Calendar for December 14th, 2012

Died 1799: George Washington (1st U.S. president)

1807: First recorded meteorite in the New World fell in Weston, Connecticut

1819: Alabama is admitted to the Union as the 22nd state

Died 1861: Prince Albert (husband and Prince Consort of Queen Victoria)

Born 1902: Frances Bavier (actress)

1911: First expedition reached the South Pole, led by Roald Amundsen

Born 1911: Spike Jones (comedian & musician)

1926: Tilt-a-Whirl trademark registered

Born 1932: Charlie Rich (musician)

1944: National Velvet, a film featuring a young Elizabeth Taylor, premiered in New York

Born 1946: Patty Duke (actress)

1973: Scotchguard carpet treatment patented

Born 1977: KaDee Strickland (actress)

Died 1985: Roger Maris (baseball player)

Born 1988: Vanessa Hudgens (actress)

1999: Charles Schulz, creator of the comic strip Peanuts, announced he would retire

2004: The Millau Viaduct, the highest bridge in the world, was formally opened in France