Missouri History Today

John Joseph Houghtaling was born on this day in Kansas City. He invented the Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed, a common feature in mid-priced hotels and motels from the 1960s to 1970s. "Hey, gotta quarter?"

This was the night of the "Great Star Shower of 1833." It was said to be so bright that a newspaper could be read on the street. One writer says, "For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze." Many thought the end of the world had come.

The St. Louis School Board fired a male teacher who had filed for divorce. Discussion of such a scandal was sure to bring harm to the students. Of course, women teachers weren't allowed to be married in the first place.

Today in Missouri (and world) history is Armistice Day. World War I ended today. Missouri Life proudly salutes the service of our veterans across the country.

Elijah Lovejoy was born on this date. Lovejoy was a crusading newspaper publisher, who got his start in St. Louis, and he was abolitionist who was killed when a mob came to break up his press in Alton, Illinois. 

Mellcene Thurman Smith and Sarah Lucille Turner became the first women elected to the State Legislature.

This was the last day that Valentine Tapley shaved. He promised his Pike County friends that if Lincoln were to be elected, he would never shave again. His beard grew to over 12 ½ feet. 

On this day, forty shots were fired in the Elms Hotel lobby and veranda in a robbery gone bad. The Excelsior Springs police shotgun squad chased the robbers from the hotel to Kansas City where they were caught, tried, and convicted. You can still visit the Elms today. 

News anchorman Walter Cronkite was born in  St. Joseph. He grew up in Kansas City until he was ten until he moved to Texas. You can learn more about his life here or by visiting the Walter Cronkite Memorial in St. Joseph.