Today in History for Feb. 19, 2018

Harper Lee's grave in Monroeville, Ala.

Feb. 19, 1473 - Nicolaus Copernicus was born in Torun, a city in north-central Poland on the Vistula River. The father of modern astronomy, he was the first modern European scientist to propose that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun.

Feb. 19, 1777 - The Continental Congress voted to promote Thomas Mifflin, Arthur St. Clair, William Alexander, Lord Stirling, Adam Stephen and Benjamin Lincoln to the rank of major general, and Brigadier General Benedict Arnold felt slighted that five junior officers received promotions ahead of him and, in response, threatened to resign from the Patriot army.

Feb. 19, 1807 – Former U.S. vice-president Aaron Burr was arrested in the Mississippi Territory at McIntosh Bluff, Washington County, in present-day Alabama and was escorted back to Fort Stoddert by Lt. Edward Gaines. Burr was accused of treason for attempting to form a new, independent republic in the southwest, plotting to annex Spanish territory in Louisiana and Mexico. After spending several weeks in custody in Alabama, Burr was returned to Richmond, Va. for trial. Burr was acquitted of the charges, but quickly left the country to avoid other charges relating to the murder of Alexander Hamilton during an 1804 duel.

Feb. 19, 1819 – British explorer William Smith discovered the South Shetland Islands, and claimed them in the name of King George III.

Feb. 19, 1821 - Union General Francis Preston Blair Jr. was born in Lexington, Ky. The colorful Blair was instrumental in keeping Missouri part of the Union during the early stages of the Civil War.

Feb. 19, 1828 – Elisha Moseley became postmaster at Burnt Corn, Ala.

Feb. 19, 1846 – In Austin, Texas the newly formed Texas state government was officially installed. The Republic of Texas government officially transferred power to the State of Texas government following the annexation of Texas by the United States. Texas had officially become a state on Dec. 29, 1845.

Feb. 19, 1847 - The first rescuers from Sutter’s Fort reached the surviving remnants of the Donner emigrant party at their snowbound camp in the high Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Feb. 19, 1862 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at West Plains, Mo. and at Winston, N.C. A two-day Federal expedition into Currituck Sound, N.C. began. Clarksville, Tenn. and Fort Defiance were occupied by Federal forces.

Feb. 19, 1863 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Cypress Bend, Ark.; in the Mississippi Delta at Yazoo Pass and Coldwater River in Mississippi; at Rover, Tenn.; and at Leesburg, Va. A Federal operation between Indian Village and Rosedale in Louisiana began. A five-day Federal operation into Barton and Jasper Counties in Missouri began.

Feb. 19, 1864 - The Knights of Pythias were founded in Washington, D.C. A dozen members formed what became Lodge No. 1.

Feb. 19, 1864 – During the Civil War, a federal operation was conducted at Brown’s Ferry, Ala.

Feb. 19, 1864 – During the Civil War, skirmishes were fought at Waugh’s Farm, near Batesville, Ark.; at Grossetete Bayou, La.; near Meridian, Houston and at Egypt Station in Mississippi; and in the vicinity of Independence, Mo.

Feb. 19, 1865 – During the Civil War, the first day of a five-day Federal operation between Eastport, Miss. and Russellville, Ala. began.

Feb. 19, 1865 – During the Civil War, a federal expedition from Barrancas to Milton, Fla. began.

Feb. 19, 1865 – During the Civil War, a four-day Federal expedition from Helena, Ark. began, crossed the Mississippi River, and proceeded to Friar’s Point, Miss. A skirmish was fought near Wilmington, along the Cape Fear River in N.C. Federal forces captured Fort Anderson, near Wilmington, N.C.

Feb. 19, 1865 – Explorer and geographer Sven Hedin was born in Stockholm, Sweden.

Feb. 19, 1867 – Joseph Ganes Sanders, the “Turncoat of Dale County,” was killed outside Decatur, Ga.

Feb. 19, 1867 – The Alabama Legislature approved an act, “for the relief of maimed soldiers and sailors,” who were veterans of the War Between the States. Under the act, the state would provide an artificial leg to those veterans who had been maimed while in the service. (Men of Wilcox)

Feb. 19, 1884 – More than 60 tornadoes struck the Southern United States (including Mississippi, Alabama North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Indiana), one of the largest tornado outbreaks in U.S. history. About 800 people were killed.

Feb. 19, 1884 - The town of Goshen, in Pike County, Ala. lost 26 people to an F4 twister, classified as "devastating" with winds between 207 and 260 mph. A brick school building literally exploded when the tornado hit it dead on, killing six students and a teacher. Outside of Goshen, 13 more people lost their lives in Alabama.

Feb. 19, 1896 – Andre Breton, the author of “The Surrealist Manifest,” was born in Tinchebray, France.

Feb. 19, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that Ernest Ricou’s “handsome new” storehouse was rapidly nearing completion and would “be ready in a few days for the reception of his goods, where he will be pleased to see and wait upon his many friends.”

Feb. 19, 1886 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Rev. M.M. Graham of Burnt Corn, who had recently appointed Monroe County Superintendent of Education, was in Monroeville, Ala. on Wed., Feb. 17.

Feb. 19, 1903 - The Vanderbilt Glee and Instrumental Club of Nashville, Tenn. planned to stop in Evergreen on this Thursday to give an entertainment for the benefit of the School Library. There were in the Glee Club, about 16; Instrumental Club, about 14, male quartette, string quartette, etc. Justin Thacher, perhaps the finest tenor in the south, was with them, as well as Prof. C. Roland Flick, the well-known violinist. They were on their way to De Funiak Springs, Fla., and an entertainment was promised that no one could afford to miss. In order to enable all to attend, the rate was to be as low as 50 cents; children, 25 cents; reserved seats, 75 cents.

Feb. 19, 1903 – The Monroe Journal reported that the Hon. Thos. S. Wiggins, Monroe County’s representative in the legislature, was home for a few days.

Feb. 19, 1903 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from the Burnt Corn community, that the building committee had about closed the contract for the new church at Puryearville; the building to be placed beside where the old one stood, the latter having been sold.

Feb. 19, 1903 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from the Drewry community, that J.B. McMillan was putting up a telephone line from the store to his residence, which was expected to be a great convenience. The people at Drewry had also built a “fine new school house” and a residence for the teacher, Prof. Hardy, to live in.

Feb. 19, 1903 – The Monroe Journal reported, in news from the Perdue Hill community, that the oyster supper “was a complete success. A handsome cake was voted to Miss Callie Davis, and the quilt was won by Mr. Owen Burk of the Nettie Quill.”

Feb. 19, 1904 - The winter term of the Jones Mill District School closed on this Friday with the “record of being one of the most successful terms of the school’s history – due to the able principal, Prof. J.A. Barnes, and his able and accomplished assistant, Miss Correy King, also the better equipped school rooms which have added very much to our comfort during the cold winter days, and we are very sorry indeed that our school has closed, and especially to know that we will be so far from our able instructors, will miss their kind and wise instructions, so we are left wondering if during the next term of our school we will be fortunate enough to have the same able and talented instructors.”

Feb. 19, 1908 - Alabama author Mildred Lee was born in West Blocton, Ala.

Feb. 19, 1912 – Major League Baseball first baseman Dick Siebert was born in Fall River, Massachusetts. He would go on to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Philadelphia Athletics.

Feb. 19, 1915 – During World War I, the first naval attack on the Dardanelles began when a strong Anglo-French task force bombarded Ottoman artillery along the coast of Gallipoli.

Feb. 19, 1917 – Novelist Carson McCullers was born Lula Carson Smith in Columbus, Ga.

Feb. 19, 1918 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Jodie W. Booker, 18, of McKenzie, Ala. “died from disease.” Born on Jan. 19, 1900, he is buried in Pleasant Hill Cemetery in McKenzie.

Feb. 19, 1919 – During World War I, Army Pvt. Dewey Morris, 21, of Flomaton, Ala. “died from disease.” Born on Dec. 18, 1897, he was buried in Rock Cemetery in Flomaton. He was serving in Co. C of the 161^st U.S. Infantry Regiment when he died overseas.

Feb. 19, 1921 - J.D. Clark, 15-year-old son of W.A. Clark, a well known farmer residing about six miles east of Castleberry, was instantly killed late Saturday when the shotgun, it is thought he was attempting to clean, was discharged and the load of shot entered the boy’s breast and stomach.

Feb. 19, 1922 – Confederate veteran Mark Luke McClammy, age 78, passed away at his home in northern Conecuh County. On March 29, 1862, McClammy enlisted as a private in Co. H of the 2nd Alabama Cavalry, a predominately Monroe raised unit. His horse was valued at $350. Born on Feb. 25, 1843, he was buried in Concord Cemetery at Mixonville.

Feb. 19, 1924 – Monroe County Bank celebrated its 20^th anniversary. The bank began business on Feb. 19, 1904 was $15,000 in capital. J.B. Barnett organized the bank and had served as its president continuously between 1904 and 1924. D.D. Mims had served as the bank’s cashier “during practically its entire career.”

Feb. 19, 1930 - Bosie Phillips of Dothan, Ala. fell under a freight train opposite the Louisville & Nashville depot on this Wednesday around 11 a.m. and suffered injuries which resulted in the loss of his left arm just below the elbow. Phillips was trying to board the train, which was running at a fast rate, when the accident occurred. Phillips was given emergency medical attention by Dr. E.L. Stallworth and was later carried to Montgomery on Train No. 6, where he was to receive treatment at the railroad hospital.

Feb. 19, 1931 – The Evergreen Courant reported that a 65-acre site for a landing field had been leased 5-1/2 miles west of Evergreen, Ala. on the Belleville Highway. The field was to serve as an intermediate landing field for use in the federal air mail service along the Atlanta-New Orleans mail route. Plans were also included for a revolving search light beacon mounted on a steel tower at the corner of the airfield.

Feb. 19, 1935 – Major League Baseball catcher Russ Nixon was born in Cleves, Ohio. He would go on to play for the Cleveland Indians, the Boston Red Sox and the Minnesota Twins. He would later manage the Cincinnati Reds and the Atlanta Braves.

Feb. 19, 1935 - Lou Gehrig signed a contract with the New York Yankees for $30,000.

Feb. 19, 1942 - The New York Yankees announced that they would admit 5,000 uniformed servicemen free to each of their home ball games during the coming season.

Feb. 19, 1942 – Pro Football Hall of Fame safety Paul Krause was born in Flint, Michigan. He would go on to play for the University of Iowa, the Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998.

Feb. 19, 1943 - Alabama author Homer Hickam was born in Coalwood, West Virginia.

Feb. 1945 – The Battle of Iwo Jima began.

Feb. 19, 1946 - Danny Gardella became the first Major League Baseball player to go to the Mexican League.

Feb. 19, 1948 – The Town of Excel, Ala. was officially incorporated as a municipality.

  

Feb. 19, 1951 - The spring term of Conecuh County Circuit Court convened in Evergreen on this Monday morning with Judge F.W. Hare presiding. The grand jury was organized with Hugh M. Brown as foreman and after an able charge by Judge Hare promptly began its investigations with the assistance of Circuit Solicitor A.H. Elliott and County Solicitor E.C. Page Jr.

Feb. 19, 1951 – Effective on this Monday, J.R. Daughtry became local manager of the Piggly Wiggly in Evergreen, succeeding Mack Everage who had been there since this store was purchased by Euclid Cook of Andalusia in 1950. Everage had been transferred back to Andalusia as manager of the Piggly Wiggly store there.

Feb. 19, 1952 – NFL safety and kick returner Eddie Brown was born in Jasper, Tenn. He went on to play for the University of Tennessee, the Cleveland Browns, the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Rams.

Feb. 19, 1952 – Novelist Amy Tan was born in Oakland, Calif.

Feb. 19, 1953 - The State of Georgia approved the first literature censorship board in the U.S. Newspapers were excluded from the new legislation.

Feb. 19, 1953 – The Evergreen Courant reported that I. Long & Sons, historic department store of Evergreen, was going out of business after 63 years, according to announcement made by owner Alfred Long, son and grandson of the store’s founders. Stock of the store had been purchased by Jack J. Levenson of Birmingham, who planned to sell it at the location on East Front Street. I. Long & Sons was founded in 1890 when Haiman and Max Long, brothers, established a store called the Red Front. In 1891, their father, I. Long, became a partner and the name was changed to I. Long & Sons, the style under which it operated until this year.

Feb. 19, 1953 – The Evergreen Courant reported that the grand jury of the Circuit Court of Conecuh County had made nine cases that week which were to be tried during criminal court week, starting March 2. According to Circuit Solicitor Robert E.L. Key, the grand jurors returned true bills on nine of the 10 cases on the criminal docket. Aaron (Bo) Griffin, alleged to have shot and killed Willie Guy Lee, woman, last November in Evergreen, was to face trial for murder in the first degree. His case had been set for trial on March 2.

Feb. 19, 1953 – The Monroe Journal reported that Cpl. Robert B. Lambert of Rt. 2, Frisco City, who was killed on Oct. 4, 1951, in action in Korea was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross on Feb. 11, 1953 by Maj. General D.W. Canham, Headquarters Third Army. Presentation of the award was made to the father of the deceased serviceman, Pleason Lambert, at the Lambert residence on Frisco City, Rt. 2. The citation which accompanied the presentation of the DSC medal declared Cpl. Lambert “distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism in action against the enemy in the vicinity of Chungseri, Korea.”

Feb. 19, 1953 – The Monroe Journal reported that Monroeville’s new deep water well, with a guaranteed capacity of 900 gallons of water per minute, was estimated to be in operation within a two-week period. Depth of the new well, which was begun in August 1952 was 1,500 feet. Local water board officials had stated the new deep was expected to alleviate a reoccurrence of a water shortage which was demanded by increased local consumption and dry weather in the summer months. Drilling of the well was instigated by a critical shortage in 1952 because of drought during the summer.

Feb. 19, 1954 - Evergreen High School’s varsity boys basketball team were defeated by the Andalusia Bulldogs on this Friday night in Andalusia, 59-52. Randy White led Evergreen with 16 points, followed closely by Jimmy Frazier with 14. John Ford, high man for Andalusia, racked up 19 points for the victors. Other players on Evergreen’s team that season included Ward Alexander, Wayne Douglas, Charlie King and Hosea King.

Feb. 19, 1954 – Monroe County High School’s varsity boys basketball team won their 16^th game of the season on this Friday night as they downed the UMS Cadets, 64-46, in the Monroeville coliseum. Guard Pat Cobb, an outstanding playmaker all season, hit the nets for 19 points to lead the Tigers, while center Bobby White followed closely with 14 markers.

Feb. 19, 1964 - Simon & Garfunkel completed the original acoustic version of "Sounds of Silence."

Feb. 19, 1964 – Writer Jonathan Lethem was born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Feb. 19, 1965 - The NFL began using six officials during games.

Feb. 19, 1965 – Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, and a communist spy of the North Vietnamese Viet Minh, along with Generals Lâm Văn Phát and Trần Thiện Khiêm attempted a coup against the military junta of Nguyễn Khánh.

Feb. 19, 1965 - Dissident officers moved several battalions of troops into Saigon with the intention of ousting Gen. Nguyen Khanh from leadership.

Feb. 19, 1970 - The Chicago Seven (formerly the Chicago Eight–one defendant, Bobby Seale, was being tried separately) were acquitted of riot conspiracy charges, but found guilty of inciting riot.

Feb. 19, 1976 – Sparta Academy’s varsity boys basketball team played Catherine Academy at 6 p.m. in the Alabama Private School Association’s District III playoffs at Wilcox Academy in Camden. The winner and runner-up advanced to the state tournament.

Feb. 19, 1976 – The Evergreen Courant reported that Bob Kendall was collecting historical information on Brooklyn and the surrounding area in connection with the bicentennial. He was particularly interested in the names of the people who organized the bank that never opened in Brooklyn.

Feb. 19, 1979 – Sparta Academy’s girls basketball team finished the 1978-79 season with a 55-33 loss to Lakeside Academy in the APSA state tournament on this Monday night in Selma.

Feb. 19, 1982 – On their way to an eventual berth in the 1A state tournament, Lyeffion beat Repton, 58-57, in the final round of the Class 1A, Area II tournament at Conecuh County High School in Castleberry, Ala. This win gave Lyeffion the Area II championship and they won the region championship game the following night by beating A.L. Johnson in Castleberry.

Feb. 19, 1999, “October Sky,” a movie version of Alabama author Homer Hickam's book “Rocket Boys,” was released.

Feb. 19, 2001 – The Oklahoma City bombing museum was dedicated at the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

Feb. 19, 2002 - J.F. Shields High School’s varsity girls were scheduled to begin play in the Alabama High School Athletic Association’s Southeast Region basketball tournament in Troy on this Tuesday afternoon. Shields, sporting a 23-2 record, was set to meet defending state champion Notasulga High School at 3:30 p.m. at Troy State University. Shields won its tenth straight area championship two weeks before. Since Shields girls head coach Herbert Blackmon inherited the program 16 years before, his girls teams had won 13 area championships. Top players on Shields team that season included Tandra Blackmon, April Hollinger, Quantus Jones, Folake Knight, Tameka Knight, Latoya Lett, Constance Montgomery, Ashley Odom and Crystal Stanton.

Feb. 19, 2004 - Weather observer Harry Ellis reported a low of 30 degrees in Evergreen.

Feb. 19, 2016 – Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee died in her sleep on this morning, at the age of 89, in Monroeville, Ala.