1924 – The Trans-Florida Central Railway was incorporated. It was affectionately dubbed the "dinky line" by the locals. The line was originally constructed for Fellsmere Farms and was completed in September 1910. On May 1, 1911 the line officially opened to the public. There were two passenger stops (River Bridge and Kitching) and the fare for the whole distance was 25 cents. The line ran between Fellsmere and Sebastian to carry logs cut in the swamps to the FEC interchange and carry supplies back to Fellsmere.

1927 – W.G. Brorein, owner and founder of the Peninsular Telephone Company, placed the first transatlantic telephone call from Tampa to London on this date. Brorein spoke with an American Telephone and Telegraph Company representative. When Brorein started the company in 1901, they had only 100 lines, and were restricted to the immediate Tampa area, but they soon bought out the interests of Bell Telephone Company in the Tampa area and occupied six counties and manage 500,000 lines by 1963.

1954 – The Florida Citrus Exposition in Winter Haven, Florida was held this week. According to the St. Petersburg Times:”… an estimated quarter-million visitors from every state in the Union, all of Canada and many foreign countries” were expected to attend. The theme of the Expo was ‘Florida Sunshine’ and included: four huge permanent buildings jammed with citrus exhibits, demonstrations of the newest developments in the citrus culture, production, packing and processing, and all the newest grove machinery and equipment on display.

1933 - President-Elect Franklin Delano Roosevelt narrowly escaped an assassination attempt shortly after giving a speech at Bayfront Park in Miami on this date. The would-be assassin, Guiseppe Zangara, an Italian immigrant and unemployed bricklayer, fired 5 shots towards Roosevelt who was standing on stage, fatally wounding the Mayor of Chicago Anton Cermak and injuring four others. Zangara was wrestled to the ground, arrested, and found guilty of murder, receiving the death penalty at Raiford Prison in Union County on March 20^th of the same year.

1973 – Richard Petty won his third Daytona 500 race on this date. He was the first driver to win the event three times and is one of only two drivers to win seven NASCAR championships during his career. The Daytona 500 race officially began in 1959, although racing has been a part of Daytona and Ormond Beach history since the early 20^th century when drivers raced largely experimental vehicles along the hard-packed beaches of Daytona and Ormond, and also broke many early land speed records.

1912 – The first Rotary Club in Florida was formed in Jacksonville at the Windsor Hotel on this date. The stated purpose of the Rotary International Club is to ,”bring together business and professional leaders, in order to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help bring goodwill and peace in the world.” The first club was organized in 1905 in Chicago by attorney Paul P. Harris. Harris had moved to Jacksonville in 1894, and it was because of his relationship with businessmen in the city, particularly granite company owner George W.

1963 – Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705 crashed into a remote area of the Everglades shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport on this date. The routine flight was destined for Portland, Oregon via Chicago, Spokane and Seattle when shortly after takeoff the plane experienced heavy turbulence due to severe thunderstorms in the area and broke up in midair resulting in the loss of all 43 people on board. This was the first time a jetliner had broken up in midair due to loss of control and turbulence, but it was not the last crash to occur in that area of the Everglades.

1920 - Daniel Chappie James Jr., the first African American to reach the rank of four star general, was born in Pensacola on this date. James grew up in Florida and became interested in flying at a young age. He later graduated from the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1942. He trained African American fighter pilots during WWII. During the Korean War, James flew 101 combat missions and 78 during the Vietnam War. In September of 1975, James was promoted to four star grade and was assigned commander in chief of NORAD/ADCOM at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

The first Florida Chautauqua Winter Assembly was scheduled to open in DeFuniak Springs on this date (although delayed until February 15^th to finish construction of the auditorium building). The original Florida Chautauqua Assembly was spearheaded by leaders of the Chautauqua Assembly of Chautauqua, New York who wanted to expand their multi-week program in New York to include a winter program in a warmer climate. The format of the group emphasized religious training and educational activities in areas of philosophy, theology, music and art.

1973 - The first measurable snow since 1958 covers a portion of the Sunshine State. Pensacola reported two inches. DeFuniak Springs and Quincy reported similar amounts. Trace amounts were reported as far south as Clermont. Unofficial reports put the accumulated total of 6 to 8 inches at Jay