On this day, June 13

1870 Pittsburgh’s first paid fire department was organized.

1911 The ballet “Petrushka,” with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Michel Fokine, was first performed in Paris by the Ballets Russes, with Vaslav Nijinsky in the title role.

1940 Industrial leaders met with public officials to plan mobilization of Pittsburgh district resources for the nation’s $5 billion defense program.

1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson nominated Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall to become the first black justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

1974 The Gulf Building was shaken by a dynamite explosion, causing $1 million damage. No one was hurt. A caller identifying himself as member of the terrorist Weather Underground said the bomb had been planted by his group. Another caller told Associated Press that the bombing was to protest Gulf’s “racist policies” in the Portuguese colony of Angola.

2019 The Toronto Raptors captured Canada’s first major sports title in 26 years by beating the two-time-defending-champion Golden State Warriors 114-110 to wrap up the NBA championship.

Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology). — Compiled by Rick Nowlin

Today’s birthdays: Actor Bob McGrath, 88. Artist Christo, 85. Magician Siegfried (Siegfried & Roy), 81. Actor Malcolm McDowell, 77. Former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, 76. Singer Dennis Locorriere, 71. Actor Richard Thomas, 69. Actor Jonathan Hogan, 69. Actor Stellan Skarsgard, 69. Comedian Tim Allen, 67. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, 63. Actress Ally Sheedy, 58. TV anchor Hannah Storm, 58. Rock musician Paul deLisle (Smash Mouth), 57. Actor Steve-O, 46. Actor Chris Evans, 39. Actress Kat Dennings, 34. Actress Ashley Olsen, 34. Actress Mary-Kate Olsen, 34.

Thought for today: “Fear has its use but cowardice has none.” — Mohandas K. “Mahatma” Gandhi (1869-1948)