ON THIS DAY

It was on this date in 1719, that the Aurora Borealis was seen by settlers in New England for the very first time...

• As long as you don't count the original inhabitants, who had been there thousands of years.
• At first, they were trying to record it but were unsuccessful. Then, someone suggested they try at night.
• Of course, back then, it was recorded in black and white.

On this date in 1792, France's King Louis XVI went on trial accused of treason. He was later convicted and sent to the guillotine. On the positive side, it did cure his migraines.

In 1816, Indiana became our 19th state. A guy named Jonathon Jennings gets credit for leading the drive for statehood, thus earning him the name "Hoosier Daddy!"

On this date in 1892, a basketball game was played in public for the very first time in Springfield, MA. I'm curious why they were keeping it private for so long?

• Marv Albert says that, all things considered, it was still fun to watch.
• Back in that first game, they used peach baskets. It wasn't until halftime that they realized it would be easier to hit a shot if they took the peaches out.
• The game was in its early form. They soon discovered they needed a "no tackling rule" and to get rid of the bats.
• The two teams shot so poorly, they kept their games private for years.
• I don't know what year it became a Christmas tradition.

In 1953, Anchorage, Alaska, got its first TV station.

• The thing was, if the antenna wasn't working and the screen was all snowy, everyone just assumed that's how the picture should look.
• The first program shown on Alaskan television? "Nome Improvement."
• Talk about an easy job -- being the weatherman there! Snow, with a chance of more snow, making way for even more snow later. But enough about summer.

On this date in 1975, the price of a U.S. postage stamp went from 10 cents to 13 cents. These days, that wouldn't even get your letter past the end of the street.