FIRST WASHING MACHINE?! 🤯 & Food on a STICK! (March 28th History)
Have YOU heard that on this day in 1797, Nathaniel Briggs patented the first-ever washing machine, saving us all from the ENDLESS TORTURE of hand-washing our clothes? STAY TUNED!
On this day in 1797, Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patented the very first washing machine in America! Before this revolutionary invention, laundry day was an exhausting, all-day affair involving boiling water, harsh soaps, and hours of scrubbing clothes by hand. Briggs’ machine used a series of gears and wooden rods to automate some of the labor, though it was still far from our modern appliances. Sadly, the patent office fire of 1836 destroyed all records of Briggs’ original design, so we don’t know exactly how it worked! It would take another 40 years before rotary washing machines appeared, and more than a century before electric-powered machines became common. Next time you toss your clothes in the washer with a push of a button, thank Nathaniel Briggs for taking the first step toward ending laundry day misery!
[SOURCE: U.S. Patent Office Historical Records – “Early American Inventions”]
Today is National Something on a Stick Day! From corn dogs to popsicles, kebabs to lollipops, this quirky holiday celebrates all foods served on sticks. This serving method dates back to prehistoric times when our ancestors roasted meat over fire using wooden spears. The Minnesota State Fair, nicknamed the “Great Minnesota Get-Together,” holds the record for the most foods on a stick with over 80 different offerings, including deep-fried butter, chocolate-covered bacon, and even alligator-on-a-stick! The genius of stick-based food lies in its portability and minimal cleanup—perfect for on-the-go eating. So whether you prefer savory or sweet, grab something skewered today and celebrate this puncturing holiday!
[SOURCE: NationalDayCalendar.com – “National Something on a Stick Day”]
Did you know that on March 28, 1930, Constantinople officially became Istanbul? The city that spans two continents had been called Constantinople for over 1,600 years since Emperor Constantine made it the capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD. After the Ottoman Empire fell and the Republic of Turkey was established, the government formalized the name change that locals had already been using for centuries. The Turkish Post Office stopped delivering mail addressed to “Constantinople,” forcing the rest of the world to adopt the new name. This change inspired the catchy jazz tune “Istanbul (Not Constantinople)” in 1953, which was later covered by They Might Be Giants in 1990. Talk about a city so nice they named it twice—just not at the same time!
[SOURCE: TodayIFoundOut.com – “When Constantinople Became Istanbul”]
And that’s all for today’s edition of Have YOU heard? PLEASE leave a comment if you learned something nerdy! I’m Troy W. Hudson, the voice over with personality! Until next time, STAY CURIOUS!
Watch, Learn and Enjoy!
Troy W. Hudson
💚🎤 #haveyouheard