Today in history

1752 The Pennsylvania Hospital opened as the very first hospital in America.

1808 Judge Jesse Fell experimented by burning anthracite coal to keep his house warm.

1812 The term “gerrymandering” had its beginning when the governor of Massachusetts, Elbridge Gerry, signed a redistricting law that favored his party.

1929 The Lateran Treaty was signed. Italy now recognized the independence and sovereignty of Vatican City.

1936 Pumping began the process to build San Francisco’s Treasure Island.

1937 General Motors agreed to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union, which ended the current sit-down strike against them.

1957 The NHL Players Association was formed in New York City.

1958 Ruth Carol Taylor was the first black woman to become a stewardess by making her initial flight.

1968 The new 20,000 seat Madison Square Garden officially opened in New York. This was the fourth Garden.

1972 McGraw-Hill Publishing Co. and Life magazine canceled plans to publish an autobiography of Howard Hughes. The work turned out to be fake.

1975 Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to head a major party in Britain when she was elected leader of the Conservative Party.

1984 The tenth Space Shuttle mission returned to Earth safely.

1989 Rev. Barbara C. Harris became the first woman to be consecrated as a bishop in the Episcopal Church.

1990 Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity.

1993 Janet Reno was appointed to the position of attorney general by U.S. President Clinton. She was the first female to hold the position.

2000 The space shuttle Endeavor took off. The mission was to gather information for the most detailed map of the earth ever made.

2002 The six stars on NBC’s “Friends” signed a deal for $24 million each for the ninth and final season of the series.