Today in History

October 6 - Weapons theft; Fonda in Fighting Mad

1970 — Fayetteville police killed one man and wounded another on this day after the two men attempted to steal weapons and ammunition from the National Guard Armory on South School Avenue. Two more men were arrested later. All four were former security officers who previously had been arrested for thefts at the University of Arkansas.
1976 — Fighting Mad, the movie starring Peter Fonda, Gino Franco, Lynn Lowry and Scott Glenn, among others; directed by Jonathan Demme; and filmed in and around Fayetteville, was released on this day.

October 5 - Margiana on the back stretch; Paulsen for president

1837 — The Fayetteville Jockey Club held its first race on this day. A brown horse called Uncas won the first-day race without a competitor, and a black mare called Margiana came home first among a field of four in the second-day race.
1970 — The Emmy Award-winning comedian, Pat Paulsen, brought his facetious off-year presidential candidacy to the campus of the University of Arkansas on this day.

October 4 - Smyth House added to register

2002 — The Peter Smyth House, built in 1886 on North Crossover Road, was added to the National Register Historic Places on this day.

October 3 – Fayetteville besieged; First flight; Acres of Sky; Kennedy and Roddenberry

1864 — Major General Fagan of the Confederacy attacked Fayetteville from the west on this day. His forces, estimated at nearly 7,000 troops, laid siege to Fayetteville but failed to drive the Federals out.
1911 — Glenn Martin made the first powered flight in Fayetteville on this day. He flew a pusher biplane at the old Washington County Fairgrounds.
1930 — G.P. Putnam and Sons released the novel Acres of Sky by Charles Morrow Wilson, a Fayetteville native, on this day.
1963 — With President John F. Kennedy presiding, the Arkansas Razorback Marching Band played at the dedication of Greers Ferry Dam on this day.
1979 — Gene Roddenberry, creator of the Star Trek series, spoke at Barnhill Arena on the University of Arkansas campus on this day. Roddenberry was promoting Paramount's new movie, Star Trek — The Motion Picture.

October 2 - Town for sale; An author is born; UA plays 500th footbal game

1834 — The commissioners of Washington County offered for sale the lots of the town of Fayetteville at public auction on this day.
1939 — The late Otto Salassi, an author of children's books who lived in Fayetteville, was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on this day.
1954 — The University of Arkansas football team played its 500th game on this day. The team played Texas Christian University and won 20-13.

October 1 - Fayetteville flying; Dickson Street added to register

1940 — Fayetteville Flying Service began operations at Drake Field on this date. The company was managed by Ray Ellis, who also had the contract to provide the Civilian Pilot Training Program. More than 120 pilots earned their wings in the training program during the next year.
2007 — The West Dickson Street Commercial Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places on this day.