This Day in History – July 9, 2011

1540 England’s King Henry VIII 6-mo marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled 1595 Johannes Kepler inscribes geometric solid construction of universe 1776 Declaration of Independence read aloud to Gen Washington’s troops in NY 1800 Mt Vernon Gardens becomes site of 1st summer theatre in US 1853 Adm Perry & US Navy visit Japan 1872 Doughnut cutter patented by John Blondel, Thomaston, Me 1878 An improved corncob pipe patented by Henry Tibbe, Washington, Mo 1893 Daniel H Williams performs “world’s 1st successful heart operation” 1910 Walter Brookins becomes 1st to pilot an airplane to 1 mile altitude 1914 1st US duplicate auction bridge championship held, Lake Placid, NY 1918 101 killed & 171 injured in worst US train wreck, Nashville, Tenn 1918 US Army’s Distinguished Service Cross authorized 1932 Washington Redskins (then Boston Braves) formed 1933 Frankford Yellowjackets sold, rechristened Philadelphia Eagles 1944 World’s largest circus tent catches fire at Ringling Brother’s Barnum & Bailey 2nd performance. 168 die.  (Hartford, Conn) 1951 Pres Truman asked Congress to formally end state of war with Germany 1953 1st helicopter passenger service (NYC) 1956 Dick Clark’s 1st appearance as host of American Bandstand 1957 Discovery of element 102 (Nobelium) announced 1958 Giant splash caused by fall of 90 million tons of rock & ice into Lituya Bay, Alaska washes 1,800 feet up the mountain 1968 39.83 cm (15.68″) of rainfall, Columbus, Miss (state 24-hour record) 1978 American Nazi Party, holds a rally at Marquette Park, Chicago 1978 Nearly 100,000 demonstrators march on Wash DC for ERA 1979 Voyager 2 flies past Jupiter 1980 Walt Disney’s “The Fox & The Hound” released 1981 The Jacksons begin a 36-city tour 1982 Margaret Thatcher begins her 2nd term as British Prime Minster 1982 Pan Am Boeing 727 crashes in Kenner, La, killing 153 1986 Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography links hard-core porn to sex crimes]]]]> ]]>