Category: Note

September 6, 1899: The Carnation Company processed its first can of evaporated milk. — September 6th, 1757 was the birthday of Marquis de Lafayette (often known simply as Lafayette), a French aristocrat and military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War. (Sept. 6, 1757 – May 20, 1834) came to America at age 19 and served meritoriously in the American Revolution at his own expense. — Today’s feature article is a guest post by Jennifer Rader, an author who is a prize donor for our writing contest, so it is not a writing contest entry. We are in great …

Today is the birthday of the late comedian Bob Newhart. He was born September 5, 1929, and passed away on July 18, 2024. His comedic timing was great. — On September 5, 1836, Sam Houston was elected President of the Republic of Texas. — And on this day in 1932, the French Upper Volta was broken up into Ivory Coast, French Sudan, and Niger. — Today’s feature article is a short piece by our friend Hub Moolman, of South Africa. — We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. Take note that …

On this day in 1618, the “Rodi” avalanche destroyed the town of Plurs, Switzerland (now Piuro, Italy, pictured) at the base of Monte Conto, killing 1,500 residents. — September 4, 1862 is the fateful day that General Lee invaded the North with 50,000 troops. — Today’s feature piece is a product review that was authored by SurvivalBlog staffer Tom Christianson. — We are in great need of entries for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running this contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, so get …

On September 3, 301, San Marino, one of the smallest nations in the world and the world’s oldest republic still in existence, was founded by Marinus. He was named a Saint by the Roman Catholic church. — English general and statesman Oliver Cromwell died on September 3, 1658. — On September 3, 1752, Great Britain and its colonies, including the future United States of America officially adopted the Gregorian calendar, and it immediately became September the 14th. — Today’s feature article is a guest post by our friend and fellow American Redoubt resident Brandon Smith, the editor of the Alt-Market.us …

September 2, 1798: The first reported bank robbery in the US: Bank of Pennsylvania robbed of $162,821 at Carpenter’s Hall, Philadelphia. The wrong man — blacksmith Patrick Lyon (pictured) — was accused of being one of the perpetrators. — September 2, 1969 was the day that the first automatic teller machine (ATM) made its first public debut, dispensing cash to customers at Chemical Bank in Rockville Center, New York. — The prepping Paratus holiday — an invention of our friend Commander Zero — is observed on the third Friday in September.  I recommend giving very practical preparedness-related gifts. — Today’s …

On September 1, 1752, Pennsylvania’s new State House bell (known today as the Liberty Bell) arrived in Philadelphia from Whitechapel Foundry in London, England. — On September 1, 1836 Narcissa Whitman, one of the first white women to settle west of the Rocky Mountains, arrived at Walla Walla, Oregon Country (now US state of Washington.) On November 29, 1847, Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman and twelve others were killed by members of the Waiilatpu band of the Cayuse tribe. This heinous massacre has recently been the subject of massive revisionism, mostly at the hands of National Park Service historians/apologists.  To …

90 years ago today, August 31, 1935, the first national skeet championship was held.  This tournament match ran from August 26th to 31st, 1935. A roster of 113  participants was hosted by the Solon Skeet Club, near Cleveland, Ohio. — August 31, 1911: The unconstitutional “Sullivan Act” requiring New Yorkers to possess licences for firearms small enough to be concealed went into effect. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. The prizes for this round include: First Prize: A Gunsite Academy Three Day Course Certificate. This can be used …

On August 30, 1645, Dutch settlers and local Indians signed a peace treaty in New Amsterdam (New York). — August 30th is the birthday of the late Joachim Rønneberg, a hero of the Norwegian resistance during World War II. He was born in 1919. His exploits earned him the War Cross With Sword, Norway’s highest military honor.  Rønneberg died in 2018, just one year short of his 100th birthday. — Today’s feature piece is too short to be included in the judging for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started …

August 29, 708: Copper coins were minted in Japan for the first time. (By the traditional Japanese calendar: August 10, 708.) Pictured are some later Edo Period Japanese copper coins. — August 29, 1708: A raid in Haverhill, Massachusetts by French, Algonquin, and Abenaki forces killed or captured 40 residents. — August 29, 1831: Michael Faraday demonstrated the first electric transformer. — August 29, 1862, the Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia began. The same day marked the founding of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of …

On August 28, 476, Orestes, father of Emperor Romulus Augustulus was captured and executed by Odoacer and his followers. Odoacer (coin pictured) led the revolt of Herulian, Rugian, and Scirian soldiers. This marked the end of the Western Roman Empire. Italy had its first Barbarian king. — August 28, 1833 is the anniversary of the abolishment of slavery throughout the British Empire. — On August 28, 1971, the US dollar was allowed to float against the Japanese Yen for the first time. — SurvivalBlog Writing Contest Today we present another entry for Round 120 of the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. …

On August 27, 1859, the first successful oil well was drilled near Titusville, Pennsylvania, by Edwin Drake. — The birthday of Emory Upton (August 27, 1839 – March 15, 1881). He was a United States Army General and military strategist, prominent for his role in leading infantry to successfully attack entrenched positions at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House during the American Civil War, but he also excelled at artillery and cavalry assignments. His work, The Military Policy of the United States, which analyzed American military policies and practices and presented the first systematic examination of the nation’s military history, …

On August 26, 1346: The Battle of Crécy. Edward III‘s English longbows defeated Philip VI’s army south of Calais in northern France. At Crecy, cannons were used for the first time in battle. — August 26, 1946 was the official release date of George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.” — Today’s feature piece was too short to qualify as an entry for the SurvivalBlog non-fiction writing contest. More than $960,000 worth of prizes have been awarded since we started running the contest.  Round 120 ends on September 30th, so get busy writing and e-mail us your entry. Remember that there is a …

On August 25th, 1609, astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei demonstrated his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers, including the Doge of Venice, Leonardo Donato. — August 25th,1898: 700 Greeks and 15 Englishmen were slaughtered by the Turks in Heraklion, Greece. — On August 25th, 2010: Panic caused by an escaped crocodile being smuggled aboard a domestic Filair flight led to the crash of a Czech Let L-410 Turbolet passenger aircraft near Bandundu Airport, Democratic Republic of the Congo, killing all but one of the 21 passengers and crew. — Monday Morning Monsoon Update: Map shows flash flooding warning issued for eight …

On August 24, 1847, Charlotte Brontë sent the manuscript of her novel “Jane Eyre” to the publisher Smith, Elder & Company in London under her pen name “Currer Bell” — August 24, 410: Rome was overrun by the Visigoths in an event that symbolized the fall of the Western Roman Empire. This is a moment in history that we would do well to remember. An empire that ruled the known world was corrupted from the inside to the point that they could not defend themselves from a much weaker enemy. This could conceivably be the beginning of the dark Middle Ages. …

On August 23, 79, Mount Vesuvius began stirring on the feast day of Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, and went on to destroy Pompeii. (Note:  Some recent evidence suggests that the main eruption actually occurred after October 17, 79.) Above: Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum (c. 1821) by John Martin. — August 23rd is the anniversary of the declaration of the independent state of “Franklin” in Eastern Tennessee by the settlers there in 1784. Unfortunately, the Continental Congress rejected it, so the state of Franklin never became a reality. — In 1833, Britain abolished slavery in the colonies and …