ED DANAHUE

On this is day in 1845, President James Polk and signed legislation making Texas the 28th state of the United States.

Boundaries of Texas after the annexation in 1845.

Depiction of Anson Jones lowering Republic flag following
annexation by the United States.

The U.S. and Texas flags at the Texas State Capitol.

The first American Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was organized, in Boston, MA. on this day in 1851. 

A group of evangelicals from several Boston churches, led by retired sea
captain  and lay preacher Thomas Valentine Sullivan, founded the first
YMCA in the United States. Modeled on the original YMCA established in
London in 1844 by George Williams, this new organization offered a safe
gathering place, opportunities for socializing, bible-study classes and
prayer meetings.

 
Thomas Valentine Sullivan                        George Williams

ROSS SIMPSON

The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement C. Moore (" ‘Twas
the night before Christmas…") was published on this day in 1823.

TIM MAGUIRE

On this day in 1901, President William McKinley was shot and
mortally wounded (he died eight days later) by Leon Czolgosz,
an American anarchist, was executed the following October.

Leon Czolgosz

The funeral for Britain’s Princess Diana was on this day
in 1997.

Piggly Wiggly is a supermarket chain in the Southern and Midwestern regions
of the U.S. The first outlet opened in 1916 in Memphis, Tennessee, and is
notable for having been the first true self-service grocery store, and the
originator of various familiar supermarket features such as checkout stands, individual item price marking and shopping carts. The current company headquarters is in Keene, New Hampshire. Currently, more than 600
independently owned Piggly Wiggly stores operate in 17 states, primarily
in smaller cities and towns.

Piggly Wiggly founder Clarence Saunders.
(August 9, 1881 – September 23, 1953)

George Roger Waters is 75 years old today.

Bass player, composer, vocalist Roger Waters was co-founder,
and front man of the English rock band Pink Floyd, the group
known for songs like "Shine On You Crazy Diamond."

    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

It was on this day in 2005.

On this day in 1996, President Bill Clinton signed legislation that
ended guaranteed cash payments to the poor and demanded work
from recipients.

It was on this day in 1989.

CAMILLE BOHANNON

On this day in 1945, the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Nagasaki. It came three days after the bombing of Hiroshima. An estimated 74,000
people were killed. Japan surrendered August 14.

On this day in 1974, President Richard Nixon formally resigned and
Gerald R. Ford (below) took his place, becoming the 38th president
of the United States.

President and Mrs. Nixon left the White House after his resignation.

It was on this day in 1969.

From left: Charles Manson and his cult family.

Charles Milles Manson (Maddox)
(November 12, 1934 – November 19, 2017)

"Walden" was published by Henry David Thoreau on this
day in 1854.

Henry David Thoreau 
(July 12, 1817 – May 6, 1862)

Jerome John Garcia  (August 1, 1942 – August 9, 1995)

As one of its founders, Jerry Garcia performed with the Grateful Dead
for their entire thirty-year career (1965–1995). He was well known for
his distinctive guitar playing and was ranked 13th in Rolling Stone‘s
"100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Garcia was staying in a drug
rehabilitation facility when he died of a heart attack at the age of 
53.