On September 29, 1829, the Rev. Jonathan Helfenstein, pastor of the German (Evangelical) Reformed Church on West Church Street in Frederick from 1811 to 1828, died at age 44.
On September 29, 1837, the Carroll Creek through downtown Frederick flooded.
On September 29, 1855, Anne Key Taney, wife of Chief Justice Roger Brooke Taney, and sister of Francis Scott Key, died at Old Point Comfort (VA) after a severe stroke. Their daughter died the next day of yellow fever.
On September 29, 1874, C. Burr Artz, whose wife Catherine Thomas Artz endowed the Frederick library named for him, died in Chicago. He made his fortune through land speculation in the Chicago area. He was also a former Frederick County assessor.
On September 29, 1878, Dr. George Joseph Snowball, who practiced dentistry in Frederick for 57 years (1913-1970) and who retired at age 92, was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He died at age 105 on May 22, 1984.
On September 29, 1951, Frederick City made the final payment to the local banks which lent the $200,000 ransom money to the city which was paid to Confederate General Jubal Early who threatened to burn the city to the ground in July 1864.
Today in 1789, a regular army was established by the US War Department with 700 men.
105 years ago - In 1916, John D. Rockefeller was declared the first American billionaire . . . in 1916 dollars. But modern historians think that was an exaggeration and that he "only" had $900 million at the time.
Today in 1951, the first network football game was televised by CBS-TV in color. The game was between the University of California and the University of Pennsylvania.
Today in 1962, President John F. Kennedy nationalized the Mississippi National Guard in response to city officials defying federal court orders. The orders had been to enroll James Meredith at the University of Mississippi – he was officially enrolled the following day.
43 years ago - In 1978, PJP 1 . . . Pope John Paul the First . . . was found dead in his Vatican apartment just 34 days after becoming the 263rd leader of the Roman Catholic Church. Rumors persist about his having been poisoned.
today in 1983, the War Powers Act was used for the first time by the U.S. Congress when they authorized President Reagan to keep US Marines in Lebanon for 18 more months.
39 years ago - In 1982, the Tylenol Poisoner claimed his first victims. There were a total of seven deaths in the Chicago area over a two-day period before authorities determined that Extra-Strength Tylenol capsules had been Laced with Cyanide.
Today in 1988, the space shuttle "Discovery" blasted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking America's return to manned space flight following the "Challenger" disaster.
Today in 1992, Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced that he would come out of retirement and play basketball again for the L.A. Lakers.
Today in 2006, US Representative Mark Foley resigned amidst allegations of inappropriate emails to teen house pages were introduced.
Today in 2017, American diplomats in Cuba reveal mysterious sonic attacks, which prompt the US to warn citizens not to travel to Cuba – even pulling some embassy staff.
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