Moments in time - Aug. 6, 2009

The History Channel

• On Aug. 23, 1784, four counties in western North Carolina declare their independence as the state of Franklin. In defiance of Congress, Franklin survived as an independent nation for four years with its own constitution, Indian treaties and legislated system of barter in lieu of currency.

• On Aug. 21, 1903, America’s first transcontinental auto race, stretching from New York City to San Francisco, is completed. The race was finished by Tom Fetch and M.C. Karrup in two Model F Packards, which traveled an average of 80 miles per day for 51 days.

• On Aug. 20, 1911, a dispatcher in the New York Times office sends the first telegram around the world via commercial service. The message left New York at 7 p.m. After it traveled more than 28,000 miles, being relayed by 16 different operators, the reply was received by the same operator 16.5 minutes later.

• On Aug. 19, 1921, TV producer Gene Roddenberry, best known as the creator of “Star Trek,” is born in El Paso, Texas. Although “Star Trek” ran for only three years and never placed better than No. 52 in the ratings, Roddenberry’s sci-fi series became a cult classic and spawned four television series and nine movies.

• On Aug. 22, 1935, author Annie Proulx is born in Norwich, Conn. Her second novel, “The Shipping News,” about an out-of-luck journalist and father who rebuilds his life after moving to Newfoundland, won the Pulitzer Prize.

• On Aug. 17, 1969, the grooviest event in music history — the Woodstock Music Festival — draws to a close after three days of peace, love and rock ‘n’ roll in upstate New York. A total of 186,000 tickets had been sold, but close to half a million people showed up.

• On Aug. 18, 1977, Gordon Sumner (better known as Sting), Stewart Copeland and Andy Summers give their first performance as The Police at a nightclub in Birmingham, England. Sting, nicknamed for a black and yellow shirt he frequently wore to his early gigs, was born in Newcastle, England. Before becoming a full-time musician, he worked as a teacher and ditch digger.

(c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.