Day Tripping: March 6
Phoenixes, Finances, and Flaps
Welcome to my daily feature where each day on the calendar marks a part of our shared history.
Setting A Record Straight
The town of York was still the capital of Upper Canada before the confederation of the Dominion of Canada. On this day in 1834, the town is incorporated as the City of Toronto, capital of the province of Ontario and the nation’s largest city. The legislative building pictured above was once the seat of Upper Canada’s parliament.
It was burned down by invading American troops in 1796, resulting in the British burning in retaliation of the White House at the end of the War of 1812. No, Donald, Canada did not burn down the White House.
Resetting The Economy
A little more than a day after taking office, President Franklin D. Roosevelt suspends all banking activity in the United States declaring a ‘bank holiday’. With the world still in the throes of the Great Depression in 1933, Roosevelt ordered bank closures and a freeze on transactions to stave off the collapse of more banking institutions.
The biggest issue for average citizens was the ability to cash a paycheck but with credit being extended by merchants across the country, working Americans carried on as mostly normal. The IRS of course, continued to accept income tax checks.
Setting A New Precedent
Prior to this day in 1998, it was customary for no flag to be raised over Buckingham Palace when the monarch wasn’t in residence. Under pressure from the backlash owing to the muted response from the monarchy over Princess Diana’s death, Queen Elizabeth II broke with protocol, ordering a British Union Flag be flown at half-mast.
Before then, only the Royal Standard flag flew above an attended building of the Queen. Since then, it has been custom to raise the Union Jack for similar circumstances when dignitaries pass, and when the Queen is not in residence.
Musical Milestones
The first to be a three-time inductee of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Eric Clapton is honoured as a solo artist in 2000 after already becoming a member with Cream and The Yardbirds.
Narratives
Following numerous attempts to do so, Edgar Allan Poe finally gets his wish and is removed permanently from West Point Military Academy. Unsubstantiated rumours suggest Poe went to great lengths to get himself kicked out, including showing for drills naked.
Remembrance
Canada’s favourite cowboy, the legendary Stompin’ Tom Connors passed away in 2013. His classic Canadiana lives on his iconic songs.
One of the rock era’s most underrated guitarists from Ten Years After, Alvin Lee also died in 2013.
Listening to Robert Osborne talk about movies on TCM was one of life’s greatest pleasures. He is sorely missed since his passing in 2017.
Thanks for taking the time to read this article dedicated to the days of our history. I hope to see you tomorrow for another instalment.
K. Barrett Katie Wallace Maria Rattray Joseph M. Learned Maryam Merchant Dr Mehmet Yildiz Tree Langdon Myriam Ben Salem Phil Truman Chelsea Mandler MAT Terry Mansfield Hollie Petit, PhD. Terry Trueman Dr Preeti Singh John Gruber Bill Abbate James G Brennan ScienceDuuude