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Aug 6, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths. At the time of the bombing, Hiroshima was home to almost 300,000 civilians as well as 43,000 soldiers. RAIN OF RUIN FACE BY JAPANESE AS SUPER ATOMIC BOMB LOOSED‘Explosion Equals 20,000 Tons of TNT’—TrumanBULLETINLONDON, Aug.
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Aug 4, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
One hundred years ago — with the flag flying at half-mast to honor the passing of President Harding —Admiral Robert E. Coontz took over command of the United States battle fleet in a ceremony on the cruiser USS Seattle in San Diego. From the Evening Tribune, Saturday, Aug. 4, 1923:Coontz Takes Over Battle FleetIMPRESSIVE CEREMONY IN BAY HEREAn historic naval event of tremendous importance and of deep significance took place in San Diego harbor at 11 o’clock this morning, when Admiral Robert E.
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Aug 1, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
On Aug. 1, 1890 San Francisco financiers John D. and Adolph Spreckels purchased the San Diego Union newspaper from Col. John R. Berry and Andrew Pollock. Their ownership was not immediately made public. Instead, Thomas Gardiner, one of the founders of the Sacramento Union and the Los Angeles Times, was appointed manager. From The San Diego Union, Saturday, Aug. 2, 1890:CHANGE OF MANAGEMENT.
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Jul 28, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo |Lisa Petrillo
Last weekend Warner Bros.’ movie “Barbie” was a hit at the box office, raking in $155 million domestically. In 1991, Ruth Handler, creator of the Barbie doll and Mattel co-founder, visited San Diego and spoke to the Union’s Lisa Petrillo about the iconic doll and her own dynamic life and business career.
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Jul 25, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
On July 25, 1938, Archie Price, who had been on and off state relief rolls since 1933, ended his life in Balboa Park. He had previously informed the editor of a local newspaper that he would kill himself when his savings were depleted, because he was “too young to receive an old-age pension and too old to find work.” He also criticized the administration of relief funds by the State Relief Administration (SRA) and federal Works Progress Administration (WPA). As noted by historian Richard W.
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Jul 14, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
The most pivotal battles of the Spanish–American War were fought in July, 1898, 125 years ago. Early in the month, as U.S. forces pounded the Spanish Navy at sea, on land, troops including Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt’s Rough Riders and the Black soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry regiments captured San Juan Hill near the city of Santiago de Cuba. Two weeks later, Spain surrendered the city—and thus Cuba—to the Americans. The U.S. victory effectively ended the war. Gen.
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Jul 9, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo |Clyde Smith
Seventy-five years ago today, on July 9, 1948, 20 tons of explosives were used to bring down a granite hill in Missing Gorge in what was then a record for a commercial blast in the county. Rocks blasted loose from the quarry site in Mission Gorge were hauled 15 miles west to construct the jetties at the mouth of Mission Bay. From the San Diego Union, Saturday, July 10, 1948:20-TON POWDER BLAST RIPS MOUNTAIN TO BITSBy Clyde V.
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Jul 7, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo |Joe Stone
Unlike the recent search and rescue operation for the missing OceanGate submersible near the Titanic wreckage, a successful submarine rescue happened here nearly 54 years ago. In October of 1969 the a propeller on the research submarine Deep Quest snagged a line during operations on the ocean floor five miles off Point Loma. The four men in the sub endured a 15-hour ordeal until a two-man mini-submarine was able to cut the line and free the Deep Quest.
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Jun 25, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
Fifty years ago today, former White House Counsel John Dean began testifying in a televised hearing before the Senate Watergate Committee, saying he believed President Richard Nixon was personally involved in the Watergate scandal and cover-up. Dean later spent four months in jail after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. On August 9, 1974, facing almost certain impeachment and removal from office, Nixon resigned from the presidency.
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Jun 18, 2023 | 
sandiegouniontribune.com | Merrie Monteagudo
Today is Father’s Day. The idea for the enduring holiday originated with Sonora Louise Smart Dodd as a tribute to her father, a widowed Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own. As a result of her efforts, Father’s Day was observed in Spokane, Wash., on June 19, 1910. By 1911, the occasion was celebrated in San Diego nearly 3,000 cities and towns across the United States. Dodd lived to see Father’s Day declared a national holiday in 1972.
