Today in history

Today is Tuesday, August 15, the 227th day of 2017 and the 57th day of summer.

On this date in the SCV: In 1946, The Signal reported that the old crank phones soon would be a thing of the past in Newhall, according to an announcement by the Southern California Telephone Co. H.C. Scott, manager of the company, said the new type of manual telephone service would begin in October with the start of the installation of the switching equipment in the recently purchased building at 629 Walnut Street. Six switchboards, two more than were in use at the time, were to be installed in the new headquarters. In addition, the new system would eliminate the crank phones. The operator would be reached by lifting the receiver off the hook. Newhall was being served by about 700 telephones, a gain of almost 300 since 1941.

Today’s Highlights in History:

In 1483, the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel was consecrated. In 1914, the Panama Canal officially opened. In 1947, India and Pakistan won independence from Britain. In 1971, President Richard M. Nixon canceled the direct convertibility of the U.S. dollar to gold. In 2003, Libya accepted responsibility for the bombing of a Pan Am airliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988, and agreed to pay reparations.

Today’s fact: The price of gold skyrocketed from $35 per ounce in 1971 to $800 per ounce in 1980 as a result of the economic measures undertaken by President Nixon in 1971.

Today’s sports: In 1948, Babe Didrikson Zaharias won the third women’s golf U.S. Open, even after missing a 5-foot putt on the 18th hole.

Today’s number: 400,000 – estimated number of concert-goers who attended the Woodstock Music and Art Fair when it opened near Bethel, New York, on this day in 1969.

Today’s moon: Between last quarter moon (Aug. 14) and new moon (Aug. 21).