August 15th 1901 — Arch Rock blasted into oblivion. Arch Rock was a huge rock in San Francisco Bay that was a menace to shipping. In the prevalent fog in the bay a number of ships had sailed or drifted into the rock and along with their cargoes were lost…

August 12th 1480 — Massacre at Otranto. Otranto was a city in southern Italy that had a citadel. The region was invaded by a large Ottoman army. They laid siege to the city and on August 11th it fell and many people sought refuge in the citadel. On August 12th…

August 9th 50th Year Anniversary of the Summer of Love “If you’re going to San Francisco Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair” We had a 1950 Oldsmobile, blue and white. We cut out the back seat, stuffed a mattress into the space and created our version of…

August 7th 1930 — Lynching in Marion, Indiana. A mob of ten to fifteen thousand whites broke into the Marion jail and lynched two black men, Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith, who were suspected of murder and rape. A third suspect, sixteen year old James Cameron, was beaten but escaped…

August 6th 1930 — Judge Crater disappears. New York Supreme Court Justice John Crater was last seen on this date. Tammany Hall, a corrupt political machine, ran New York City. President Roosevelt bypassed their preferred candidates and appointed Crater to the bench. Crater had been on vacation with his wife…

August 4th 1952 — Theodore Roe murdered. Roe was an African-American mob kingpin in Chicago. He ran numbers, an illegal gambling operation that funneled money back into legitimate businesses in impoverished black neighborhoods. He was known to be a generous man to the poor and gained the nickname “Robinhood.” The…

August 3rd 1492 — The Nina, the Pinta, and the Santa Maria left the port of Palos, Spain. Christopher Columbus was in search for a new route to the Far East. Instead he ran into what would be called the “New World.” Columbus died in 1506 without realizing what he…

July 31st 30 BC. Battle of Alexandria. The forces of Cleopatra and Mark Antony defeated Roman General Octavian. Their victory was short-lived however for Octavian launched a second attack and this time won. The couple shortly thereafter committed suicide and Octavian became first emperor of the Roman Empire. Can’t help…

July 30th 1619 — First meeting of the House of Burgesses. Meeting in a church in Jamestown, it was the first gathering in America with the goal being self-rule. It became the legislative body of Virginia from 1619 to 1776. Six representatives were appointed by the Governor and another fifteen…