November 9, 1905. F.M. Light & Sons opened its doors for business, with a foot of snow surrounding and a frigid temperature. What began on that bitter day in November proved to be a 104 year legacy that the intrepid Francis Marion Light left to his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren; six generations. In history, the year 1905 brought many great changes to the world. January 1 – The Trans-Siberian Railway officially opens after its completion on July 21,1904. January 5 – The play The Scarlet Pimpernel opens at the New Theatre in London and begins a run of 122 performances and numerous revivals. March 4 - U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt begins a full term. April 2 – The Simplon Tunnel is officially opened through the Alps. May 15 - Las Vegas, Nevada is founded when 110 acres (0.4 km²), in what later becomes downtown, are auctioned off. June 30 - Albert Einstein publishes the article On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies where he reveals his theory of special relativity. 1905 is regarded as his “miracle year”. October 5 – The Wright Brothers’ third aeroplane (Wright Flyer III) stays in the air for 39 minutes with Wilbur piloting. This is the first aeroplane flight lasting over 1/2 an hour. November 9 – The Berlin Wall is opened in 1989 – citizens on both sides walked freely through the barrier as others danced atop the structure, signaling the end of a historic era.

Fascinating Statistics

Did you know that the tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower? Or that only 8 percent of the homes in the U.S. had a bathtub? Check below for other interesting statistics and see how much the world has changed in only 104 years.

• The average life expectancy in the U.S. was 47 years

• There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.

• A three – minute call from Denver to New York City cost eleven dollars.

• The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.

• The average wage in the U.S. was 22 cents an hour.

• There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.

• Crossword puzzles, canned beer and iced tea hadn’t been invented.There were only about 230 reported murders in the entire U.S.

• The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was 30.

2 Responses to “Happy Anniversary! Einstein, Roosevelt & The Scarlet Pimpernel”

1. Josie Hill Says:
   November 27th, 2009 at 6:53 pm

   Hi There
   I live in NH but hope to be living in Steamboat within the next few months. I love your store and all the stuff you sell in it. I have much experience in retail sales and I have top notch customer service skills… would you be interested in hiring me? I will forward my resume to you, but it does not reflect far enough back to show my experience working for Ralph Lauren and Estee Lauder as well as other positions.
   Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
   Josie Peterson Hill
   603 496 6956
   joruddpete@comcast.net

2. Josie Hill Says:
   November 27th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

   JoAnn Ruddy Peterson
   52 Pillsbury St, Concord, NH 03301
   Telephone: 603 496 6956 • E-mail: joruddpete@comcast.net

   SUMMARY:
   Administrative Support professional with experience utilizing excellent client service, communication, and organizational skills. Ability to multi-task and see projects through to completion.

   EXPERIENCE:
   The State of New Hampshire, Concord, NH 1997-2008
   Program Specialist/Administrative Assistant
   • Responsible for assisting the Training Administrator in developing training and educational opportunities for a staff of 2,500.
   • Accountable for monitoring and facilitating the New-Hire Orientation and Training programs.
   • Responsible for disbursement of the training budget, accounts payable and expense report reconciliation.
   • Managed the employee training database to provided accurate training attendance records and reports.
   • Scheduled travel arrangements for employees attending out- of- state training and conferences.
   • Acted as liaison with other Departments and Agencies, organizing catered conferences, meetings and events. Prepared graphics for presentations and scheduled A/V equipment logistics.
   • Manager of the DOT Tuition Assistance Program
   • Manager of the Defensive Driving and Carpool Program.
   • Managed the Employee Wellness Program providing employees with health education workshops and newsletters.
   •

   SKILLS:
   Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access