In 1776, Thomas Paine anonymously published his influential pamphlet, “Common Sense,” which argued for American independence from British rule. In 1860, the Pemberton Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, collapsed and caught fire, killing as many as 145 people. In 1861, Florida became the ...

Dear Heloise: If you are sorting through older photos (especially of buildings) and are tempted to toss them out, consider mailing them to the city or county where they were taken. Many people who own older homes or businesses would truly value a glimpse of what their properties looked like in ...

Dear Annie: I was diagnosed with breast cancer a few months ago. I’ve been through surgery and radiation treatments. According to the oncologists, I should now consider myself a “survivor.” Since I have scars, I’m taking medication for the next 10 years that has potentially really bad ...

Dear Heloise: I use a serrated grapefruit spoon to spoon out the seeds from squash. It really gets them out easily. -- Nancy K., in Amsterdam, New York DON’T FORGET! Dear Heloise: I live in a two-story home and have a spare fridge in the garage for the “overflow.” I keep a pad of ...

Dear Annie: I’ve been happily married for 18 years, and for most of that time I’ve slept poorly -- but lately it’s become unbearable. My husband falls asleep within minutes and snores loudly and steadily through the night. I lie awake listening, nudging him, turning him onto his side, ...

In 1861, Mississippi became the second state to secede from the Union, the same day the Star of the West, a merchant vessel bringing reinforcements and supplies to Federal troops at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, retreated because of artillery fire. In 1916, the World War I Battle of Gallipoli ...