Today in History- February 17

1817- 1st street to be lighted with gas (Baltimore) from America’s 1st gas company

1867- 1st ship passes through the Suez Canal

1870- Esther Morris is appointed 1st female judge

1909- Apache Chief Geronimo dies in captivity

1911- Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly” has its world premiere

1931- 1st telecast of a sporting event in Japan (baseball)

1934- 1st high school auto course offered (Pennsylvania)

1959- 1st weather satellite launched

1965- Gambia becomes the smallest sovereign state in Africa & gains independence


1985- 3rd person to receive artificial heart