The Year
Pondering events which took place 99 years ago quickly leads to the realization that much has changed since then. It was in 1920 that the blow dryer for hair was invented in Racine, Wisconsin, making hot air even more plentiful. That, combined with the passage of the 19th Amendment granting them the right to vote, made women all over American view it as a year of great progress.
Agatha Christie’s first mystery novel was published in 1920. The Mysterious Affair at Styles introduced the popular sleuth Hercule Poirot to the reading public. Another literary event of the year was the publication of Sinclair Lewis’ well-known Main Street.
In the business world, Donald Douglas started the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1920. The first commercial radio station in the United States also began operation that year. KDKA began broadcasting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, its major emphasis being coverage of the Harding-Cox presidential race. Harding was elected the nation’s 29th president in a landslide victory.
1920 was the year in which John Thompson patented what became known as the “Tommy” gun. Less lethal violence was promoted by the founding of the National Football League in Canton, Ohio, with Jim Thorpe serving as its first president.
The Day
December 28 in history was marked by the deaths of such notables as:
- Queen Mary II of England, whose demise was brought on by smallpox in 1694
- Scottish outlaw Rob Roy in 1734, whose exploits were highlighted and embellished by Sir Walter Scott
- Maurice Ravel in 1937, who is known in part for his piano concerto written entirely for the left hand only!
The death of the BBC satirical production That Was the Week That Was took place on December 28, 1963, with the final broadcast of the series. Although it was highly popular among British viewers, the program died because of political pressure from politicians and other public figures who were sensitive to the comical, often mocking manner in which they were portrayed. After all, an election year was approaching! True to form, the United States decided to imitate the program the following season, giving David Frost the opportunity to continue here what he had started in England as host of the series.
It was on December 28, 1908, that Europe’s most violent earthquake on record destroyed Messina, Italy, killing more than half of its population and causing a giant tidal wave. The discovery of deuterium (“heavy water”) was announced on December 28, 1931, by a team of scientists led by Professor Harold Urey of Columbia University.
Thankfully, December 28 also has had its bright spots and joyful events, most notably the entrance of new lives into the world. December 28, 1856, was such an occasion for the Wilson family, when Thomas Woodrow Wilson was born, destined to become the 28th President of the United States. However, the brightest spot and most joyful event came on his 64th birthday, when Marie Helen Toews was born, destined to become the matriarch of the Arthur Odens clan!
Happy 99th Birthday, Oma!
