This Day in History… March 27, 1884

Posted on March 27, 2019 by MysticStamp

Rise of Long-Distance Telephones

US #1683 was issued for the 100th anniversary of Bell’s first phone call on March 10, 1876. Click image to order.

On March 27, 1884, the first long-distance phone call between New York and Boston was made.

In March 1876, Alexander Graham Bell received the patent for his telephone and made his first phone call just three days later.  That June, he presented his invention at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia which gained the attention of the press, who in turn shared news of the telephone with the public. 

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 4 Comments

This Day in History… March 26, 1862

Posted on March 26, 2019 by MysticStamp

Battle of Glorieta Pass

US #1191 was issued for the 50th anniversary of New Mexico statehood.  Click image to order.

On March 26, 1862, Confederate forces launched the Battle of Glorieta Pass, aimed at breaking Union control of the West along the base of the Rocky Mountains.

In the early months of 1862, a portion of the Confederate Army set its sights on the vast western territories.  Control of the Santa Fe Trail in Colorado Territory provided access to silver and gold mines and opened the way to California’s ports.  This would provide a supply line to the Confederacy since the Union blockade had closed Southern ports on the East Coast.

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 8 Comments

This Day in History… March 25, 1961

Posted on March 25, 2019 by MysticStamp

USS Arizona Benefit Concert

US #4873 from the American Landmarks series.  Click image to order.

On March 25, 1961, Elvis Presley led a benefit concert to raise funds for the USS Arizona Memorial that helped to reinvigorate fundraising for the project.

Twenty years earlier, the Arizona was sunk during the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor that had sprung America into World War II.  The Arizona lost 1,177 of its crew – about half the lives lost that day.

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 4 Comments

This Day in History… March 24, 1663

Posted on March 24, 2019 by MysticStamp

The Carolina Charter 

US #1230 was issued for the 300th anniversary of the Carolina Charter. 

On March 24, 1663, King Charles II approved the Carolina Charter, granting land in America to a group of eight Englishmen.  

British attempts to settle the North Carolina area began decades earlier.  In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh established a colony at Roanoke Island – the first English colony in America.  Each of his attempts at settlement failed and after his benefactor Queen Elizabeth I died, her successor refused to give him any more chances.  

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 5 Comments

This Day in History… March 23, 1909

Posted on March 23, 2019 by MysticStamp

Teddy Roosevelt Departs for African Safari 

US #1039 from the Liberty Series.

On March 23, 1909, former president Teddy Roosevelt set sail from New York City for a joint expedition with the Smithsonian Institution.

Roosevelt’s term as president ended on March 4, 1909. At 50 years old, he was America’s youngest former president. Roosevelt was anxious to take a break from politics and get out of Washington, DC. At the time, the Smithsonian was building what would become the Museum of Natural History and would need exhibits. Roosevelt, ever a fan of natural history, decided to go on an African safari sponsored by the museum to collect specimens.

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 19 Comments

This Day in History… March 22, 1941

Posted on March 22, 2019 by MysticStamp

James Stewart Goes to War

US #4197 – Stewart was the 13th honoree in the Legends of Hollywood Series. Click image to order.

On March 22, 1941, James Stewart was inducted into the US Army, making him the first major US movie star to don a military uniform during World War II.

James Stewart developed an early interest in flying and got his pilot’s license in 1938.  Around that same time, he worked with other celebrities to establish Thunderbird Field, a pilot training school in Arizona.

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Posted in March 2019, This Day in History | 9 Comments