On this day, Sept. 15

1887 The city of Philadelphia launched a three-day celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Constitution of the United States. 1931 For the first time in Allegheny County, voting machines — 186 of them — were used in the primary election.

1963 Four black girls were killed when a bomb went off during Sunday services at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. (Three Ku Klux Klansmen were eventually convicted for their roles in the blast.)

1976 Pa. Gov. Milton Shapp signed an agreement with the Volkswagen Corp. of Germany ensuring the establishment of the firm’s American assembly plant at New Stanton.

1985 Nike began selling its “Air Jordan 1” sneaker.

2004 Carnegie Mellon University received $20 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help fund construction of a new building for the School of Computer Science.

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 Forrest Compton, 94. Baseball Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry, 81. Actor Tommy Lee Jones, 73. Movie director Oliver Stone, 73. Pro Football Hall of Famer and Central Catholic High School and University of Pittsburgh alumnus Dan Marino, 58. Rap DJ Kay Gee, 50. Actor Josh Charles, 48. Singer Ivette Sosa (Eden’s Crush), 43. Actor Tom Hardy, 42. Actress Marisa Ramirez, 42. Pop-rock musician Zach Filkins (OneRepublic), 41. Actor Dave Annable, 40. Actress Amy Davidson, 40. Britain’s Prince Harry, 35. TV personality Heidi Montag, 33. Actress Kate Mansi, 32.

Thought for today: “It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realize just how much you love them.”