1963 – Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 705 crashed into a remote area of the Everglades shortly after takeoff from Miami International Airport on this date. The routine flight was destined for Portland, Oregon via Chicago, Spokane and Seattle when shortly after takeoff the plane experienced heavy turbulence due to severe thunderstorms in the area and broke up in midair resulting in the loss of all 43 people on board. This was the first time a jetliner had broken up in midair due to loss of control and turbulence, but it was not the last crash to occur in that area of the Everglades.

1920 - Daniel Chappie James Jr., the first African American to reach the rank of four star general, was born in Pensacola on this date. James grew up in Florida and became interested in flying at a young age. He later graduated from the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama in 1942. He trained African American fighter pilots during WWII. During the Korean War, James flew 101 combat missions and 78 during the Vietnam War. In September of 1975, James was promoted to four star grade and was assigned commander in chief of NORAD/ADCOM at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado.

The first Florida Chautauqua Winter Assembly was scheduled to open in DeFuniak Springs on this date (although delayed until February 15^th to finish construction of the auditorium building). The original Florida Chautauqua Assembly was spearheaded by leaders of the Chautauqua Assembly of Chautauqua, New York who wanted to expand their multi-week program in New York to include a winter program in a warmer climate. The format of the group emphasized religious training and educational activities in areas of philosophy, theology, music and art.

1973 - The first measurable snow since 1958 covers a portion of the Sunshine State. Pensacola reported two inches. DeFuniak Springs and Quincy reported similar amounts. Trace amounts were reported as far south as Clermont. Unofficial reports put the accumulated total of 6 to 8 inches at Jay

1832 - The Florida Territorial Legislature repealed an anti-dueling law on this date. This legislative measure effectively legalized dueling in the territory. For years, men would challenge each other to duels which often involved firearms, but might also involve hand to hand combat. This repeal of anti-dueling laws is evidence of the violent nature of dispute resolution amongst men in Florida during the territorial period.

1969 - Diane Crump became the first female jockey to compete in an officially sanctioned professional American horserace at the Hialeah Park racetrack in south Florida on this date. Crump grew up in Oldsmar, Pinellas County, where she began her riding career, and was only 18 when she first competed professionally against her male counterparts. She would go on to become the first women to compete in the Kentucky Derby in 1970 and continued to compete professionally over the course of the next 30 years winning hundreds of races along the way.

1897 -Millard Fillmore Caldwell, the 29th governor of Florida (1945-1949), was born today near Knoxville, Tennessee. He attended Carson-Newman College, the University of Mississippi, and the University of Virginia and served in the Army during WWI, before coming to Florida in 1924. In 1929, he was elected to represent Santa Rosa County in the Florida House of Representatives. In 1933, he was elected to theÿU.S. House of representatives from Florida?s 3rd District. In 1941, he retired to private law practice, but reentered public life in 1944 when he ran for governor.

1926 - The town of North Miami in Dade County, then known as Miami Shores, was incorporated on this date. The area was originally inhabited by Native American communities and in the mid-19th century early American settlers formed a small community known as Arch Creek, named after a unique, 40ft long natural limestone bridge that has since collapsed. In the early 20th century agriculture became the major industry as the population slowly grew. After the Second World War the town grew rapidly and voters decided to incorporate as a city on May 27th, 1953 renaming the community North Miami.

1832 - Columbia County, Florida?s 16th, was created by the State Legislature on this date, named after the poetical name of the United States. Columbia County is located in north Florida on the border with Georgia and is home to over 67,000 residents. The County Seat and largest city is Lake City in the central part of the county.

1921 - The South Florida Fair and Gasparilla Carnival opened in Tampa, Florida on this date. In July of 1904, the South Florida Fair Association was formalized and plans for a new exhibition hall, a stadium, coliseum, and stock stalls to be built. After a few short years it became known as the Mid-Winter Festival. In 1915, when Articles of Incorporation for the South Florida Fair and Gasparilla Carnival were filed with the Secretary of State's office in Tallahassee, the Fair became known simply as the Florida State Fair.