July 11, 2017 (192/365)
In 1917, the United States declared war on Germany, entering into "the Great War" (WWI), the Virgin Mary appeared to children at Fatima (The Miracle of the Sun), the Russian Revolution began and ended, and on July 11th, Bertine Larson Moore was born in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
To put things in greater perspective:
- The average US wage was 22¢ per hour and the average yearly income was $368.
- Two out of every ten adults couldn't read or write.
- Only 6% of all Americans graduated from high school.
- The average US home cost $3200 and the average monthly rent was $25.
- Sugar cost 4¢ per pound, eggs were 14¢ a dozen, and a quart of milk was 9¢.
- Only 14% of American homes had a bathtub and only 8% had a telephone.
- The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph and gasoline was sold in drug stores.
- The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower.
- The American flag had 45 stars.
- The #1 song of the year was "Over There" and the top-grossing film was Cleopatra.
Also born in 1917:
- John F. Kennedy, 35th President of the United States
- Actors Ernest Borgnine, Jane Wyman (first wife of Ronald Reagan), Zsa Zsa Gabor, Phyllis Diller, Joan Fontaine, Robert Mitchum, and Mel Ferrer (first husband of Audrey Hepburn
- Unbroken's Louis Zamperini, WWII prisoner of war and Olympic distance athlete (1936)
- Author Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange, artist Andrew Wyeth, and architect I. M. Pei
- Musicians Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin, Lena Horne, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and Desi Arnaz (husband of Lucille Ball)
- Man o' War, champion thoroughbred racehorse
Happy 100th Birthday, Aunt Bertine! We love you!
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