Daily Almanac for Thursday, March 2, 2023

On this date in 1903, Martha Washington Hotel, for women only, opened in N.Y.C. Martha Washington Hotel in February 1903, shortly after construction completed. By Robert L. Bracklow Life time 1849-1919 https digitalcollections.nyhistory.org, Public Domain, https commons.wikimedia.org

FROM WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

The Redbury New York (formerly, the Women’s HotelMartha Washington HotelHotel Thirty ThirtyHotel Lola, and King & Grove New York) is a historic hotel at 29 East 29th Street, between Madison Avenue and Park Avenue South in the NoMad neighborhood of ManhattanNew York City. It was built from 1901 to 1903, and was designed by Robert W. Gibson in the Renaissance Revival style for the Women’s Hotel Company. It was originally a women’s-only hotel.

NOTABLE RESIDENTS

Poet Sara Teasdale stayed at the hotel during her New York visits from early 1913 onwards. Even after her marriage to Ernst Filsinger in December 1914, Teasdale often chose to stay at the Hotel. Actress Louise Brooks lived there after being evicted from the Algonquin Hotel, and editor Louise E. Dew was a resident as well.

The hotel has a connection with actress Veronica Lake. One of Hollywood’s most bankable actresses of the 1940s, Lake was by 1952 unable to continue working as an actress because of her difficult reputation; Raymond Chandler referred to her as “Moronica Lake.” After divorcing her husband, she drifted between cheap hotels in Brooklyn and New York City and was arrested several times for public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. A reporter found her working as a barmaid at the all-women’s Martha Washington Hotel in Manhattan. At first, Lake claimed that she was a guest at the hotel and covering for a friend. Soon afterward, she admitted that she was employed at the bar. The reporter’s widely distributed story led to some television and stage appearances.

The hotel served as the headquarters of the Interurban Women’s Suffrage Council from 1907.

TODAY’S ALMANAC

Texas Independence Day

Texas Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2, 1836, in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas. The document listed grievances against the Mexican government by the citizens of this Mexican territory, and then declared Texas a “free, sovereign, and independent republic.” Meanwhile, Mexican dictator Santa Anna was besieging the Alamo as part of a campaign to quell the rebellion.

Question of the Day

When does maple sugaring usually start?

Although maple sugaring sometimes starts as early as the second or third week of February, it usually begins about the first week of March. Learn more about making maple syrup!

Advice of the Day

Heavy bedclothes cause restlessness and weariness.

Home Hint of the Day

To remove stubborn streaks and film from a car windshield, try rubbing with kerosene and wiping with crumpled newspaper.

Word of the Day

Perigean Tide

A monthly tide of increased range that occurs when the Moon is at perigee (closest to Earth).

Puzzle of the Day

Why is the inside of everything so mysterious?

Because we cannot make it out.

Born

  • Sam Houston (president of Texas, 1836-38; 1841-44) – 1793
  • Theodor Seuss Geisel (better known as Dr. Seuss; author) – 1904
  • Desi Arnaz (musician & actor) – 1917
  • Mikhail Sergeyvich Gorbachev (former Soviet political leader) – 1931
  • Tom Wolfe (writer) – 1931
  • John Irving (author) – 1942
  • Karen Carpenter (singer) – 1950
  • Laraine Newman (comedienne & actress) – 1952
  • Jon Bon Jovi (musician) – 1962
  • Daniel Craig (actor) – 1968
  • Chris Martin (musician) – 1977
  • Heather McComb (actress) – 1977
  • Ben Roethlisberger (football player) – 1982

Died

  • DH Lawrence (writer) – 1930
  • Philip K. Dick (author) – 1982
  • Dusty Springfield (singer) – 1999
  • Jeff Healey (musician) – 2008

Events

  • John Dix of Boston founded the first school for educating the blind, the New England Asylum for the Blind– 1829
  • U.S. Congress passed first Reconstruction Act, setting up conditions for reintegration of Southern states into the Union– 1867
  • Rutherford B. Hayes declared U.S. President by a special Electoral Commission in the disputed election of 1876– 1877
  • Hatch Act, providing for the promotion of U.S. agricultural science by creating state agricultural experiment stations, became law– 1887
  • Congress adopted the Platt Amendment, which established a U.S. protectorate over Cuba– 1901
  • Martha Washington Hotel, for women only, opened in N.Y.C.– 1903
  • Puerto Rico became U.S. territory and its inhabitants became U.S. citizens– 1917
  • World premiere of King Kong– 1933
  • Battle of Bismarck Sea began, resulting in major victory by U.S. over Japanese shipping and aircraft– 1943
  • US Air Force Captain James Gallagher and 13 crew members completed the first round-the-world nonstop flight in a Boeing B-50 Superfortress, Lucky Lady II– 1949
  • First crossing of Antarctica by land completed by Dr. (later Sir) Vivian Fuchs and team. It had taken 99 days.– 1958
  • Wilt Chamberlain set an NBA scoring record of 100 points as the Philadelphia Warriors defeated the New York Knicks– 1962
  • Concorde prototype 001, a supersonic jetliner, tested for the first time– 1969
  • Pioneer 10, unmanned U.S. interplanetary probe, was launched from Cape Kennedy, Florida– 1972
  • The FDA approved the first commercial blood test for AIDS– 1985
  • Queen Elizabeth II signed the Australia Act, defining Australia as a sovereign, independent, and federal nation– 1986
  • A 3.5 earthquake rattled parts of Quebec along the border of the United States– 2005
  • Microsoft founder Bill Gates received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II– 2005
  • The new U.S. $10 bills went into circulation. The redesigned note had shades of orange, yellow, and red– 2006

Weather

  • A car crossed frozen Penobscot Bay, Maine– 1918

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