97.9 The Hill WCHL and Chapelboro.com are your headquarters for local news and local voices in Chapel Hill-Carrboro. Every Thursday morning, local historian Scott Washington joins 97.9 The Hill’s Aaron Keck for “History Matters,” a look back at notable events and significant figures from this week in history, ranging from pioneers to writers to inventors to civil rights champions and more, locally, nationally, and beyond.

Click here to listen back to the full History Matters archive – and tune in to “This Morning with Aaron Keck” Thursday mornings at 8:30 on 97.9 The Hill to hear those conversations live.

This week, Scott and Aaron examine the history of January 1 as the first day of the year. Also: local blues legend Elizabeth Cotten is born; Solomon Northup regains his freedom after 12 years in slavery; the Emancipation Proclamation takes effect; and Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers his famous “Four Freedoms” speech, with fascism on the rise and World War II looming.

Listen:

The post History Matters: New Years and Old Legends appeared first on Chapelboro.com.