May 31

Scott Winters May 31, 2025 0 Comments

A quick look at Today in History, check out some Celebrity Birthdays, and find out what Days of the Year to celebrate.

TODAY IN HISTORY:

1859 – The clock tower at the Houses of Parliament, which houses Big Ben, started keeping time.

1870 – E.J. DeSemdt patented asphalt.

1879 – Gilmores Garden in New York, NY, was renamed Madison Square Garden by William Henry Vanderbilt and was opened to the public at 26th Street and Madison Avenue.

1880 – The first U.S. national bicycle society was formed in Newport, RI. It was known as the League of American Wheelman.

1884 – Dr. John Harvey Kellogg patented “flaked cereal”.

1907 – The first taxis arrived in New York, NY. They were the first in the United States.

1909 – The National Negro Committee, the forerunner to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), held its first conference.

1913 – The 17th Amendment went into effect. It provided for popular election of U.S. senators.

1927 – Ford Motor Company produced the last “Tin Lizzie” (Model T) in order to begin production of the Model A. Ford had produced 15,007,003 Model T’s.

1927 – Johnny Neun, first baseman for the Detroit Tigers, pulled off an unassisted triple play. He caught a line drive, tagged a runner who had left first base, and then tagged second base to catch a second runner.

1929 – The first talking Mickey Mouse cartoon, “The Karnival Kid”, was released.

1955 – The U.S. Supreme Court ordered that all states must end racial segregation “with all deliberate speed”.

1964 – The New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants played a double header that took 19 hours and 16 minutes and became history’s longest professional baseball game.

1971 – In accordance with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act passed by Congress in 1968, observation of Memorial Day occurs on the last Monday in May for the first time, rather than on the traditional Memorial Day of May 30th.

1977 – The Trans-Alaska oil pipeline was finished after 3 years of construction.

1985 – The Stroh’s beer plant in Detroit closed. Stroh’s beer returned to stores and bars in Michigan in August of 2016, made by Brew Detroit through an agreement with Pabst Brewing Company.

1990 – The “show about nothing”, TV’s “Seinfeld” debuted on NBC.

1995 – Bob Dole singled out Time Warner for “the marketing of evil” in movies and music. He later admitted that he had not seen or heard much of what he had been criticizing.

1998 – “Derecho” winds accompanied thunderstorms that blew through West Michigan. Around 5 am that Sunday morning, the storms blasted through the area with winds estimated as high as 130 mph in Grand Haven and Walker. The storm caused damage from South Dakota to the east coast. According to the Storm Prediction Center, this episode ranks as one of the top thunderstorm events in world history!

1998 – Geri Halliwell, also known as “Ginger Spice” of the Spice Girls, confirmed she was leaving the group.

2000 – The television show “Survivor” premiered on CBS.

2003 – Air France’s Superjet, the Concorde, returned to Paris in a final commercial flight.

2003 – In North Carolina, Eric Robert Rudolph, who had been on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list for several bombings including the attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was apprehended after spending five years on the lam. He is also suspected of attacking abortion clinics and a gay nightclub.

2020 – After riots broke out in downtown Grand Rapids the night before, local residents headed downtown with brooms, shovels, and buckets and cleaned up the mess. Broken storefront windows were boarded up with sheets of plywood. Days later artists painted murals on those big pieces of wood.

BIRTHDAYS:

Clint Eastwood – 95 years old (1930) – Actor, director (“Pale Rider”, “Unforgiven”, “Million Dollar Baby”, directed “Unforgiven”, “Million Dollar Baby”, “Letters From Iwo Jima”, “Mystic River”)

Ron Laird – 87 years old (1938) – Olympic race walker

Sharon Gless – 82 years old (1943) – Actress (TV’s “Switch”, “Cagney and Lacey”)

Joe Namath – 82 years old (1943) – Football player, broadcaster (TV’s “Monday Night Football”)

Tom Berenger – 76 years old (1949) – Actor (“The Big Chill,” “Platoon”, “Major League”, “Eddie and the Cruisers”, “Someone to Watch Over Me”)

Gregory Harrison – 75 years old (1950) – Actor (TV’s “Trapper John, MD”, “Falcon Crest”)

Kyle Secor – 68 years old (1957) – Actor (TV’s “Homicide: Life on the Street”)

Roma Maffia – 67 years old (1958) – Actress (TV’s “Nip/Tuck”)

Chris Elliott – 65 years old (1960) – Comedian (TV’s “Get a Life”, movies “Cabin Boy”, “Groundhog Day”, “Kingpin”, “Scary Movie 2”)

Lea Thompson – 64 years old (1961) – Actress (“Back to the Future” movies, “Some Kind of Wonderful”, TV’s “Switched at Birth”, “Caroline in the City”, “Dancing with the Stars: Season 19”)

Corey Hart – 63 years old (1962) – Singer (“Sunglasses at Night”, “Never Surrender”)

Darryl McDaniels – 61 years old (1964) – Rapper (D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C.)

Brooke Shields – 60 years old (1965) – Actress (“Pretty Baby”, “Blue Lagoon”, “Endless Love”, TV’s “Lipstick Jungle”, “Suddenly Susan”)

Christian McBride – 53 years old (1972) – Musician

Colin Farrell – 49 years old (1976) – Actor (“Saving Mr. Banks”, “Total Recall”, “Horrible Bosses”, “Crazy Heart”, “Miami Vice”, “Alexander”, “The Recruit”, “Phone Booth”, “Daredevil”, “Minority Report”)

Casey James – 43 years old (1982) – Singer (Finished third on TV’s “American Idol: Season 9”)

Curtis Williams Jr. – 38 years old (1987) – Actor (TV’s “The Parent Hood”)

TODAY IS:

National Smile Day: Turn that frown upside down and give us a grin! Smiling is contagious, and the world could use a little more of it. So flash those pearly whites, spread joy and happiness, and let the good times roll!
World No Tobacco Day: Put your cigarettes away, or set yourself goals and a plan for cutting back or quitting and improving your lung, heart, and even mental health over time.
National Macaroon Day: Put together a macaroon taster set with different varieties from different bakeries, or try making your own or having a macaroon-making competition with friends.
National Utah Day: National Utah Day is an occasion when we can all celebrate the rustic beauty of the 45th state. It also honors the unique culture and tells its history. Utah truly has something for everyone. Love skiing? They have world-class resorts. Enjoy hiking? You’ll find numerous canyons and peaks to explore...
National Save Your Hearing Day: Educate yourself about hearing loss, and start taking steps to prevent or diminish it. Lower the volume on your headphones, use hearing protection at work, etc.
Web Designer Day: Give a big thanks to any web designers you know, and take some time to appreciate the wide array of websites you can use every day thanks to their hard work.
World Foster Day: All around the globe, millions of children need care that comes from somewhere outside of their family of origin. Whether these vulnerable children are placed in foster for a short time or they have a longer experience, the need for support from their communities is clear! World Foster Day encourages people...
What You Think Upon Grows Day: Imagine your thoughts as seeds. Each idea you plant shapes your day. "What You Think Upon Grows Day" invites us to notice this power. When you focus on kindness, joy, or hope, those feelings expand. They color your actions, lift your mood, and ripple outward. This day reminds us that...
World Parrot Day: World Parrot Day brings attention to these extraordinary birds. Their dazzling feathers, clever minds, and playful personalities make them one of nature’s most fascinating creatures. Some can mimic human speech, while others form deep bonds with their flock. Their beauty and intelligence have made them popular pets, but in the...
Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day: Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day shines a light on a terrifying but rare infection that can change lives in an instant. A simple cut, scrape, or insect bite might seem harmless, but if the wrong bacteria enter, they can destroy tissue at an alarming speed. This condition, known as necrotizing fasciitis...
National Autonomous Vehicle Day: Picture this—you hop into a car, tap a destination on a screen, and sit back as the vehicle takes over. No hands on the wheel, no worrying about traffic, just a smooth, effortless ride. National Autonomous Vehicle Day shines a light on this incredible innovation, reminding us how technology is...
National Speak in Complete Sentences Day: National Speak in Complete Sentences Day is a nightmare for anyone who loves quick texts and one-word replies. No more “K” or “LOL.” Instead, people must form full thoughts before they speak. This might sound easy, but in a world of shortcuts and emojis, it’s surprisingly tricky. Words carry more...
Infidelity Hurts Awareness Day: Trust, honesty, and forgiveness are vital for rebuilding a relationship after infidelity causes pain and damage.
Tracky Dack Day: Tracky Dack Day is a funny name for a serious cause. This annual event, run by TLC for Kids, encourages people to wear their favorite track pants (aka 'tracky dacks'!) to support children in hospitals! The name brings a smile, but the mission is profound. It raises awareness and funds...
National Children’s Gardening Week: Did you know that children who spend time in gardens often grow up to be more environmentally conscious? National Children’s Gardening Week aims to inspire a love for gardening among kids. Held annually in the late spring, this event is a great opportunity to encourage children to explore nature! How to...
Garden Wildlife Week: Garden Wildlife Week, observed in the early summer, is a lively celebration of the natural world found in our gardens. This week encourages people to appreciate and protect the birds, insects, and plants in their backyards. The celebration highlights the vital role these creatures play in keeping our environment healthy! How...