THIS DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE SUNSHINE STATE (Post appears one day before actual date) AUGUST 21 1817 In a move that augured military strategy of a half-century later by Union forces in the Civil War, General Gregor McGregor, the conqueror of Amelia Island, ordered a blockade of the Florida Coast from Amelia Island to the Perdido River. 1862 The U.S.S. Keystone State captured the British schooner, Fanny, off the coast of Amelia Island. The Fanny was carrying a cargo of salt. 1864 The following Florida units in Confederate service in Virginia participated in the battle at Weldon Railroad: Florida 1st (Reorganized) Infantry Regiment Florida 2nd Infantry Regiment Florida 5th Infantry Regiment Florida 8th Infantry Regiment Florida 9th Infantry Regiment Florida 10th Infantry Regiment Florida 11th Infantry Regiment 1898 Key West was somewhat of a ghost town as military personnel continue to be evacuated in the face of a “yellow fever” scare. 1965 The Gemini 5 space vehicle was launched from Cape Canaveral. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gemini_5 1979 Sue Wegner became the first female police chief in Florida when she was sworn into office by Mayor Lucie Black of Minneola. Ms. Wegner was the police department’s senior officer when she was nominated by then City Manager Richard D. Waters. 1988 Tropical Storm Chris formed in the Atlantic Ocean, and, although it would not make landfall in the Sunshine State, it would batter Florida’s east coast from Miami to Jacksonville as it tracked northward. It made its initial North American landfall in Georgia. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Chris_(1988) 1992 Wary South Floridians were keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Andrew as it made its way across the Atlantic. On this day, Andrew sat about 600 east of Nassau with sustained winds of 65 miles an hour. Early analysis predicted the storm would dissipate because of wind shear. See nhc.noaa.gov/outreach/history/#andrew 2002 After hitting Florida two times before, Tropical Storm Fay reenters Florida at Flagler Beach. Fay was the only tropical storm to hit the Sunshine States at four different coastal locations—the Keys, Naples, Flagler Beach and Carrabelle. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropical_Storm_Fay_(2008)
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 09:56:03 +0000
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