August 2, 1776

1776 This was the date that most delegates formally signed the engrossed copy of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia.

August 2, 1905

Georgia towns and cities first incorporated by acts approved on August 2:

1905 Howell (Echols County)

August 2, 1913

1913 The sixth day of the trial of Leo Frank almost ended in a mistrial as Judge L.S. Roan inadvertently held up a newspaper with a lurid headline printed in red that the jury could see. Frank’s attorney immediately objected and discussed calling for a mistrial, but he agreed to continue after Judge Roan instructed the jury to disregard anything they may had seen in the newspaper. A few minor witnesses were then called. Dr. J.W. Hurt, county physician who had also examined Mary Phagan’s body, testified that although there was some evidence suggesting she may have been "outraged" (sexually assaulted), the evidence was not conclusive. Another factory employee and friend of Mary Phagan, Helen Ferguson, testified she had gone to the factory Friday night to get Mary’s pay envelope, but Leo Frank had told her Mary would pick it up herself on Saturday.

August 2, 1934

1934 On the day that Adolf Hitler declared himself sole ruler of Germany, members of the Georgia Mayors’ Association met in Macon and called for the General Assembly to allow cities the local option of deciding liquor sales, Sunday amusements, and "other issues of strictly local application."

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August 2, 1960

1960 Inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame were Wright Bazemore, Dwight Keith Sr., Hank Langston, Joe Pittard, James Skipworth Jr., and Tom Slate.

August 2, 1983

1983 The U.S. House by a 338-90 vote approved legislation designating the 3rd Monday in January as a federal holiday to honor the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.

August 2, 1983

1983 The U.S. Postal Service issued a commemorative stamp honoring Georgia-born baseball great Jackie Robinson in ceremonies at Cooperstown, New York.

August 2, 1996

1996 This was the fifteenth day of the 1996 Summer Olympics -- and day 14 of Olympic competition.

August 2, 1997

1997 At 8:04 a.m., Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell pressed the button initiating a series of 1,200 detonations that imploded the 32-year-old Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, former home of the Atlanta Braves.