A Century’s Memorabilia (100)

As a way of celebrating the 100 day point of our 365 day blog challenge, I thought I would see what some of the most notable events were 100 years ago during the year 1913.  I found these through several websites, including www.HistoryOrb.com

I’m just going to list a few of the events that piqued my interest.  There are, of course, many more that might interest you so please take a look when you have time.  Please note, I have left out most of the European Suffragette activity and the terrible Balkan Wars, not that they aren’t important.  I just wanted to keep the list a manageable size.

February, 1913, the very famous New York Armory show first introduced the artists Picasso, Duchamp, and Matisse to the United States.  (Be there or be square was the invitation, I believe.)

February 25, the 16th Amendment was rattified, authorizing the collection of income tax.  (See, I said these were important events.)

March 4, Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated as the US 28th President.

Late March, Dayton, Ohio was almost destroyed when the Scioto, Miami, and Muskingum Rivers reached flood stage simultaneously, killing at least 400 people.

April, Swedish born engineer, Gideon Sundback of Hoboken, patents all-purpose zipper.  (We were all buttoned up before that.)

May 13, 1st four engine aircraft built and flown (Igor Sikorsky-Russia)

May 26, the Actors’ Equity Association was formed

June 4, Suffragette Emily Davison steped in front of King George V’s horse Anmer at the Epsom Derby, giving her life to advance women’s rights

June 16, South-African parliment forbids blacks owning land

July 10, Death Valley, CA hits 134 degrees F, which is the highest temperature recorded in the United States

August 13, Invention of stainless steel by Harry Brearley  (This one invention moved us from rusty to our current shiney state.)

September 10, the Lincoln Highway opened as the 1st paved coast to coast highway

October 3, Federal Income Tax was signed into law at 1%.  (Oh my, how we have grown!)

October 7, Henry Ford instituted the moving assembly line.  (We had the highway, now we needed the cars.)

October 10, Gamboa Dam in Panama was blown up allowing the Atlantic and Pacific waters to mix.

November 13, 1st modern elastic brassiere was patented by Mary Phelps Jacob.  (In one year we went from being just buttoned to being not only zipped but also supported.)

December 1, the 1st drive up gasoline station opened in Pittsburgh.  (May be this was connected to the opening of the Lincoln Highway.  Can’t go far without a tankful.)

December 11, the Mona Lisa, stolen from the Louvre in 1911, was recovered.  (Now we know what she is smiling about.)

December 16, Charlie Chaplin began his film career at Keystone for $150 a week.

December 21, the 1st crossword puzzle (with 32 clues) was printed in the NY World

It always amazes me how much can happen in a day, a month, a year. This list, from one year alone could launch a hundred blogs. I’ve enough ispiration here to start my next post, but I have something more important to do.

I am going out right now to make this day memorable.