January 2008 : Volume 8 - Issue 4 - Memory Lane

Memory Lane

1908 - One Hundred Years Ago

Complied from THE PEOPLE'S CHRONOLOGY
By James Trager

1. The FBI is established as a division of the Dept. of Justice.
2. U.S. Banks close as the economic depression continues.
3. Westinghouse Electric Co. goes bankrupt.
4. THINK signs are made up for every NCR office.
5. A small diamond is found in the Namibian desert in SW Africa, adding to DeBeers monopoly.
6. J.C. Penny buys out 2 western stores and begins the chain of stores.
7. Petroleum production begins in the Middle East in what will turn out to be the world's largest reservoir of oil.
8. Hughes Tool Co. is founded By Howard Hughes.
9. The Model T Ford is introduced, equipped with Firestone tires.
10. General Motors is created by bringing several auto makers together into a holding company. Ford does not join.
11. The gyrocompass was invented. (Think Sperry, Lake Success, L.I.)
12. The Geiger counter is developed.
13. Ex-Lax Co. is founded.
14. The Christian Science Monitor begins publication.
15. "Mutt and Jeff" is the first comic strip to appear daily with the same cartoon figures.
16. Cubism paintings first appear in a Paris exhibition with paintings by Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque.
17. The Chicago Cubs defeat the Detroit Tigers, 4 games to 1, to win the World Series.
18. Mother's Day is first observed in Philadelphia.
19. The Grand Canyon and Muir Woods National Monuments are created by President Teddy Roosevelt.
20. The Brooklyn Academy of Music opens.