Andy Bass

@andybassny

Historian. Authored 40-page journal article on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 12 visits to Westchester County. Led successful campaigns to preserve/protect a historic riding stable and a former train station. #publichistory Westchester County, New York

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Andy Bass@andybassny· 15d

50 years ago today, July 30, 1976: Lasse Viren of Finland edged out 3 other runners by less than a second to win the 5000 meters at the Montreal Olympics. The win gave Viren a historic "double double," gold medals in both the 5000 and 10,000 meters in consecutive Olympics. youtu.be/0t9tX1Tq4RI?...

A 1977 Sportscaster card #01-22, printed in Italy, is signed by Lasse Viren. The image on the card shows Viren in bib #301 competing in a qualifying heat for the 5,000 meters at the Montreal Olympic Games on July 28, 1976. Viren won the final two days later to achieve a historic “double double,” gold medal victories in both the 10,000-meter and 5,000-meter finals in two consecutive Olympic Games—Munich 1972 and Montreal 1976. (Andy Bass collection)

Lasse Viren’s dramatic victory in the 5000-meter final at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games is depicted in a life-size bronze sculpture that stands today on a granite base in Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia. “The Last Meter” was created by sculptor Eino Romppanen in “celebration of the 1996 Centennial Oympic athletes.” It was gifted by Asics and PowerBar. The original edition of the sculpture was commissioned by Polar Electro Oy and stands today in front of the company’s corporate headquarters in Kempele, Finland, Viren’s home country. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

The top four finishers of the 5,000-meter final at the 1976 Montreal Olympic Games are depicted in Eino Romppanen’s life-size bronze sculpture, “The Last Meter,” in Atlanta, Georgia. Depicted upright are, from left, Lasse Viren of Finland, gold medal, 13:24.76; Dick Quax of New Zealand, silver medal, 13:25.16; and Rod Dixon of New Zealand, 4th place, 13:25.50. Depicted diving across the finish line is Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand of West Germany, bronze medal, 13:25.38. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

A close-up view of Eino Romppanen’s sculpture “The Last Meter” shows his depiction of race-winner Lasse Viren of Finland. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 15d

50 years ago today, July 30, 1976: Bruce Jenner earned the unofficial title of "world's greatest athlete" by winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the Montreal Olympic Games. Jenner and gymnast Nadia Comaneci emerged as the two biggest global celebrities of the Games. youtu.be/hz5OWAEGr-o?...

1996 Upper Deck USA Olympicard #43, signed by Bruce Jenner. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 17d

50 years ago today, July 28, 1976: A television adaptation of the 1942 cinema classic WOMAN OF THE YEAR aired on CBS. The TV movie starred the husband-and-wife acting and writing team of Joseph Bologna and Renee Taylor. The duo co-wrote the teleplay with Bernie Kahn.

Joseph Bologna portrays sportswriter Sam Rodino and Renee Taylor plays newspaper journalist Tess Harding in the 1976 CBS television movie WOMAN OF THE YEAR. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 20d

50 years ago today, July 25, 1976: American hurdler Edwin Moses won the 400-meter hurdles at the Montreal Olympic Games. He set a world record using an innovative 13-step stride pattern between hurdles. The competition was the beginning of his legendary 12-year international career.

Edwin Moses models the "Edwin Moses" Swatch watch (Model SAZ106) in a 1996 promotional photo signed by Moses. The watch was released as part of Swatch’s Olympic Legends series for the Atlanta Olympic Games. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 21d

50 years ago today, July 24, 1976: American swimmer John Naber set his second world record of the Montreal Olympic Games in winning the men's 200-meter backstroke. He had earlier set a world record in the 100-meter backstroke. He finished the Games with five medals—four gold and one silver. 🥇🥇🥈🥇🥇

1977 Sportscaster card #02-22 Printed in Japan, signed by John Naber. (Andy Bass collection)

1983 Finder Image International/Topps History's Greatest Olympians card #23, signed by John Naber. (Andy Bass collection)

1991 Impel U.S. Olympic Cards Hall of Fame card #18, signed by John Naber. (Andy Bass collection)

1996 Upper Deck USA Olympiccard #10, signed by John Naber. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 22d

50 years ago today, July 23, 1976: The Daniel Petrie film LIFEGUARD was released by Paramount Pictures. The romantic drama featured actor Sam Elliott in his first leading movie role. It also marked Kathleen Quinlan's transition from a bit player to a serious dramatic actress.

Actor Sam Elliott as lifeguard Rick Carlson in the 1976 film LIFEGUARD (Andy Bass collection)

Actress Kathleen Quinlan as Wendy in the 1976 film LIFEGUARD. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· 27d

50 years ago today, July 18, 1976: Gymnast Nadia Comăneci of Romania scored the first of her seven perfect 10s at the Olympic Games in Montreal. It was the first perfect score in Olympic gymnastics history. The feat was so unforeseen that the electronic scoreboard could only display "1.00."

A signed philatelic maximum card commemorates gymnast Nadia Comăneci's groundbreaking performance at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. The stamp was issued as part of the “Gold Medal Winners” series by the Romanian postal service in Bucharest, Romania, on October 20, 1976. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jul 15

200 years ago today, July 15, 1826: The Red Brick Church Meeting House opened as a Baptist church in Sodus, New York, a town along Lake Ontario in the Finger Lakes region. The congregation disbanded in 1926. Today, the historic landmark is used for weddings and community events.

The 1826 Red Brick Church Meeting House stands at the southeastern corner of South Geneva Road and Brick Church Road in the town of Sodus, Wayne County, New York. The two-story brick building sits on a fieldstone foundation. The brick used in the building was made from local clay deposits. The Baptist Rural Cemetery of Sodus Center lies on the property behind the building. The cemetery dates back to 1809 and includes veterans from the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. The building and cemetery are owned and managed today by the Baptist Rural Cemetery Association of Sodus Center, Inc. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A view from South Geneva Road shows the west side of the Red Brick Church Meeting House. At right is a 2024 Pomeroy historical marker that commemorates the building. The Baptist Rural Cemetery of Sodus Center is visible in the background behind the marker. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A bronze plaque mounted on the façade of the Red Brick Church Meeting House commemorates its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A 2024 historical marker commemorating the Red Brick Church Meeting House stands between the west side of the building and South Geneva Road. It was erected by the Town of Sodus Historical Society and sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation through its New York State Historic Marker Grant Program. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jul 13

50 years ago today, July 13, 1976: "The Mighty Babe" was among four oil paintings by Robert Thom presented by Chevrolet to Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. It depicts the legend of Babe Ruth's called shot in the 1932 World Series. It hangs today in the HOF.🖌️⚾

“The Mighty Babe,” an oil painting by Robert Thom, hangs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The work was one of four scenes painted by the artist in 1976 for a series titled, “Great Moments in Baseball.” The paintings were commissioned by Chevrolet to commemorate the centennial of the National League. This original painting was presented to Baseball Commissioner Bowie Kuhn at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia on July 13, 1976. Kuhn subsequently donated it to the museum. (Andy Bass photo, 2019)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jul 4

50 years ago today, July 4, 1976: The New York City Transit Exhibition, the forerunner to today's New York Transit Museum, opened in the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Brooklyn. It was intended to be a temporary exhibit for the Bicentennial, but its popularity made it permanent.

The main entrance to the New York Transit Museum lies near the corner of Schermerhorn Street and Boerum Place in Downtown Brooklyn, New York City. The museum entry is the former street stairs subway entrance for the decommissioned Court Street station. The museum is housed entirely underground within the former station. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

A timeline of New York City Transit in the New York Transit Museum includes the museum’s 1976 opening. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

A vintage 1930 IND R-1 City-Car sits at platform level of the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn. The museum is housed entirely underground within the decommissioned Court Street subway station. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jun 4

50 years ago today, June 4, 1976: The Vestal Museum opened in the town of Vestal in the Southern Tier of New York. The local history museum is housed in a relocated 1881 train depot of the Lackawanna Railroad. The line served passengers between Buffalo and Hoboken, New Jersey.

A historical marker (foreground left) commemorates the 1881 Vestal Depot, now the Vestal Museum (background right), at 328 Vestal Parkway East in Vestal, New York. The marker was erected by the Town of Vestal in 2016. It was sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation through its New York State Historical Marker Grant Program. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

The Vestal Museum lies in the parking lot of the campus of the Vestal Public Library at 328 Vestal Parkway East in Vestal, New York. The 1881 Vestal Depot was moved half a mile from its original site by the Town of Vestal in 1972. It opened as the Vestal Museum on June 4, 1976. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A bronze plaque affixed to the façade of the Vestal Museum provides a history of the building. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A program from the opening ceremony of the Vestal Museum is among the historical items housed in the museum by the Vestal Historical Society. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jun 3

Poet Allen Ginsberg (1926–1997) was born 100 years ago today in Newark, New Jersey. He was a central figure of the Beat Generation and the 1960s counterculture. His 1956 book, HOWL AND OTHER POEMS, sparked a landmark free speech and obscenity trial that expanded literary freedom.

Allen Ginsberg appears in a press photo for the 1986 documentary WHAT HAPPENED TO KEROUAC?. The independent film is a biographical overview of the life of novelist and poet Jack Kerouac. Ginsberg appears in the film as a primary interviewee and commentator. (Andy Bass Collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Jun 1

Actor Andy Griffith (1926–2012) was born 100 years ago today in Mount Airy, North Carolina, where he spent his entire childhood. Commemorations of him in the city today include a museum, a statue, and a mural. The city's annual Mayberry Days festival celebrates THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW.

A copy of Andy Griffith’s original birth certificate is displayed in the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, North Carolina. Griffith was born in the city on June 1, 1926. The museum opened in 2009. It was founded by Emmett Forrest, a lifelong friend of Griffith, in collaboration with the Surry Arts Council. The council operates the museum today. (Andy Bass photo, 2022)

The front page of the Mount Airy Times from May 31, 1957, is displayed in the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, North Carolina. The headline declares, “Welcome Home – Happy Birthday ANDY GRIFFITH: We Are Proud of the Part You Are Playing In The World Of Entertainment.” This edition of the newspaper was published on the eve of Griffith’s 31st birthday. (Andy Bass photo, 2022)

The Andy Griffith Show Statue stands next to the Andy Griffith Playhouse on the grounds of the Surry Arts Council at 218 Rockford Street in Mount Airy, North Carolina. It depicts the show’s classic opening scene with Sheriff Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his son Opie (Ron Howard) walking hand in hand holding fishing poles. The bronze sculpture was commissioned and donated by the TV Land television network and unveiled in 2004. An identical statue was dedicated the previous year in Raleigh, North Carolina. The statues were created by renowned portrait sculptor Stuart Williamson. (Andy Bass photo, 2022)

A mural commemorating Andy Griffith adorns a wall of the Surrey Bank and Trust building on Moore Avenue by North Renfro Street in Mount Airy, North Carolina. It was created by renowned mural artist JEKS (Brian Lewis) in 2022. The hyper-realistic mural features five portraits of Griffith spanning the years 1958 to 1987. An image of Pilot Mountain is superimposed in the background. The mural project was led by Mount Airy Downtown, Inc. in partnership with the Mount Airy Tourism Development Authority, the City of Mount Airy, and the bank. (Andy Bass photo, 2022)

Andy Bass@andybassny· May 25

100 years ago today, May 25, 1926: The Hotel Viking opened in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. The Colonial Revival-style hotel was built as a civic project through public stock. It was inducted into the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Historic Hotels of America in 1997.

The historic Hotel Viking stands at 1 Bellevue Avenue in downtown Newport, Rhode Island. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

The front entrance of the Hotel Viking exemplifies its Colonial Revival-style architecture. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Two historical plaques are shown affixed to the façade of the Hotel Viking. The one at top features the year the hotel opened, while the one at bottom designates its induction in Historic Hotels of America, a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A plaque affixed to the façade of the Hotel Viking designates its listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a standalone property. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· May 8

Actor and pioneering comedian Don Rickles (1926-2017) was born 100 years ago today in Queens, New York City. He was known as the "King of Insult Comedy." In 2025, his 1968 comedy album HELLO DUMMY! was added to the National Recording Registry by the U.S. Library of Congress.

Don Rickles appears in a publicity photo. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· May 3

Actress Ann B. Davis (1926-2014) was born 100 years ago today in Schenectady, New York. She became a TV icon for playing the beloved housekeeper Alice Nelson on the classic sitcom THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-1974). Earlier, she won two Emmys for her role as “Shultzy” on THE BOB CUMMINGS SHOW (1955-1959).

Actress Ann B. Davis appears in her signature role of housekeeper Alice Nelson in THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-1974). She appeared in all 117 episodes of the sitcom over its five-season run. (Andy Bass collection)

Actress Ann B. Davis appears in her signature role of housekeeper Alice Nelson in the ABC sitcom THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-1974). (Andy Bass collection)

Ann B. Davis appears in a press photo for the CBS comedy-drama series THE BRADYS (1990). The actress reprised her iconic role of Alice for what was a sequel and continuation of THE BRADY BUNCH (1969-1974). CBS cancelled the sequel after just six episodes due to poor ratings. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· May 1

A Pomeroy historical marker commemorating the 19th-century Kirbyville School House was unveiled in Mount Kisco, New York, on April 26, 2026. The marker was dedicated by the Mount Kisco Historical Society. The local group restored the one-room building and operates it today as a community museum.

A newly unveiled historical marker commemorating the 19th-century Kirbyville School House stands beside a post-mounted hanging sign at the entrance to the property at 49 Moore Avenue in Mount Kisco, New York, on April 26, 2026. The marker was dedicated by the Mount Kisco Historical Society. The local group saved the building from condemnation and completed a decade-long restoration of it in 2012. The historical society now operates the former one-room schoolhouse as a community museum to educate visitors about schooling in the 19th century. The historical marker was sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation through its New York State Historical Marker Grant Program. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

Ralph Vigliotti, President of the Mount Kisco Historical Society, addresses attendees of the “Kirbyville School” historical marker dedication ceremony from the building’s front porch in Mount Kisco, New York, on April 26, 2026. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

New York State Assemblyman Chris Burdick (AD-93), right, presents a citation commemorating the Kirbyville School to Ralph Vigliotti, left, President of the Mount Kisco Historical Society, and Mike Kirsch, center, Vice-President of the Mount Kisco Historical Society and Chair of the Landmark and Historical Preservation Commission of the Village of Mount Kisco, on April 26, 2026. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

Members of the Mount Kisco Historical Society (MKHS) and Landmark and Historical Preservation Commission of the Village of Mount Kisco (LHPC) stand in front of the newly unveiled historical marker commemorating the Kirbyville School House on April 26, 2026. Left to right are Ralph Vigliotti, MKHS President; J. Michael Cindrich, Mayor of the Village of Mount Kisco; Linda McCartney, MKHS Recording Secretary and LHPC member; Joan Stewart, MKHS trustee and LHPC member; Louis Terlizzi, LHPC member; Mary Ellen Matts, MKHS trustee; Mike Kirsch, MKHS Vice President and LHPC Chair; and Jessica Cox, MKHS trustee and LHPC member. (Andy Bass photo, 2026)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 30

Actress Cloris Leachman (1926-2021) was born 100 years ago today in Des Moines, Iowa. She won two Emmys for her signature role of Phyllis Lindstrom on THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW (1970-75). She was known for her versatility and is an inductee in the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Actress Cloris Leachman appears in a 1974 publicity photo for the television sitcom, PHYLLIS (1975-1977). The series was a spin-off of THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW. Leachman won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress—Television Series Musical or Comedy for the role in 1975. (Andy Bass collection)

Actress Cloris Leachman appears in a 1984 publicity photo by Harry Langdon Photography. (Andy Bass collection)

Actress Cloris Leachman appears in a circa 1985 publicity photo. (Andy Bass collection)

Actress Cloris Leachman stars as Margaret Shand in the 1987 comedy film WALK LIKE A MAN. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 22

Actress Charlotte Rae (1926-2018) was born 100 years ago today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is best known for her role as the warmhearted housemother Edna Garrett on the first two seasons of DIFF'RENT STROKES (1978-79) and for eight seasons of its spin-off, THE FACTS OF LIFE (1979-86).

Charlotte Rae appears in her signature role of housemother Edna Garrett in THE FACTS OF LIFE episode, “Into the Frying Pan.” It aired September 21, 1985, during the show’s seventh season. (Andy Bass collection)

Charlotte Rae appears in her role as Myrtle Ruth on a lobby card for the 1969 comedy-adventure film, HELLO DOWN THERE. (Andy Bass collection)

Charlotte Rae performs alongside a Krofft Puppet during a guest appearance on the NBC variety show BARABARA MANDRELL AND THE MANDRELL SISTERS. The episode aired March 28, 1981. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 20

50 years ago today, April 20, 1976: Pitcher Mark Fidrych made his Major League debut with the Detroit Tigers. By year's end, "The Bird" had become a national sensation with his eccentric behavior and refreshing child-like personality. He led baseball with a 2.34 ERA and was A.L. Rookie of the Year.

A plaque commemorating former baseball player Mark Fidrych (1954-2009) stands at Memorial Field at 61 East Main Street in Northborough, Massachusetts. Fidrych grew up in the town and played on the baseball field as a youth in the sixties. The plaque was dedicated by the Northborough Historical Society in 2017. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A view of the baseball diamond of Memorial Field in Northborough, Massachusetts, shows the Mark Fidrych plaque at the far right. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A plaque marking Mark Fidrych Field is embedded in the granite base of the flagpole at the varsity baseball field at Algonquin Regional High School in Northborough, Massachusetts. Fidrych was an alumnus of the school and played on the field during his high school years. The field was dedicated for Fidrych in 2012. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A view of Mark Fidrych Field at Algonquin High School in Northborough, Massachusetts, shows the plaque at the base of the flagpole that commemorates the former Detroit Tigers pitcher. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 18

50 years ago today, April 18, 1976: At the 30th Annual Tony Awards in New York City, A CHORUS LINE won 9 awards. It is tied for the 4th highest number of Tony wins for a musical in Broadway history. Donna McKechnie (Best Actress) and Kelly Bishop (Best Featured Actress) were among the winners.

Donna McKechnie as Cassie Ferguson in A CHORUS LINE on the cover of the August 1975 issue of After Dark magazine. (Andy Bass collection)

Kelly Bishop as Sheila Bryant in the original 1975 Broadway production of A CHORUS LINE. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 9

Harris Wofford (1926-2019) was born 100 years ago today in New York City. He was a special assistant to JFK and a legal advisor to MLK who helped start the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. He later served as U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania, 1991-1995. He was a 1944 graduate of Scarsdale High School in NY.

Harris Wofford as United States Senator from Pennsylvania, circa 1992. (Andy Bass Collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Apr 5

50 years ago today, April 5, 1976: The Berklee College of Music opened its Berklee Performance Center in the former Fenway Theatre in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. The 1915 neoclassical building was designed by notable theater architect Thomas Lamb. It seats just over 1,200.

The Berklee Performance Center stands at 136 Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A close-up view shows the front entrance and blade sign of the Berklee Performance Center at 136 Massachusetts Avenue in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

The original stage door of the Berklee Performance Center is displayed outside the Office of the President of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. It bears the signatures of many of the notable entertainers who performed at the venue during its first few decades of operation. Among the individuals who signed the door are Byron Allen, Tim Allen, Tony Bennett, David Brenner, Carol Channing, Eddie Gomez, Bob James, Al Jarreau, Billy Joel, Chaka Khan, Brenda Lee, Rita Lee, Marian McPartland, Roy Orbison, Smokey Robinson, Joe Sample, David Sanborn, and Tony Williams. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 26

50 years ago today, March 26, 1976: Entrepreneur Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, opened the company's first store in Brighton, England. The business revolutionized the cosmetics industry by focusing on cruelty-free products, natural ingredients, and Community Fair Trade.

Anita Roddick photographed by Steve Perry, circa 1991. (Andy Bass collection)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 24

Suffragist and abolitionist Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898) was born 200 years ago today in Cicero, New York. She was president of the National Women's Suffrage Association (1875–1886), co-author of HISTORY OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE (1881), and author of WOMAN, CHURCH AND STATE (1893).

A historical marker commemorating the birthplace and childhood home of Matilda Joslyn Gage stands at 8560 Brewerton Road in the Town of Cicero in Onondaga County, New York. It was erected by the Town of Cicero and sponsored by the William G. Pomeroy Foundation through its New York State Historical Marker Grant Program. The site is currently occupied by a recreational vehicle dealer. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 22

100 years ago today, March 22, 1926: The Larchmont Gardens Station opened on the Port Chester Branch of the New York, Westchester & Boston Railway. The railroad shut down 11 years later. Since 1938, the building has been home to the Girl Scouts of Larchmont-Mamaroneck. A marker was erected in 2024.

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 16

100 years ago today, March 16, 1926: Robert H. Goddard launched the world's first liquid-fueled rocket on his cousin's farm in Auburn, Massachusetts. It proved the feasibility of liquid propellant. Today, the launch site is a National Historic Landmark that lies within Pakachoag Golf Course.

A granite obelisk standing approximately four feet high marks the spot in Auburn, Massachusetts, from which Robert H. Goddard launched the first liquid-fueled rocket on March 16, 1926. Today, the spot lies between the tee and the green of the ninth fairway of the town-owned Pakachoag Golf Course. Goddard used a combination of gasoline and liquid oxygen to propel the rocket. In his diary, he wrote, “It rose 41 feet & went 184 feet, in 2.5 secs., after the lower half of the nozzle burned off.” The boundaries of the National Historic Landmark designation for the Goddard Rocket Launching Site are defined by a circle with a radius of 200 feet centered on the obelisk. The boundaries cover the range of the rocket flight. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A close-up view shows the granite obelisk marking the Goddard Rocket Launching Site at Pakachoag Golf Course in Auburn, Massachusetts. The inscription reads, “SITE OF LAUNCHING OF WORLD’S FIRST LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET BY DR. ROBERT H. GODDARD, 16 MARCH 1926.” (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A granite tablet commemorating the 1926 Goddard rocket launch stands 1,000 feet from the launch spot in the northwestern corner of Pakachoag Golf Course near Upland Street in Auburn, Massachusetts. It was dedicated by the American Rocket Society in 1960. The inscription reads, “ON MARCH 16 1926 DR ROBERT H GODDARD LAUNCHED THE WORLD’S FIRST LIQUID PROPELLANT ROCKET FROM A POINT 1000 FEET SSE OF THIS TABLET ON THE PROPERTY OF THE ASA M WARD FAMILY. ERECTED BY THE AMERICAN ROCKET SOCIETY JULY 13 1960 IN RECOGNITION OF THIS SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT IN THE EVOLOTION OF ASTRONAUTICS.” (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A bronze plaque commemorating the designation of the Goddard Rocket Launching Site as a National Historic Landmark is affixed to rock that lies in the northwestern corner of Pakachoag Golf Course near Upland Street in Auburn, Massachusetts. The plaque was dedicated by the National Park Service in 1966. The inscription reads, “PAKACHOAG HILL GODDARD ROCKET LAUNCHING SITE HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A REGISTERED NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE HISTORIC SITES ACT OF AUGUST 21, 1935. THIS SITE POSSESSES EXCEPTIONAL VALUE IN COMMEMORATING OR ILLUSTRATING THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, 1966.” (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 12

100 years ago today, March 12, 1926: The Savoy Ballroom opened in New York City's Harlem. The fully integrated jazz nightclub was a hub of the Swing Era and the birthplace of the Lindy Hop dance. It was demolished in 1958. A monument commemorating the venue was dedicated at the site in 2002.

A marble monument commemorating the Savoy Ballroom stands at the former site of its entrance on Lenox Avenue between West 140th and West 141st Streets in New York City. It was unveiled on May 26, 2002, by Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, surviving members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, the professional dancers from the Savoy Ballroom. The block-long site where the Savoy Ballroom once stood is occupied today by the Savoy Park Apartments and its surrounding green space. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

A plaque with an inscription about the history of the Savoy Ballroom is the centerpiece of the monument commemorating the former jazz nightclub. It stands at the former site of the venue’s entrance on Lenox Avenue between West 140th and West 141st Streets in New York City. (Andy Bass photo, 2025)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 11

Civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy (1926-1990) was born 100 years ago today in Linden, Alabama. A close friend and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the two Baptist ministers partnered in many seminal civil rights campaigns beginning with the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955.

A bronze bas relief of Ralph Abernathy comprises part of the 1996 Ralph David Abernathy Memorial: We Will Not Forget in Atlanta, Georgia. The sculpture was created by artist Bright Bimpong on a bronze lectern. It’s part of a larger public art installation designed by Emma Amos. The project was sponsored by the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta. It is located at Ralph David Abernathy Square at the southwest corner of Formwalt Street SW and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

A Ralph Abernathy quote in raised bronze letters comprises part of the 1996 Ralph David Abernathy Memorial: We Will Not Forget in Atlanta, Georgia. The public art installation was designed by Emma Amos and was sponsored by the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta. It is located at Ralph David Abernathy Square at the southwest corner of Formwalt Street SW and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

A wide-angle view shows the 1996 Ralph David Abernathy Memorial: We Will Not Forget in Atlanta, Georgia. The public art installation was designed by Emma Amos and was sponsored by the Corporation for Olympic Development in Atlanta. It is located at Ralph David Abernathy Square at the southwest corner of Formwalt Street SW and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW in the Mechanicsville neighborhood. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

A granite wall marks the site of Ralph David Abernathy Square in the Mechanicsville neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia. The square is located at the southwest corner of Formwalt Street SW and Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard SW. The 1996 Ralph David Abernathy Memorial: We Will Not Forget can be seen in the background to the right. (Andy Bass photo, 2017)

Andy Bass@andybassny· Mar 9

Talk show pioneer Joe Franklin (1926-2015) was born 100 years ago today in the Bronx, New York. His program, which aired in New York from 1951 to 1993, was one of TV’s first and longest-running talk shows. It was known for its diverse guests, with the famous seated alongside the obscure.