[FHStoday] TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY FOR NOVEMBER 24-25

[Nick Wynne]

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY 
NOVEMBER 24   
1831 The first post office was established at Tampa Bay.

1882 An expedition to explore south Florida, financed by the New Orleans
Times-Democrat, departed Palatka enroute to Kissimmee via steam boat. 

1988 Hurricane Kate exited the state today between Melbourne and Cape
Canaveral.

1991 The space shuttle  Atlantis (STS44) was launched today from Cape
Canaveral
with a Department of Defense satellite as its payload.  On board were
Frederick
Gregory, Terence Hendricks, Mario Runco, James Voss, Story Musgrove and Thomas
Hennen.

Interesting Florida Facts--The Inauguration of Governors: 
Horse carriages were first used in the Florida gubernatorial inauguration
parade in 1901.  Automobiles were first used in the parade in 1917 at the
inauguration of Sidney J. Catts.  Catts’ inaugural was also the first to be
filmed in Florida with a motion picture camera. 
Loud speakers were first used in the Inauguration of Doyle E. carlton in
1929. 
Governor Dave Sholtz’s inauguration in 1933 was the first to be broadcast on
radio.  
Governor LeRoy Collins’ inauguration was the first to use ministers from the
three major religious faiths--Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Jewish--in the
ceremony.  Governor Collins also scored another first when his second
inauguration  (1957) was the first ever televised.  (Thanks to Allen
Morris, The
Florida Handbook)

TODAY IN FLORIDA HISTORY 
NOVEMBER 25   
     
1862 Floridians had a real inkling of the effect the war would have on the
home
scene.  The Tallahassee Sentinel newspaper reported that a Mr. George H.
MeGinniss had three large heavy kettles that he was willing to sell at “war
prices.”  

1863 Florida units took heavy casualties in the Battle of Chattanooga.  The
4th
Florida Infantry, which entered the battle with 172 men, reportedly lost 154
killed, wounded or missing.  The Florida 1st Cavalry (Dismounted) had 200 men
listed ready for duty when the battle started and preliminary reports indicate
that 167 men are killed wounded or missing.  Florida’s other units, notably
the
1st, 3rd and 6th Infantry regiment were among the last to vacate the
Confederate battlelines and fall back to the Army of Tennesse winter quarters
at Dalton, Georgia.

1885 Scottish settlers leave Glascow bound for Sarasota.

1925 Radio station WFLA (Tampa Bay) was founded today in the Fenway Hotel in
Dunedin.  WFLA was the first licensed commercial radio station in Florida and
includes historian Hampton Dunn as one of its “on air” newsmen and
personalities.

1926 The fabulous “Million Dollar Pier” was dedicated at St. Petersburg.

1941 The first meeting of the Florida Farm Bureau Federation was held today in
Winter Haven.

1985 The space shuttle Atlantis (STS 61-B) was launched today from Cape
Canaveral.  Featured on this mission were two space walks, totaling 12 hours,
during which time new space construction methods were tested.  Brewster Shaw,
Bryan O'Conner, Mary Cleave, Sherwood Spring, Jerry Ross, Rodolfo Neri Vela
and
Charles Walker made up the crew.