This Day In History

On November 26, 1789, Americans celebrated Thanksgiving for the first time under a presidential proclamation. Although people in the colonies had held harvest celebrations of thanks since the 1600s, the idea of a single, nationwide holiday did not yet exist. For more than two centuries, different communities held their own thanksgiving observances at various times of the year, often tied to local harvests, military victories, or special religious moments. It would take national leadership—and eventually the influence of several presidents—to turn Thanksgiving into the unified holiday we know today.

Composer Ethelbert Woodbridge Nevin was born on November 25, 1862, in the small community of Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. He grew up in a family where creativity and education were highly valued, and this early environment helped shape the course of his life. Nevin would go on to become one of the most expressive American composers of the late 19th century, known for his emotional piano pieces and memorable songs.

The first credit union in the United States opened its doors on November 24, 1908, in Manchester, New Hampshire, marking a historic moment in American financial history.

In the midst of World War I, a major change quietly began in the United States Postal Service: for the first time, women were seriously tested as city letter carriers. On November 23, 1917, First Assistant Postmaster General John C. Koons issued a call to the postmasters of eight of the largest US post offices to run 15-day trials of women serving as letter carriers in the city.  This experiment was described as a potential wartime necessity, because many men were off fighting, and extra postal workers were already needed to handle the heavy Christmas mail in December.

Baseball legend Theodore Samuel Williams was born on August 30, 1918, in San Diego, California. One of the game’s all-time great hitters, he holds the record for career on-base percentage.

On July 5, 1950, US forces had their first fight of the Korean War at the Battle of Osan.

On May 24, 1940, Igor Sikorsky successfully flew the first single-rotor helicopter. Sikorsky developed the world’s first mass-produced helicopter and one of the first American helicopters used in World War II.

President Harry S. Truman was born in Lamar, Missouri on May 8, 1884. America’s 33rd president, he led America through the final months of WWII and the early years of the Cold War.

On November 27, 1924, New York City hosted its first Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Hailed as the world’s largest parade, the popular event boasts over 3.5 million spectators every year!

On November 27, 1945, Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe (CARE) was formed. Initially established to aid Europeans in the wake of WWII, it’s still in operation today, helping over 250 million people.

Robert Robert Livingston was born on November 27, 1746, in New York City, New York. One of America’s founding fathers, he helped draft the Declaration of Independence, swore George Washington into his first term in office, and helped negotiate the Louisiana Purchase.

On November 27, 1932, the Bixby Creek Bridge opened on the Big Sur coast of California. It was the longest concrete arch span in California and the highest single-span arch bridge in the world at the time of its completion.