1895 - A “negro employee on Mr. Geo. Watson’s place” near Burnt Corn, Ala. on this Saturday night was shot and killed by unknown parties “while dressing in his house.”

Sept. 7, 1896 - County court was scheduled to convene on this Monday in Monroeville.

Sept. 7, 1903 – Writer Margaret Landon was born in Somers, Wisc.

Sept. 7, 1905 – The Monroe Journal reported that W.L. Durden of Franklin, Ala. had recently obtained a patent on an improved nut lock for railroad rails and was negotiating for the sale of his invention.

Sept. 7, 1905 – The Monroe Journal reported that Drs. McMillan and Smith had moved their offices into the old courthouse in the suite of rooms formerly occupied by the late H.W. Jones. The Journal also reported that McCreary Brothers had moved its store into the Russell building.

Sept. 7, 1907 - Old Town’s baseball team “crossed bats” with Brownville on this Saturday, and Brownville was defeated.

Sept. 7, 1908 – Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Paul Brown was born in Norwalk, Ohio. During his career, he served as the head coach for Ohio State University, the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.

Sept. 7, 1909 – Evergreen, Alabama’s Second District Agricultural School and City School opened with a “fairly good enrollment of pupils.” Henry T. Lile was the president of the Agricultural School.

Sept. 7, 1914 - The Monroe County Teachers Institute convened in the Monroe County High School auditorium with 73 teachers enrolled.

Sept. 7, 1914 – Charlie Howard shot Louisville & Nashville Railroad bridgeman J.L. Andress four times, and Andress was rushed to Century, Fla. for surgery. Andress, 23, passed away two days later around 9 a.m. Born on Nov. 30, 1890 in Monroe County, Ala., he died on Sept. 9, 1914 and was buried in the Rumbley Cemetery near Monroeville, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1914 - Sir John French, commander in chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF), began his first official dispatch from the Western Front during World War I, summarizing the events of the first several weeks of British operations.

Sept. 7, 1915 – Former Monroe County, Ala. resident Anthony “Abram” Shiff passed away at the age of 82 in Cincinnati, Ohio. For many years, Shiff had been a “valued citizen of Monroe, being engaged in the mercantile business at Claiborne.” Born on Aug. 6, 1833, he was buried in the Clifton United Jewish Cemetery in Cincinnati. (Some sources say that he died on Sept. 10, 1915.)

Sept. 7, 1916 – The Monroe Journal reported that Mr. Barnett, farm demonstration agent for Wilcox County, was a recent visitor to Monroeville, the guest of his aunt, Mrs. L.J. Bugg.

Sept. 7, 1925 – The 1925-26 school year opened at the Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, Ala. with J.B. Murphy as principal.

Sept. 7, 1927 - Inventor Philo T. Farnsworth and assistants successfully transmitted the first all-electronic television image.

Sept. 7, 1930 – American jazz musician Sonny Rollins was born in New York City.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Both of Evergreen, Alabama’s schools – the State Secondary Agricultural School and the Evergreen City School -  opened the 1931-32 school year with a joint program held in the City School auditorium at 9 a.m. The program was to consist of several musical numbers by members of the music faculty of the schools and talks and announcements by Prof. Paul Fisher and Prof. W.P. McMillan, principals of the two schools.

Sept. 7, 1931 – Conecuh County High School at Castleberry, Ala. opened for the 1931-32 school year, the school’s 18th session, with a new principal, William English of Elba. English was the school’s seventh principal since its establishment in 1914. The principals, and years served, up to that point, were as follows: 1914-18, Sarah E. Luther; 1918-19, Lewey Dorman; 1919-22, Sellers Stough; 1922-26, J.B. Murphy; 1926-28, L.C. Kersh; 1928-31, Geo. M. Veazey; 1931- William English.

Sept. 7, 1931 - George Washington Stuart, who owned and operated the Wilcox Mineral Springs at Schuster, passed away at the age of 79 and was buried in the Ackerville Cemetery, about 15 miles east of Camden.

Sept. 7-9, 1933 – “Under Cover Man,” starring Nancy Carroll and Geo. Raft, and “Blue of the Night,” starring Bing Crosby, were scheduled to be shown at the Evergreen Theatre in Evergreen, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1936 – Musician Buddy Holly was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas.

Sept. 7, 1939 – The Monroe Journal newspaper in Monroeville, Ala. reported that Mr. and Mrs. Joe Capote and Seaborn Faulk had returned to New York, after spending a week with Misses Nannie and Jennie Faulk. They were accompanied home by Truman Capote, who had spent the summer in Monroeville.

Sept. 7, 1939 – In the first game of the Interstate Baseball League championship series, Flomaton beat Evergreen, 10-5.

Sept. 7, 1940 – The Blitz began during World War II as the first wave of German Luftwaffe bombers – 348 in all – hit London at around 4 p.m.

Sept. 7, 1945 – NFL and Auburn University offensive lineman Forrest Blue was born in Marfa, Texas. After college, he played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Colts.

Sept. 7, 1946 – Political columnist and novelist Joe Klein was born in Queens, N.Y.

Sept. 7, 1946 - The annual Conecuh County teachers institute was scheduled to be held at the Evergreen City School on this Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. County Superintendent of Education was Harvey G. Pate.

Sept. 7, 1961 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Evergreen High School’s cheerleaders that football season included Sandra Lowrey, Jackie Thornley, Sandra Brooks, Brenda Ellis, Elaine Kindig and Barbara Stinson.

Sept. 7, 1961 – The Evergreen Courant reported that C.W. Claybrook, principal of Evergreen High School for the previous 10 years, had accepted the principalship of the Luverne Schools in Crenshaw County. Both the elementary and the high school were to be under Claybrook’s supervision. Mr. and Mrs. Claybrook were employed by the Crenshaw County Board of Education before coming to Conecuh County. He served as principal of Dozier High for four years.

Sept. 7, 1962 - Author Elizabeth Dewberry was born in Birmingham, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1962 – Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Jennifer Egan was born in Chicago.

Sept. 7, 1963 – The Pro Football Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio with 17 charter members.

Sept. 7, 1965 – The first full day of classes in Monroe County schools for the 1965-66 school year took place, following registration for students at all schools on Sept. 3. R.H. Vickery was county superintendent of education.

Sept. 7, 1965 – In a run-off election in Mobile, Uriah native Lambert Mims was named to the Mobile City Commission. Mims, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff C. Mims of Uriah, beat Henry Luscher by 1,172 votes.

Sept. 7, 1965 – During the Vietnam War, in a follow-up to August's Operation Starlight, United States Marines and South Vietnamese forces initiated Operation Piranha on the Batangan Peninsula, 23 miles south of the Marine base at Chu Lai.

Sept. 7, 1967 - U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara announced plans to build an electronic anti-infiltration barrier to block communist flow of arms and troops into South Vietnam from the north at the eastern end of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ).

Sept. 7, 1968 – Army Sgt. William Morris Cooper, 25, of Georgiana, Ala. was killed in action in Quang Ngai, Vietnam. He was a member of Co. D, 4^th Battalion, 3^rd Infantry, 11^th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. Born on Oct. 5, 1942, he was buried in Sunrise Memorial Park in Greenville, Ala.

Sept. 7, 1977 - The Panama Canal treaties were signed by U.S. President Carter and General Omar Torrijos Herrera. The treaties called for the U.S. to turn over control of the canal's waterway to Panama in the year 2000.

Sept. 7, 1978 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the finishing touches were being made to complete the improvements of the ‘home side’ bleachers at Sparta Academy’s Stuart-McGehee Field in Evergreen, Ala. The splintered, wooden seats were being covered with concrete.

  

Sept. 7, 1979 - ESPN, the Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, made its debut on cable TV.

Sept. 7, 1979 - The Monroe Academy Volunteers turned things over to a rip-roaring defensive unit to claim a hard-fought, 15-7 win over the Pickens Academy Pirates at Volunteer Stadium on this Friday night. Defensive stars were many for the Orange with Larry Gaston, David Carpenter and Sammy Carter getting key tackles along with most of their defensive playmates. Other standout Monroe Academy players in that game included Davison Carter, Ron Eddins, Troy Kendrick, Tommy Kilpatrick, Rusty Middleton, Randall Norris, Doug Smith, Tripp Stallworth and Rick Williams. Rob Kelly was Monroe’s head coach.

Sept. 7, 1984 – National Baseball Hall of Fame short stop and manager Joe Cronin passed away at the age of 77 in Osterville, Mass. During his career, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, the Washington Senators and the Boston Red Sox and he went on to manage the Senators and Red Sox. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1956.

Sept. 7, 1986 - Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins threw his 100th career touchdown pass, in only his 44th NFL game, which set a NFL record.

Sept. 7, 1990 – J.U. Blacksher High School beat Fruitdale High School, 12-0, in Fruitdale. Senior tailback Doug Brown scored on a 56-yard run in the second quarter, and Willie Jackson scored on a two-yard run in the third quarter.

Sept. 7, 1990 – Monroe Academy opened the 1990 season with a 14-3 win over Wilcox Academy in Camden. K.J. Lazenby was Monroe’s head coach. Standout Monroe players in that game included John Abernathy, Chris Hare and Tommy Weatherford.

Sept. 7, 1998 - Mark McGwire set a new Major League Baseball record for most home runs hit in a single season. The previous record was 61 set in 1961.

Sept. 7, 2001 - Barry Bonds of the San Francisco Giants became the only the fifth player in Major League Baseball history to hit 60 home runs in a season.

Sept. 7, 2004 – Hurricane Ivan, a Category 5 hurricane hit Grenada, killing 39 and damaging 90 percent of its buildings.

Sept. 7, 2008 – The United States government took control of the two largest mortgage lenders in the U.S., Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.