On October 9, 1888 Washington Monument was opened to the public. Image: Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. by William Henry Jackson, 1903 via Library of Congress, no known restrictions
On today’s date October 9, 1635 – The founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, was banished from Massachusetts. Roger opposed punitive measures placed on those who practiced their own beliefs. He was also against the confiscation of lands that belonged to Native Americans. The following year Williams founded Providence Plantation. He would define it as a “shelter for those distressed of conscience.” Image: Roger Williams sheltered by the Narragansetts via New York Public Library Digital Collections, no known restrictions
Who fired the first American cannon at Yorktown on October 9, 1781? Answer: George Washington Image via Alamy
Born October 9, 1890 Aimee Semple McPherson, or Sister Aimee, had a colorful career as an evangelist and media celebrity. Using radio in the 1920s helped her build the Foursquare Gospel ministry, centered on the Angelus Temple in Los Angeles. Sister Aimee exhorted her flock to “not only be good but to do good.” Image from LA Times via Wikimedia Commons, CCA 4.0 International
On October 9, 1701 Connecticut’s Collegiate School was established. In 1716 it moved to New Haven and in 1718 was renamed for benefactor Elihu Yale (and wisely NOT named for benefactor Jeremiah Dummer.) Shown is the Yale Bulldogs football team in 1885. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.
Joe Rosenthal, the photographer who took the famous picture “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” was born on October 9, 1911 in Washington, D.C. Images via Wikimedia Commons, public domain in the US.
By the morning of October 9, 1812 American forces successfully captured two British brigs in Lake Erie, the HMS Caledonia and the HMS Detroit. The mission began on the evening of October 8th and was led by the U.S. Navy’s Jesse Elliott (right) and the U.S. Army’s Nathan Towson (left). Images via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
John Lennon was born on October 9, 1940 in Liverpool, England. Twenty-five years later on October 9, 1965 the song “Yesterday” by his group, The Beatles, became the number one song in America. John became a permanent resident of the United States in 1976. Image of John Lennon at Crisler Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1971 via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
Spine-Tingling History It was first believed that Elva Zona Heaster Shue (woman pictured) died from natural causes in early 1897. That was until her mother claimed that her ghost appeared in her bedroom to tell her that she had been murdered by her husband. Apparently the appearance was so convincing that Elva’s mother was able to persuade the local prosecutor to have her daughter’s body exhumed and examined. The autopsy revealed that she was strangled and that her neck was broken. A trial took place and Elva’s husband, who had been married two other times, was found guilty. He died in prison three years later. The appearance of The Greenbrier Ghost of West Virginia is believed to be the only time when an appearance of a ghost led to a murder conviction. Image via Wikimedia Commons, public domain
