May 17, 1897 – Described by The Springfield News-Leader as a “no pushee – no pullee,” the city’s first horseless carriage made an appearance on the Square in Springfield.
May 18, 1897 – Still excited by the town’s first horseless carriage, The Springfield News-Leader said, “There seems to be no head nor tail to the horseless carriage.” Additionally, “The electric carriage is enough to scare the horses out of their jobs.” They also report that a tax on horseless carriages probably won’t happen.
May 19, 1918 – The automobile was destroying marriages. That, according to Judge Wilson Taylor, who said that men were paying more attention to their cars than to their wives and women therefore were becoming “sloppy.”
May 20, 1951 – Birthday of astronaut, Tom Akers. He grew up in Eminence, Missouri and graduated from Eminence High School and earned two degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla. Eventually Colonel Akers made four trips into space.
May 21, 1927 – With Missouri backing, Charles Lindbergh’s plane, The Spirit of St. Louis, completed the solo journey across the Atlantic.
May 22, 1890 – The sheriff was called for the second Sunday in a row to break up baseball games in Hillsboro. Of course, such endeavors were illegal on Sundays.
May 23, 1952 – Eleven students were suspended from the University of Missouri for their part in what came to be known as “The Great Panty Raid.”
