Friday, April 18, 2008

So What Else Happened Today?

  • In 1923, The first game was played at Yankee Stadium, New York; the Yankees beat the Red Sox, 4-1.
This is noteworthy on many levels. I am, of course, a big Yankees fan and have enjoyed many outings to Yankee Stadium. This is the final year for the "House that Ruth Built" as the new digs go up across the street. And speaking of digging, there was this bit of treachery undertaken by the team that got beat by the Yanks on this day in 1923. Not taking any chances, the team dug up the jersey.
  • On this day in 1861, Maj. Robert Anderson sent a telegram to the Secretary of War, announcing that he had surrendered Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor to the Confederates.
As mentioned in my other post, while the American Revolution holds first place in my eras of history, the Civil War is a close second. I have been to my share of battlefields, but not yet to Charleston. The series that I have been undertaking on the American Presidents is currently focusing on the "antebellum" period, those years leading up to the Civil War and next week's post will feature the president who sent forces to try and hold Fort Sumter, which evidently didn't work out so well.
  • On this day in 1906, at 5:13 a.m., an earthquake (estimated at close to 8.0 on the Richter scale) struck San Francisco, CA, followed by raging fires. About 700 people died.
Again, several parallels can be drawn here. In August, I am planning to travel to San Francisco for the Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archivists. While I certainly do not want to be caught up in an earthquake of that magnitude, a little one might be nice. I would just like to feel one. There is in fact a recent study out that says the West Coast is overdue for a major quake. With the recent departure of Charlton Heston from the scene, can one not think of this great disaster flick? And one of the news stories of today, a quake has shaken the Midwest, bringing to mind the earthquake that really shook that area (back in 1811).

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Take my word for it, you do not want to feel an earthquake. Even a little one is more that a bit unsettling.

Southern Gentleman said...

Brave Astronaut:

We can quite possibly satisfy your desire to see Revolutionary War sites in the south AND feel and earthquake by passing through Charleston on the way to Hilton Head in September. Charleston is known for its earthquakes and for its grits with shrimp gravy. OSM has many great places to show the Astronaut family in the Holy City.

Cheers, y'all!

Lana Gramlich said...

New digs? NEW DIGS??? They're replacing Yankee Stadium??? Say it ain't so! That's one of the few memories I have of my dad...wow...I never thought I'd see the day. Are they still going to call it Yankee Stadium, or is it going to be Wal*Mart Arena or some such other, horrible, corporate name?

Brave Astronaut said...

NJM - I could make some comment about the earth moving, but then you'll want to hit me tomorrow.

OSG - I am hoping for some movement in SF in August, but Charleston would be fine, too. I really would like to see Sumter.

Lana - Yes, I'm afraid it's true. But to my knowledge it will still be called Yankee Stadium.