Tuesday, March 30, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported that “Suggestions and appals (sic for appeals) for protection of wild flowers and birds – particularly the gorgeous spring blooms in this section at this season of the year, have become crystalized into action by women of the country, and the matter is being taken up by the Wild Flower Preservation Society, formed in Washington, D. C., with branches in all parts of the country.

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Friday, March 29, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, John Adams wrote the following letter to Cotton Tufts, who was a physician in Massachusetts, and a cousin of his wife, Abigail Adams. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Thursday, March 28, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, the following address was given to the Massachusetts General Court. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Thursday, March 27, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington penned the following letter to Landon Carter. As always, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Tuesday, March 26, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Daily Times reported that “Wm. Lee, a man wanted at Johnson City on the charge of disorderly conduct and carrying a pistol, was arrested in this city today. He was taken to Johnson City, where he will be tried.”

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Monday, March 25, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, John Hancock wrote the following letter to George Washington. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations are preserved.

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Sunday, March 24, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington wrote the following letter to John Hancock. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Saturday, March 23, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, the following General Orders were issued; as usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Friday, March 22, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington penned the following letter to Samuel Adams. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Thursday, March 21, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington penned the following on the Proclamation on the Occupation of Boston. As always, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Wednesday March 20. 1776: The following appears in the Diary and Autobiography of John Adams¸ in an entry dated two hundred and fifty years ago today. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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A correction: Thank you to Omar Kassem, M. D., for pointing out in the March 16 edition that the date of death of James Madison is June 28, 1836, not June 28, 1816. Thank you again!

Friday, March 19, 1926: A century ago today, the Johnson City Staff-News reported news with a dateline from Elizabethton. Readers learned that “Charles P. Toncray, engineer connected with the municipal government here, is in the Riverview hospital (sic for Hospital), Kingsport, as the result of a paralytic stroke suffered Thursday afternoon when he alighted from his automobile at Kingsport and started to step upon a sidewalk.

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Thursday, March 18, 1926: One hundred years ago today, the Johnson City Chronicle reported news with a dateline from Austin Springs and a date of March 17. Readers learned that “Sherman Grindstaff, one of Elizabethton’s most prominent lawyers, gave a lecture at Austin Springs Friday night, March 12^th, entitled, ‘The Development of the Youth of the Land.’ Mr. Grindstaff is an orator of the true type, having served as a member of the legislature and while there was called the orator of the house.”

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Sunday, March 17, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Chattanooga Sunday Times reported several short news items with a dateline from Johnson City, as well as a date of March 16. The news items were featured in the Chattanooga newspaper in a column entitled “Social News of Near-By Towns”. Some of the entries were as follows: “Henry Courch, of Washington, D. C., is here to spend a month’s vacation with his family.”

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Friday, March 16, 1751: On this day, 275 years ago, James Madison was “Born at Belle Grove Plantation, Port Conway, Colony of Virginia.” Madison became “the fourth president of the United States”. He served in that capacity from March 4, 1809 until March 3, 1817. “Known as the ‘Father of the Constitution,’ he was the principal author of that document and was one of the essayists of The Federalist Papers, which argued for its ratification. He was secretary of state under Thomas Jefferson during the negotiations for the Louisiana Purchase. The War of 1812 broke out during his presidency. When British forces invaded Washington D. C., Madison and other high officials had to flee while the British burned the Capitol, the president’s residence and most other public buildings;” the burnings took place from August 24 to August 25 in 1814. He stated: ‘The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.’ Madison died at Montpelier, Virginia on June 28, 1816.”

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Saturday, March 15, 1783: On this day, “George Washington addressed a meeting at Newburgh, New York, of Continental army officers who were dissatisfied and rebellious for want of back pay, food, clothing and pensions. General Washington called for patience, opening his speech with the words I have grown gray in your service…’ Congress later acted to satisfy most of the demands.”

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Thursday, March 14, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, George Washington wrote the following to Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Wednesday, March 13, 1901: One hundred and twenty-five years go today, The Weekly Sentinel reported news with a dateline from Johnson City and a date of March 12. Readers learned that “It is said that the committee to select the site for the ‘soldiers’ home’, can not (sic for cannot) reach here before April 1. Congressman Brownlow is coming with a party of about forty to view the location available here.”

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Wednesday, March 13, 1776: Two hundred and fifty years ago today, the following general orders were issued. As usual, the original spellings and punctuations have been preserved.

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Monday, March 11, 1918: On this day, “The first cases of the ‘Spanish’ influenza were reported in the United States when 107 soldiers became sick at Fort Riley, Kansas. By the end of 1920, nearly 25 percent of the United States population had been infected. As many as 500,000 civilians died from the virus, exceeding the number of our troops killed abroad in World War One. Worldwide, more than 1 percent of the global population, or 22 million people, had died by 1920 because of the virus. The origin of the virus was never determined absolutely, though it was probably somewhere in Asia. The name ‘Spanish’ influenza came from the relative high number of cases in that country early in the epidemic. Due to the panic, cancellation of public events was common, and many public service workers wore masks on the job. Emergency tent hospitals were sent up in some locations due to overcrowding.”

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