On this day, Jan. 29

1856 The Allegheny Valley Railroad was opened to Kittanning.

1919 The ratification of the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, which launched Prohibition, was certified by Acting Secretary of State Frank L. Polk.

1998 A bomb rocked an abortion clinic in Birmingham, Ala., killing security guard Robert Sanderson and critically injuring nurse Emily Lyons. (The bomber, Eric Rudolph, was captured in May 2003 and is serving a life sentence.)

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: Writer-composer-lyricist Leslie Bricusse, 90. Feminist author Germaine Greer, 82. Actor Katharine Ross, 81. Feminist author Robin Morgan, 80. Actor Tom Selleck, 76. R&B singer Bettye LaVette, 75. Actor Marc Singer, 73. Actor Ann Jillian, 71. R&B singer Charlie Wilson, 68. Talk show host Oprah Winfrey, 67. Actor Terry Kinney, 67. Country singer Irlene Mandrell, 65. Actor Diane Delano, 64. Actor Judy Norton (“The Waltons”), 63. Rock musician Johnny Spampinato, 62. Actor Nicholas Turturro, 59. Actor-director Edward Burns, 53. Actor Sam Trammell, 52. Actor Heather Graham, 51. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., 51. Actor Sharif Atkins, 46. Actor Sara Gilbert, 46. Actor Kelly Packard, 46. Actor Justin Hartley, 44. Actor Sam Jaeger, 44. Actor Andrew Keegan, 42. Actor Jason James Richter, 41. Blues musician Jonny Lang, 40. Pop-rock singer Adam Lambert (“American Idol”), 39. Thought for today: ”Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.”

— Robert Frost, American poet (born 1874, died this date in 1963)