Mexican-American War, KOKY Radio 1st Day, Microwave Oven Invented : MySaline’s Daily History October 8th

See the archive of MySaline’s Daily History issues at www.mysaline.com/history.

Saline County, Arkansas

No well-documented Saline County event specifically dated October 8 was found in today’s research.

Arkansas

1846 — Arkansas troops cross the Rio Grande during the Mexican-American War. Arkansas soldiers serving under General John E. Wool crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico on October 8 as part of the Army of the Center. The Arkansas troops would continue through the Mexican campaign, although disease took a heavy toll on the state’s volunteers.

1879 — The Medical Department of Arkansas Industrial University holds its opening session. The school opened in Little Rock on October 8 with John Josephus McAlmont serving as professor of pharmacology and therapeutics and treasurer. The medical school eventually became part of what is now the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

1941 — Federal officials approve a $23 million ammonia plant near El Dorado. The Ozark Ordnance Works became one of Arkansas’s major World War II industrial projects and was the first plant in the United States to use natural gas to produce ammonia. The facility was part of the rapid expansion of Arkansas’s wartime industrial capacity.

See below for history from Arkansas, United States and the World. 👇

1956 — KOKY begins broadcasting in Little Rock. At 9 a.m. on October 8, KOKY-1440 AM began broadcasting as a 1,000-watt station. It was the first Arkansas radio station staffed by African Americans and designed primarily for a Black audience, becoming an important voice in Arkansas’s African American community.

1962 — Arkansas soldiers participate in the Battle of Perryville. Arkansas Confederate infantry units, including the First and Second Arkansas Infantry regiments, fought in the October 8 Battle of Perryville in Kentucky during the Confederate invasion of the state.

United States

1871 — The Great Chicago Fire begins. A massive fire swept through Chicago on October 8 and continued into October 10, destroying approximately four square miles of the city. About 300 people died, roughly 90,000 were left homeless and thousands of buildings were destroyed. The same night, the even deadlier Peshtigo Fire devastated parts of Wisconsin and Michigan.

1871 — The Peshtigo Fire becomes the deadliest wildfire in American history. On the same day as the Great Chicago Fire, a huge forest fire swept through Peshtigo, Wisconsin, and surrounding communities. At least 1,200 people died, although the true death toll may have been considerably higher. The fire remains one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history.

1918 — Corporal Alvin C. York performs his famous actions in the Argonne Forest. During World War I, York led a small group of American soldiers in an attack that resulted in the capture of 132 German prisoners. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions and became one of the most celebrated American soldiers of the war.

1945 — Percy Spencer files a patent for the microwave oven. Raytheon engineer Percy Spencer discovered that microwave radiation from radar equipment could heat food. His work led to the development of the microwave oven, which eventually became a common household appliance.

1956 — Don Larsen pitches the only perfect game in World Series history. The New York Yankees pitcher retired all 27 Brooklyn Dodgers batters he faced in Game 5 of the World Series, winning 2–0. More than seven decades later, it remains the only perfect game ever thrown in a World Series.

2001 — The Office of Homeland Security is established. Less than a month after the September 11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush created the Office of Homeland Security within the White House. The office was an early step toward what became the Department of Homeland Security the following year.

Read more at: https://www.dhs.gov/our-history

2004 — Wangari Maathai wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The Kenyan environmental and political activist was recognized for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. She became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

World

1840 — The Kingdom of Hawaiʻi adopts its first constitution. The document established a constitutional government and formally recognized rights for Hawaiian citizens. It represented an important step in the development of Hawaiʻi’s modern political system.

1912 — Montenegro declares war on the Ottoman Empire, beginning the First Balkan War. Other Balkan states soon joined the conflict against the Ottoman Empire. The war dramatically changed the political map of southeastern Europe and helped create tensions that contributed to the outbreak of World War I.

1952 — The Harrow and Wealdstone rail disaster occurs in England. Three trains were involved in the crash at Harrow and Wealdstone station near London. The disaster killed 112 people and injured hundreds, making it one of Britain’s worst railway accidents.

1967 — Che Guevara is captured in Bolivia. Argentine-born revolutionary Ernesto “Che” Guevara was captured by Bolivian soldiers after his guerrilla group was surrounded near La Higuera. He was executed the following day.

1970 — The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded to Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The Soviet writer was recognized for his literary work exposing the Soviet prison-camp system and its impact on individuals. His most famous works included One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and The Gulag Archipelago.

2009 — A sweat-lodge ceremony near Sedona, Arizona, turns deadly. Two participants died and more than a dozen others were hospitalized after a ceremony held during a retreat led by motivational speaker James Arthur Ray. A third participant died several days later. The deaths led to criminal charges and renewed attention to safety practices surrounding sweat-lodge ceremonies.

See the archive of MySaline’s Daily History issues at www.mysaline.com/history.