Today in History for Sept. 18, 2014

Washington lays cornerstone of capitol building.

Sept. 18, 1793 – George Washington laid the U.S. Capitol’s cornerstone in a Masonic ceremony. Wearing an apron embroidered with Masonic symbols, Washington led a ceremony laced with the society's rituals. The apron, along with the trowel and tools used to set the Capitol's cornerstone in place, is currently housed at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial in Alexandria, Va.

Sept. 18, 1851 - The first issue of "The New York Times" was published.

Sept. 18, 1862 - General Robert E. Lee began retreating from the Battle of Antietam.

Sept. 18, 1893 - William Edward Campbell was born in Mobile. He would gain fame as the author, William March. In June 1917, March enlisted as a private in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was assigned to the Marine Brigade in the Army's Second Division and took part in several notable actions. March received the French Croix de Guerre and the Distinguished Service Cross and Navy Cross – the United States' second-highest decorations for bravery in combat – for his actions in the assault on Blanc Mont Ridge, a key German stronghold east of Reims, in October 1918. March's first novel, “Company K,” was published in 1933. It dealt with his war experiences and is recognized today as a classic of its type.

Sept. 18, 1895 - The first chiropractic adjustment was performed by Daniel David Palmer, who ignited a new, sometimes controversial field of medicine.

Sept. 18, 1907 – Work continued on the Cedar Creek Mill Co. logging road from Brewton to Andalusia, where it was to connect to the Central of Georgia railroad terminus.

Sept. 18, 1912 – The Agricultural School in Evergreen opened the 1912-13 school year with 94 pupils on the roll.

Sept. 18, 1956 - Mickey Mantle hit his 50th career home run.

Sept. 18, 1961 – The fall session of court in Conecuh County opened with Judge A.H. Elliott presiding.

Sept. 18, 1962 - Charlie Finley was denied permission to move the Athletics to Dallas-Ft. Worth, Texas.

Sept. 18, 1965 - Mickey Mantle played in his 2,000th game.

Sept. 18, 1972 - Art Williams became the first black umpire in National League history.

Sept. 18, 1973 - Future President Jimmy Carter filed a report with the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), claiming he had seen an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) in Leary, Ga. in October 1969.

Sept. 18, 1981 – Evergreen High School lost to Opelika, 41-14, in Opelika. Mark Bell led Evergreen’s offense with eight carries for 75 yards and two touchdowns. Barry Padgett led Evergreen’s defense with seven solos and seven assists.

Sept. 18, 1983 - George Meegan reached the edge of an Alaskan tundra, and completed his 2,426 day trek of the Western Hemisphere- a journey of over 19,000 miles or 31 million steps.

Sept. 18, 1996 - Boston Red Sox pitcher Roger Clemens struck out 20 Detroit Tigers, tying his own major league record for most strikeouts in a game.

Sept. 18, 2003 – Robert Duvall, who played the role of Boo Radley in 1962’s “To Kill a Mockingbird,” received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.