On this day, August 31

1888 Mary Ann Nichols, believed to be the first victim of “Jack the Ripper,” was found slain in London’s East End.

1947 The Allegheny County Free Fair drew the largest one- day crowd in its history — roughly estimated at 450,000 persons.

1972 At the Munich Summer Olympics, American swimmer Mark Spitz won his fourth and fifth gold medals in the 100meter butterfly and 800- meter freestyle relay; Soviet gymnast Olga Korbut won gold medals in floor exercise and the balance beam.

1980 The 28- year old Carlton House, one of the city’s great hotel buildings, was demolished to make way for the Dravo skyscraper which later was named One Mellon Center.

1987 Seventeen months after opening the Allegheny County Jail annex, both the jail and the annex were filled to capacity.

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 Warren Berlinger, 83. Actor Jack Thompson, 80. Violinist Itzhak Perlman, 75. Singer Van Morrison, 75. Actor Richard Gere, 71.

Actor Stephen Henderson, 71. Olympic gold medal track and field athlete Edwin Moses, 65. Actor Jaime P. Gomez, 55. Rock musician Jeff Russo ( Tonic), 51. Singer- composer Deborah Gibson, 50. Rock musician Greg Richling ( Wallflowers), 50. Actor Zack Ward, 50. Golfer Padraig Harrington, 49. Actor Chris Tucker, 48. Actor Sara Ramirez, 45. Rhythm- and- blues singer Tamara ( Trina & Tamara), 43.

Thought for today: “Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess.” — Edna Woolman Chase, American fashion editor ( 1877- 1957)