Today in History – Oct. 17 – 2006 – The United States’ Population Reaches 300 Million

1854 French and British forces bombard Sevastopol for the first time during the Crimean War

1907 Guglielmo Marconi’s company begins the first commercial transatlantic wireless service between Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and Clifden, Ireland

1937 Martyrdom of Alexander Ivanovich Shchukin, Archbishop of Semipalatinsk, shot by the Soviets for preaching against destroyers of churches.

1943 Burma railway completed, built by Allied POWs and Asian laborers for use of the Japanese army

1949 Singer Stuart “Stew” Hamblen is converted to Christianity in Billy Graham’s 1949 Los Angeles Crusade. He will go on to write two popular Christian hits, “It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)” and “This Old House.”

1973 OPEC oil ministers use oil as an economic weapon in the Arab-Israeli War, mandating a cut in exports and recommending an embargo against unfriendly states

2017 Islamic State headquarters Raqqa declared under full control of US-led alliance by Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) spokesman Talal Sello after 4 months of fighting

Today’s Historical Events
Today in Film & TV
1939 “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington”, directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart and Jean Arthur, is released

Today in Music
1963 The Beatles record “I Want to Hold Your Hand” at EMI Studios in London

Today in Sport
1860 1st British Open Men’s Golf, Prestwick GC: Willie Park Sr. wins inaugural event by 2 strokes from fellow Scot Tom Morris Sr

Do you know this fact about today? Did You Know?
The United States population reaches 300 million, on this day in 2006

Would you believe this fact about today? Would You Believe?
Chicago declared the ‘rattiest city’ in America for the sixth year in a row by pest control service Orkin, on this day in 2020