February 15, 1796

1796 The enrolled copy of the infamous Yazoo Act was burned in front of the Georgia state capitol in Louisville. At the ceremony attended by Gov. Jared Irwin and state legislators, the act was burned by "fire from heaven" -- a feat accomplished by using a magnifying glass to focus the sun’s rays to ignite a flame.

February 15, 1854

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Feb. 15:
1854 Thomson (then Columbia, now McDuffie County)

February 15, 1861

1861 The Augusta Weekly Chronicle and Sentinel reported that in Montgomery, Alabama, where the provisional Confederate Congress was in session, vice president Alexander Stephens announced that a fellow Georgian had sent him a model for a new seal for the Confederacy. The design was referred to the flag committee.

February 15, 1952

1952 Pres. Harry Truman appointed former Georgia governor Ellis Arnall to head the new federal Office of Price Stabilization.

February 15, 1952

1952 Gov. Herman Talmadge signed several joint resolutions of the General Assembly, including resolutions that:
Directed the Budget Bureau to purchase Stone Mountain and the adjoining land for development of a Confederate Memorial Park.
Directed the Department of State Parks to purchase land in Gordon County for creation of a New Echota State Memorial Park at the site of the former Cherokee national capital.
Urged the State Board of Education to require all high school students to take at least one year’s course in U.S. history, geography, and civics. The resolution further urged the State Board of Regents to offer a year’s course in the three subjects in every college. The timing and text of the resolution suggest that its motivation was not just in the name of good curriculum but was influenced by the Cold War and efforts of Sen. Joseph McCarthy to fight Communism.

February 15, 1954

1954 Augusta’s WRDW-TV, a CBS affiliate, went on the air.

February 15, 1964

1964 W.A. Alexander, Ty Cobb, and Bobby Jones were inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

February 15, 1979

1979 Free agent first baseman Mike Lum signed with the Atlanta Braves.

February 15, 1986

1986 Morris Bryan, Bobby Lee Bryant, Walt Frazier, Joe Gerson, Billy Lothridge, "Zippy" Morocco, Martha Hudson Pennyman, and Jake Scott were inducted into the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame.

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Today in History

1916 In DeKalb County, Sam Venable -- and the heirs of his brother William -- gave the United Daughters of the Confederacy a deed to the face of Stone Mountain … read more