March 15

This Day in American History

    1767- Andrew Jackson Birthday, 7th president of the US (Mar 4, 1829-Mar 3, 1837) was born in a log cabin at Waxhaw, SC. Jackson was the first president since George Washington who had not attended college. He was a military hero in the War of 1812. His presidency reflected his democratic and egalitarian values. Died at Nashville, TN, June 8, 1845. His birthday is observed as a holiday in Tennessee.
    1783- General George Washington addressed a meeting at Newburgh, NY, of Continental Army officers who were dissatisfied and rebellious for want of back pay, food, clothing and pensions. General Washington called for patience, opening his speech with the words: "I have grown gray in your service." Congress later acted to satisfy most of the demands.
    1820- Maine became the 23rd state, prior to this date it was part of Massachusetts. The Pine Tree State. The white pine cone with its tassel is the state flower. The chickadee is the state bird. The landlocked salmon is the state fish, the tourmaline is the state mineral. The state song:.. “State of Maine Song”. ‘I direct' is the state motto which is ‘dirigo' in Latin.. From the 15 th to 19 th century, this was a great fishing area, off the coast of islands of Nova Scotia. The name of the state comes for its first use to distinguish the mainland from islands offshore. Maine was also thought to be named in honor of Henrietta Maria, Charles I of England's queen. She owned a province in France titled, Mayne. Augusta is the capital of Maine (not Georgia).
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/today/mar15.html
    1827-Freedom's Journal, first Black newspaper, published by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish
http://www.shsw.wisc.edu/library/aanp/freedom/index.html
    1848-"The Californian" reported gold was discovered along the American River at a sawmill owned by Capt. John A. Sutter. News was not widely believed in San Francisco.
    1848-The San Francisco Californian of March 15, 1848, says: "We entertain several reasons why slavery should not be introduced here. First, it is wrong for it to exist anywhere. Second, not a single instance of precedence exists at present in the shape of physical bondage of our fellow men. Third, there is no excuse whatever for its introduction into this country (by virtue of climate or physical conditions). Fourth, Negroes have equal rights to life, liberty, health and happiness with the whites. Fifth, it is every individual's duty, to self and to society, to be occupied in useful employment sufficient to gain self-support. Sixth, it would be the greatest calamity that the power of the United States could inflict upon California. Seventh, we desire only a white population in California. Eighth, we left the slave states because we did not like to bring up a family in a miserable, can't-help-one's-self condition. Ninth, in conclusion we dearly love the 'Union,' but declare our positive preference for an independent condition of California to the establishment of any degree of slavery, or even the importation of free blacks." Ten days later the other local journal, The California Star, said editorially; "While we sincerely entertain these views, and value the union with the United States as highly as we should, the simple recognition of slavery here would be looked upon as a greater misfortune to the territory than though California had remained in its former state, or were at the present crisis, abandoned to its fate. * * We believe, though slavery could not be generally introduced, that its recognition would blast the prospects of the country. It would make it disreputable for the white man to labor for his bread, and it would thus drive off to other homes the only class of emigrants California wishes to see, the sober and industrious middle-class of society. We would, therefore, on the part of 90 per cent of the population of this country, most solemnly protest against the introducing of this blight upon the prosperity of the home of our adoption. We should look upon it as an unnecessary moral, intellectual and social curse to ourselves and posterity."
    1849-Gen. Smith, military commander of California, declared the Yerba Buena harbor to be poor because the seas are too rough and it is located on a peninsula with little water and few food supplies.
    1865- Battle of Averasboro NC
http://www.averasboro.com/The%20Battle.htm
http://www.jeanwellstravel.com/ncinthecivilwar.htm
http://www.averasboro.com/
    1907-trumpet player Jimmy McPartland born, Chicago, Il
http://www.redhotjazz.com/McPartland.html
http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/su/cja/mcpphotos.html
    1912-birthday of guitarist/folksinger Lightin' Hopkins, Centerville, TX His career spanned more than 30 years, even though he did not begin performing in earnest until middle age. Hopkins spent most of his life in the Houston area, recording his first hits, "Short Haired Woman" and "Baby Please Don't Go" for the local Gold Star label in 1947. Texas blues fell from favor in the mid-1950s, and Hopkins was not heard from again until 1959 when he began playing folk and blues festivals. Lightnin' Hopkins's last performance was at Carnegie Hall in 1979. He died of cancer in 1982.
http://www.blueflamecafe.com/index.html
    1913-the first small claims court established for small debtors, was authorized by Kansas, to deal with cases involving not more than $20. Plaintiffs and defendants appeared without legal representation. Judges served without fee, pay, or award and were not required to be lawyers. Appeals could be take to the district court.
    1916 –Trumpet player/bandleader Harry James birthday
http://www.davidmulliss.com.au/HarryJames/index.htm
    1930- USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) floated out to become a national shrine.
http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/historyupdat.htm
http://www.ussconstitution.navy.mil/
    1933-Birthday of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, U.S. Supreme Court judge appointed 1992, lifelong advocate of women's rights. She won five of the six cases that she argued before the Supreme Court, establishing the unconstitutionality of unequal treatment for men and women. She was the editor of the Harvard Law Review. Ginsburg graduated first in her class of 1959, but she was unable to find a job in a law firm; neither mothers nor Jews were being hired. She eventually found employment as a clerk with a federal district judge in New York with the proviso that a male appointee would be waiting when she failed. She was the first female tenured professor at Columbia University and former director of the Women's Rights Project of the ACLU. President Bill Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court on June 15, 1993, and the Senate overwhelmingly (96—3) approved her nomination. She took the oath of office on August 10, 1993
    1937-the first birth control clinic run by a state government was opened in Raleigh, NC, by the state board of health, including a program setting up contraceptive clinics for poor married women in local maternity and child health services.
    1937-the first blood bank to preserve blood by refrigeration for future use in transfusions was established by the Cook County Hospital, Chicago, IL.,
    1941- Mike Love of the Beach Boys was born in Los Angeles. Love is a cousin of the three Wilson Brothers - Brian, Carl and Dennis. With their friend, Al Jardine, they formed a high school group which played under such names as the Pendletones, Kenny and the Cadets and Carl and the Passions. Mike Love and Brian Wilson wrote "Surfin'," which was a California hit in 1961 for the group, now called the Beach Boys. Murray Wilson, the father of Brian, Dennis and Carl, got the Beach Boys a contract with Capitol Records. Their hits began - "Surfin' Safari," "Surfin' USA" and "Surfer Girl." These were the songs that launched the surf music fad. They went to University High School, as I did, played in some of their pick-up bands, and yes, they really were surfers, who got up at 5am to go surfing before going to school—before the days of wet suits, too.
    1941 - the most severe blizzard in modern history struck North Dakota and Minnesota. The blizzard hit on a Saturday night while many were traveling and resulted in the tragic loss of 71 lives. Winds gusted to 75 mph at Duluth, Minnesota and to 85 mph at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Snow drifts reached 12 feet in north central Minnesota.
    1944-Sly Stone ( Sylvester Stewart) singer, musician born Dallas, Texas
http://www.artistinformation.com/sly_&_the_family_stone.html
    1946-Nat “King” Cole records “Route 66” written by Bobby Troupe.
    1947-Ensign John W. Lee of Indianapolis, IN was commission an officer, becoming the first in the U.S. Navy. He was assigned to the U.S. S. Kearsarge.
    1948- Parcel Post Air Service between the United States and 21 countries in Europe and Africa began. Service late in the year began to South America and then to the Pacific.
    1954---Top Hits
Make Love to Me! - Jo Stafford
I Get So Lonely - The Four Knights
Answer Me, My Love - Nat ‘King' Cole
Slowly - Webb Pierce
    1955-Colonel Tom Parker becomes Elvis Presley's manager. Parker's previous show-business experience included managing country stars Hank Snow, Eddy Arnold and Gene Autry. Parker manages Presley all his life and after his death.
    1956 - The musical, "My Fair Lady", opened on Broadway. The show ran for 6-1/2 years before 2,717 audiences. It became, thanks to Rex Harrison and an outstanding cast, the longest-running musical to that time.
    1957-Caorl Heiss of Ozone Park, Queens , New York City won her first National Women's figure skating championship at Berkeley, CA: her second and third in 1958 and 1959; and her fourth consecutive title on January 29, 1960k,at Seattle, WA.. She won again.
http://www.worldskatingmuseum.org/chjhof.htm
    1959-- The musical, No Strings, opened on Broadway at the 54th Street Theatre. Richard Kiley and Diahann Carroll starred in the show. Also featured was the show´s composer in an acting role, singing his own lyrics. The composer was Richard Rodgers.
    1960- the Key Largo Coral Reef Preserve, an area 21 miles long and 3.5 wine in the Atlantic Ocean was made an Undersea park by proclamation of President Dwight David Eisenhower. This wildlife refuse contains 40 of the 52 known coral species.
    1962---Top Hits
Hey! Baby - Bruce Channel
Midnight in Moscow - Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen
Don't Break the Heart that Loves You - Connie Francis
Misery Loves Company - Porter Wagoner
    1966-Winners of the eighth annual Grammy awards for 1965 are announced. Record of the Year is "A Taste of Honey" by Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass. Album of the year is Frank Sinatra's "September of My Years." Song of the Year is "The Shadow of Your Smile" by Paul Francis Webster and Johnny Mandel.
    1964- My Fair Lady, by Lerner and Loewe, opened on Broadway. It ran for 6-1/2 years before 2,717 audiences. It became, thanks to Rex Harrison and an outstanding cast, the longest-running musical to that time.
    1968 - "LIFE" magazine called Jimi Hendrix, “the most spectacular guitarist in the world.”
    1968-Blood, Sweat and Tears opened at the S.F. Avalon Ballroom.
    1970---Top Hits
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon & Garfunkel
Travelin' Band/Who'll Stop the Rain - Creedence Clearwater Revival
The Rapper - The Jaggerz
It's Just a Matter of Time - Sonny James
    1972-Singer Robert John scores with a remake of the Tokens' Number One hit "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." John's version goes Top Fifteen and earns him a gold record
    1972-Los Angeles Radio station KHJ is raided by L.A. police after calls from listeners who feared there'd been a revolution at the station from 6:00 to 7:30 in the morning. DJ Robert W. Morgan had played Donny Osmond's "Puppy Love" over and over. The police left without making any arrests
    1977- “Eight is Enough” premiers on TV. This one-hour comedy-drama was set in Sacramento and starred Dick Van Patten as Tom Bradford, a columnist for a local paper and a widower with eight children. Diana Hyland played his wife Joan; she died from cancer after filming five shows. The children were played by Grant Goodeve, Lani O'Grady, Laurie Walters, Susan Richardson, Dianne Kay, Connie Needham, Willie Aames and Adam Rich. In the fall of 1977 Betty Buckley joined the cast as tutor Abby Abbott, who later married Tom. Most of the cast was reunited for Tom's 50th birthday on "Eight Is Enough: A Family Reunion" shown on Oct 18, 1987.
http://www.becoming.net/eie/
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowMainServlet/showid-691/
    1977-“Three's Company” appears on TV. This half-hour comedy featured two girls and a guy sharing an apartment. In order for the landlord to go along with the living arrangements, Jack Tripper, played by John Ritter, had to pretend he was gay. Cast included Joyce DeWitt, Suzanne Somers, Norman Fell, Audra Findley, Richard Kline, Don Knotts and Priscilla Barnes. The last telecast aired on Sept 18, 1984.
http://www.threescompany.com/tcompany/www/
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/threescompany.html
    1978---Top Hits
(Love Is) Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb
Night Fever - Bee Gees
Lay Down Sally - Eric Clapton
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys - Waylon & Willie
    1978-"American Hot Wax," a film about a week in the life of pioneer rock & roll disc jockey Alan Freed, premieres in New York. The soundtrack features Jackie Wilson, Buddy Holly, the Moonglows, Drifters, Spaniels, Cadillacs, Zodiacs and others.
    1981-the National Football League prohibited the use of any sticky substances on the body uniform or equipment of any player. The rules change was largely aimed a the defensive unit of the Los Angeles Raiders, winners of the 1981 Super Bowl, and in particular at LA defensive back Lester Hayes, who coated his arms and chest with Stickum and intercepted 13 passes during the 1980 season.
    1984- Severe thunderstorms in Arkansas produced 2 violent (F4) tornadoes. The first tornado tracked 48 miles through Van Buren, Cleburne, and Independence counties. 2 people were killed and 13 were injured. 63 homes and 22 mobile homes were destroyed. The tornado lifted the highway 16 bridge and threw it into Greers Ferry Lake. The bridge was 1/4 mile long and had a large steel superstructure. The second tornado tore through Jackson and Poinsett counties with 5 people killed and 12 injured
    1985- “Mr. Belvedere” premiers on TV. A sitcom about a sarcastic, talented, wise British housekeeper and his love-hate relationship with a Pittsburgh family. It starred Christopher Hewett as Lynn Belvedere, former baseball player Bob Uecker as his employer/antagonist sportswriter George Owens, Ilene Graff as George's wife Marsha, a law student, Rob Stone as Kevin, Tracy Wells as Heather and Brice Beckham as mischievous Wesley. At the end of each episode, Mr. Belvedere narrated the day's lesson as he wrote in his journal, and ended the show on a funny note. The last telecast aired July 8, 1990.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/mrbelvedere.html
http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0088576/
    1986---Top Hits
Sara - Starship
These Dreams - Heart
Secret Lovers - Atlantic Starr
I Could Get Used to You - Exile
    1987-Bryan Adams' "Heat of the Night" becomes the first commercially released cassette single, or cassingle, in the U.S.
    1987 - The place: Orlando, Florida. The golf course: the Arnold Palmer-designed Bay Hill layout. The tournament: the Bay Hill Classic. Don Pooley showed the golf world what a true million-dollar swing looked like, as he made a hole in one during the final round. The tournament sponsor had offered a million dollars to anyone making an ace. Pooley didn't win the tourney, but won a lot more than anyone else.
    1987 - Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Starlight Express" opened on Broadway. This was the first ever roller-skating musical.
    1988- “The Wonder Years” premiere on TV. A coming-of-age tale set in suburbia in the 1960s and 1970s. This drama/comedy starred Fred Savage as Kevin Arnold, Josh Saviano as his best friend Paul and Danica McKellar as girlfriend Winnie. Kevin's dad was played by Dan Lauria, his homemaker mom by Alley Mills, his hippie sister by Olivia d'Abo and his bully brother by Jason Hervey. Narratator. Daniel Stern was the voice of the grown-up Kevin. The last episode ran Sept 1, 1993 but it remains popular in syndication.
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~kpearce/wy.html
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094582/
    1988 - More than one hundred hours of continuous snow finally came to an end at Marquette MI, during which time the city was buried under 43 inches of snow. Unseasonably cold weather prevailed in the southeastern U.S., with forty-one cities reporting record low temperatures for the date.
    1993 - 69 daily low temperature records were broken over the eastern US as cold air persisted behind the "blizzard of '93". Elkins, West Virginia recorded 5 degrees below zero to break its old record by 15 degrees and New Orleans, Louisiana dropped to 31 degrees to break its old record by 9 degrees. Fort Myers, Florida shivered at 39 degrees.
    1994- .9 inches of snow on this day brought the seasonal snowfall total at Binghamton, New York to 123.2 inches -- the city's snowiest winter ever.
    1997-Dave Andreychuk of the New Jersey Devils became the 26 th player in the National Hockey League and the second in two days to score 500 regular-season goals. Andreychuk's goal helped the Devils beat the Washington Capitals, 3-2.
    1997-The University of North Carolina men's basketball team defeated Colorado, 73-56, in the second round of the NCAA tournament to give coach Dean Smith the 877 th victory of his career, one more than Adolph Rupp. Smith's win, his 63 rd in NCAA play, came in his 36 th season as a head coach.
    1999-Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Dusty Springfield, the Staples Singers, Del Shannon, Curtis Mayfield and Beatles producer George Martin are among those inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Springfield died just 11 days before.
    2003--Many thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched in SF, Washington DC and around the world.