This Day in History – July 9, 2011

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1540 England’s King Henry VIII 6-mo marriage to Anne of Cleves annulled1595 Johannes Kepler inscribes geometric solid construction of universe1776 Declaration of Independence read aloud to Gen Washington’s troops in NY1800 Mt Vernon Gardens becomes site of 1st summer theatre in US1853 Adm Perry & US Navy visit Japan1872 Doughnut cutter patented by John Blondel, Thomaston, Me1878 An improved corncob pipe patented by Henry Tibbe, Washington, Mo1893 Daniel H Williams performs “world’s 1st successful heart operation”1910 Walter Brookins becomes 1st to pilot an airplane to 1 mile altitude1914 1st US duplicate auction bridge championship held, Lake Placid, NY1918 101 killed & 171 injured in worst US train wreck, Nashville, Tenn1918 US Army’s Distinguished Service Cross authorized1932 Washington Redskins (then Boston Braves) formed1933 Frankford Yellowjackets sold, rechristened Philadelphia Eagles1944 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 Germany1953 1st helicopter passenger service (NYC)1956 Dick Clark’s 1st appearance as host of American Bandstand1957 Discovery of element 102 (Nobelium) announced1958 Giant splash caused by fall of 90 million tons of rock & ice into Lituya Bay, Alaska washes 1,800 feet up the mountain1968 39.83 cm (15.68″) of rainfall, Columbus, Miss (state 24-hour record)1978 American Nazi Party, holds a rally at Marquette Park, Chicago1978 Nearly 100,000 demonstrators march on Wash DC for ERA1979 Voyager 2 flies past Jupiter1980 Walt Disney’s “The Fox & The Hound” released1981 The Jacksons begin a 36-city tour1982 Margaret Thatcher begins her 2nd term as British Prime Minster1982 Pan Am Boeing 727 crashes in Kenner, La, killing 1531986 Attorney General’s Commission on Pornography links hard-core porn to sex crimes]]]]> ]]>