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1777 - The people of New Connecticut, the northeast corner of the colony as it existed at the time, declared their independence from the United Kingdom and the British colonies of North America.

The newly independent state organized its own government, issued its own currency, and operated its own postal system before the U.S. Post Office existed.

The Continental Congress refused to recognize it as a state, so it was effectively an independent republic until it gained statehood in 1791.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Republic" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

1844 - The University of Norte Dame was granted a charter in Indiana.

1870 - Thomas Nast represented the Democratic Party as a donkey in a cartoon in Harper's Weekly.

1929 - Martin Luther King Jr. was born in Atlanta. At birth he was named Michael Luther King Jr.

1943 - Construction of the Pentagon was completed.

1967 - The first Superbowl was played.

- Jim

1953 - An express passenger train crashed spectacularly into Union Station in Washington, D.C. No one was killed. Forty-one people were injured.

The crash was caused by a valve being in the wrong position, leading to brake failure. It was never determined to everyone's satisfaction whether this was an accident, human error, or sabotage.

http://www.dcnrhs.org/union_station/union_wreck.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

- Jim