This Week in American history

Here is what happened this week in American History.

• May 26. On this day in 1736, America is not yet a country when the Battle of Ackia is fought near what is now Tupelo, Mississippi. During the battle, British and Chickasaw soldiers square off against an attack from French and Choctaw near what was then the village of Ackia. The British and Chickasaw win the fight, suffering few casualties. Today, the battleground is covered by a housing development.

•May 27. Today in 1927, Ford Motor Company discontinues the Model T after 15 million are built and sold. The venerable Model T is replaced by the Model A which also becomes a huge success.

•May 28. In 1996, Jim McDougal, Susan McDougal and Jim Guy Tucker are convicted of fraud in the Whitewater land deal. The other partners, Bill and Hillary Clinton, were not convicted of any wrongdoing based on insufficient evidence.

•May 29. On this day in 1886, John Pemberton places his first advertisement for Coca-Cola in The Atlanta Journal. It was not Woke Coke then.

•May 30. Today in 1911, Ray Harroun wins the first Indianapolis 500 driving a Marmon Wasp, derived from the Model 32. Likely forgotten by many, Marmon Motor Car Company was established in 1851 and known for pioneering automotive features. In financial difficulties as a result of the Great Depression, Marmon joined with Col. Arthur Herrington and become Marmon-Herrington. Though it no longer produces automobiles, Marmon Motor Car and Marmon-Herrington survives as part of the current Marmon Group.

•May 31. In 2013, a record tornado strikes El Reno, Oklahoma. The powerful EF 3 tornado had a stunning width of 2.6 miles and lasted for 40 minutes. It resulted in eight deaths and over 150 injuries.

•June 1. On this day in 1950, the temperature in Washington, DC drops by six degrees due to sunlight being blocked by smoke from a wildfire in Canada. It is the Chinchaga fire which burns over 3.5 million acres and becomes the largest single fire in North America. Smoke from the fire spreads over the Atlantic coastline all the way south to Florida.

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