June 18, on this day in history many remarkable things happened. The day after the Battle of Bunker Hill (fought on June 17, 1775), the first major battle in the US revolutionary war, Abigail Adams from her farm near Charleston wrote to her husband John, who was in Philadelphia serving in the Continental Congress.
The book I have and found this info in is The American Patriot's Almanac: Daily Readings on America by William J. Bennett and John T.E. Cribb.
From a hill on their farm Abigail Adams saw the smoke of the battle rising above Charlestown. In her letter to her husband beginning "Dearest Friend", Abigail wrote "The race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong, but the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Trust in him at all times ye people, pour out your hearts before him. God is a refuge for us - Charlestown is in ashes."
She further wrote that when their farm is deemed unsafe she will go to retreat at John's brother's home. Brave woman. One reason she wrote this letter is to mourn the death of their dear friend Dr. Joseph Warren who was killed in the battle and to inform John of the death, "Great is our loss. He has distinguished himself in every engagement, by his courage and fortitude, by animating the soldiers and leading them on by his own example."
Other notable events on June 18: In 1873 Suffragist Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for trying to vote. in the 1872 Presidential election, a fine she refuses to pay.
In 1928 Amelia Earhart becomes the first woman to fly across the Atlantic as a passenger on a flight piloted by Wilmer Stultz. She later became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic.
In 1983 Sally Ride became America's first woman in space aboard the space shuttle Challenger.
In 1948 Columbia Records unveils a remarkable new product, a long playing 33 1/3 rpm phonograph record. How many of you had those records? My dad bought me my first one, Blue Hawaii by Elvis Presley, I loved that record, the movie and those songs. My dad bought the album for me as a surprise and told me he was the cool dad and he was. Many people strongly objected to Elvis, he was too sensual for them back in the old days.
15 comments:
This is so interesting! I think I need to look for that book.
I have LP's like that. Very cool that your Dad gave you an Elvis record.
That has to be a very interesting read... Thanks for alerting me to it's existence. I'll be on the lookout for it.
Do you still have the album? I loved the movie and the music, too.
I read an absolutely wonderful book - John Adams by David McCullough. There is a lot about Abigail, and their marriage.
It's really hard for me to comprehend sometimes just how quickly time flies by and how long it's been now since all of those historic events happened. Just this weekend, I gave one of my grandsons the commemorative belt buckle I bought in 1986 during the celebration of the 150th anniversary of Texas independence from Mexico. Then I suddenly realized that he'll be able to buy a companion buckle celebrating the 200th anniversary in only another 13 years. Mind-blowing.
Nan, yes I have the Elvis album and I also have the book John Adams by David McCullough, and you have reminded me to read it. Terra
The LP was a big improvement over the old 78s!
June 18th is an important date in the history of your country and more . .
My husband and I live about 3 hours west of Boston in eastern NY and last summer we toured the John Adams/John Quincy Adams birth houses and the main house (Peacefield). We heard all about how Abigail stood in their yard with their son and saw the battle of Bunker Hill on top of Penn's Hill.....and saw the plaque depicting that. If you live anywhere near the east coast we highly recommend it.
Very interesting post.
My 33 1/3 LP collection was given away by my mother when she moved to VT. I miss my old albums.
Oh how I remember Blue Hawaii and GI Blues, both we used to play on the record player in the barn at top volume when we lived on a farm for the first 8 years of our marriage.
Lots of history for the day. My parents had a stack of the 33 1/3 records. I remember playing them when I had my own record player. I had a favorite but I can't recall what it was.
I would love to read this book. I'll have to look it up.
Very interesting to read all this history and how lovely your dad gave you the record by Elvis.
Hello Terra, thank you for stopping by and leaving me a comment. Love my outdoor flowers and just this evening it rained a bit after more than a month dryness here.
Kind regards from the island of Texel, The Netherlands.
Hope you’re having a great day. Regine
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