ED DANAHUE

One of the major disasters in 19^th century around the world was the eruption
of the volcano Krakatau in western Pacific Ocean, Indonesia.

The volcano erupted on this day in 1883 and killed thousand people on the
other islands near it. The volcanic dust was thrown into the atmosphere
and affected the weather around the world, and people as far away as Britain
and the United States began to see bizarre red sunsets caused by particles
in the atmosphere.

On this day in 1859, the first oil well was successfully drilled in the
U.S. by Colonel Edwin L. Drake (below) near Titusville, PA.

Drake Well Museum in Titusville, PA is on the site where Edwin L.
Drake drilled the world’s first oil well in 1859 and launched the
modern petroleum industry.

It was on this day in 1979.

Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas Mountbatten was born
Prince Louis of Battenberg
(June 25, 1900 – August 27, 1979)  

President John F. Kennedy (left) Meets with Lord Louis Mountbatten (center) in 1961.  Mountbatten was Chief of the Defense Staff of the British Armed Forces at the time.

Brian Epstein was found dead in his home from an overdose of
sleeping pills on this day in 1967. Epstein first discovered The
Beatles in November 1961.

Brian Samuel Epstein
(September 19, 1934 – August 27, 1967)

Brian Epstein (center) with The Beatles.

SANDY KOZEL

Mount Vesuvius erupted killing approximately 20,000 people on this
day in 79 AD. The cities of Pompeii, Stabiae and Herculaneum were buried in volcanic ash.

The above Photos of Plaster casts were made from actual victims trapped in the lava flows of the  ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy.      

        
       

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Florida City: Gary Davis cradles his chihuahua Boo Boo in front of
his mobile home in the Goldcoaster Mobile Home Park the morning
after Hurricane Andrew.

Washington, DC, was invaded by British forces that set fire to the
White House and Capitol on this day in 1814.

The United States Capitol depicted after the 1812 burning of WA. D.C.

An artists depiction of the White House ruins after the conflagration
of August 24, 1814.

The planet Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" by the
International Astronomical Union on this day in 2006. Pluto’s
status was changed due to the IAU’s new rules for an object
qualifying as a planet. Pluto met two of the three rules because
it orbits the sun and is large enough to assume a nearly round
shape. However, since Pluto has an oblong orbit and overlaps
the orbit of Neptune it disqualified Pluto as a planet.

On this day in 1932, Amelia Earhart became the first woman to fly
across the U.S. non-stop. The trip from Los Angeles, CA to Newark,
NJ, took about 19 hours.

It was on this day in 1989.

Peter Edward Rose Sr. turned 77 in April.

Crater Lake National Park is located in southern Oregon. The lake is
in a dormant volcano and is an average of 1,943 feet deep, making
it the deepest lake in the United States. It was created by one of the
largest volcanic explosions in history when Mt. Mazama exploded
over seven thousand years ago, collapsing on itself.

The cataclysmic eruption of Mount Mazama 7,700 years ago began
with a towering column of pumice and ash, as depicted in this
painting by Paul Rockwood.
      
 

CAMILLE
BOHANNON

On this day in 1980, Mount St. Helens in Washington erupts, causing
a massive avalanche and killing 57 people on this day in 1980. Ash
from the volcanic eruption fell as far away as Minnesota. Seismic
activity at Mount St. Helens, which is 96 miles south of Seattle,
began on March 16.

USGS geologist Don Swanson (in red) and his colleague, Jim
Moore, view a car filled with ash deposits from the eruption of
Mount St. Helens.

On this day in 1896, the U.S. Supreme court upheld the "separate but equal" policy in the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision. The ruling was overturned 58 years later with Brown vs. Board of Education.

Pope Saint John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyła)
(May 18, 1920 – April 2, 2005)

Pope John Paul was the second longest-serving pope
in history who was the leader of the Catholic Church
from 1978 to 2005. He was one of the most influential
leaders of the 20th century who worked to bring Jews,
Christians, and Muslims together. He was canonized
as a Saint in April of 2014.

Frank Russell Capra (Francesco Rosario Capra)
(May 18, 1897 – September 3, 1991)

Capra became one of America’s most influential directors during
the 1930s, winning three Oscars from his six nominations as 
Best Director, along with three other Oscar wins from nine
nominations in other categories. Among his leading films
were It Happened One Night (1934), You Can’t Take It with You
(1938), and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939); Capra was
nominated as Best Director and as producer for Academy
Award for Best Picture on all three films, winning both
awards on the first two.

1946

On this day in 2003, "Les Miserables" closed after 6,680 shows and
16 years on Broadway.

Les Misérables has been voted the greatest musical of all time in
a public poll conducted by a new online radio station dedicated
to musical theatre.

ED DANAHUE

It erupted on this day in 1883.

    
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
    
    
   
The first oil well was successfully drilled in the U.S. by Colonel Edwin
L. Drake (right) near Titusville, PA. on this day in 1859. 

On this day in 1979

Brian Samuel Epstein (September 19, 1934 – August 27, 1967)   

Epstein died of an overdose of Carbitral, a form of barbiturate or sleeping pill,
while in his locked bedroom. It was later revealed alcohol was also found in
his system. His was discovered unresponsive by police who had been called
by his housekeeper.     
     
     
    

Manager Brian Epstein (center) with the Beatles.