On this day – March 23
Posted on: Tue 23 Mar 2021
On this day in history:
In 1857 the first safe elevator was invented by Elisha Otis, who to this day, has dominated the elevator industry, remaining the worlds largets manufacturer of vertical transport systems.
When demonstrating the newest invention at the world’s fair in New York, Elisha hoisted a platform high above the crowd, cut the cable with an axe. ‘All safe’, he proclaimed, because the safety device halted the fall.
On this day in 1957, the US army sold their last lot of homing pigeons to zoos and individuals, which marked the end of the most insane form of message delivery during the world wars.
Prior to this day, the US army and around the world, soldiers would strap messages to the pigeons legs and they would send letters and photographs with a 90% success rate.
The pigeons didn’t know where to go, but they knew how to get back home. Therefore, pigeons were bred in popular locations, sent out in bulk to another location, and when ready, they would fly back to their home and rewarded with food.
Today in 1152, Elenor the duchess of Aquaitane and her then husband King Louis XII divorced. This was due to Elenor conceiving a baby girl, when Louis wanted a boy, so the child could eventually make his way to the throne.
Louis believed his wife’s failure to provide a so0n was a sign from god that the union was wrong, because they were too closely related.
Elenor didn’t mind, though. She went on to get around her Uncle Raymond, as you do, back in 1152.
Produced by Kate Johnson
Image source: Wikimedia
