Some US Currency Was Once Worth Just a Fraction of a Dollar August 21, 2010

On This Date In History: Many people think that the economy is just terrible. I recall the one in the late 70′s and early 80′s with unemployment at about 8%, Inflation at about 11% and interest rates at about 16%…or maybe higher. Perhaps your grandparents, or maybe even Steve Burgin, can tell you tales about [...]

When a Sitting US Supreme Court Justice Was Charged With Murder August 14, 2010

On This Date In History:  US Supreme Court Justice Stephen J. Field was arrested for murder on this date in 1889 making him the only member of that body ever arrested for such a crime. The story goes back to a divorce case in which Justice Field ruled that the early 1880′s marriage between Sarah Althea [...]

The Forgotten Eastland Disaster and the Ghosts Left Behind For Oprah July 24, 2010

On This Date In History: The  Eastland was a steamboat on the Chicago River in the early 20th century that was built with known engineering flaws. But, they used it for ferrying passengers from the city to picnic sites on Lake Michigan.  It was designed to hold 650 people. On This Date In 1915, some 7000 [...]

The Great Seal of the United States Came About Through Great Effort June 20, 2010

On This Date in History:   When an American politician isn’t sure what to do or does not want to make a decision, he tends to set up a committee.  That way, if its a good idea, he can take credit and if it doesn’t work out so well, then he can just say he was [...]

Statue of Liberty Arrived In Pieces Before Taking the Pedestal June 19, 2010

On This Date in History:    On America’s centennial in 1876, the French promised to give to the United States a great statue in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Part of the deal was that the Americans would be responsible for the base and the French would take [...]

America and Britain In Pig War Standoff June 15, 2010

On This Date in History:  Let’s see. We have had many wars in American History: American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, Spanish American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Pig War.  The Pig War?   After the conclusion of the War of 1812 in late 1814 and after the Battle [...]

Donald Trump is Older Than Congressional Recognition of Flag Day June 14, 2010

On This Date in History: Flag Day commemorates June 14, 1777 when Congress adopted officially the stars and stripes. The colonial army had the Grand Union flag, supposedly created by Betsy Ross. Now, historians have not been able to prove the legend…BUT…they have not been able to disprove it either…so who knows. I say stick [...]

Will Pioneer 10 Ever Phone Home or Return with Some Friends? June 13, 2010

On This Date in History:  When the space probe, Pioneer 10, was launched by NASA from Cape Canaveral on March 3, 1972 its primary mission was to encounter Jupiter in December 1973.  Pioneer 10 met the challenge of its mission as earthlings stood spellbound watching the images sent back from the tiny spacecraft.  For the [...]

The LSD Psychedelic No-Hitter- No One Died June 12, 2010

On this Date in History:  A pitcher throwing a no-hitter is quite an accomplishment as going through an entire Major League line-up without giving up a single hit to big league hitters is quite difficult.  Typically, it happens 2 or 3 times in any given season.  Every now and then a pitcher not only denies [...]

Some of the Most Creative and Patriotic Photos of the 20th Century June 11, 2010

On This Date in History:  Once American committed to participating in the Great War, American patriotism rose to great levels.  A young commercial photographer by the name of Arthur Mole rode the wave of patriotic zeal with a series of creative photographs.   So popular was his work that it continued after World War I was [...]