Posted on January 16, 2022
This is an update of my post published on January 16, 2011:
On this date in 1866, Everett Hosmer Barney got a patent for “clamp-on” roller skates that would attach to normal shoes and tighten with a key.
Barney was a Civil War arms producer who needed a new industry when the war was over. His invention made him a very rich man!
On this date in 1901, Frank Zamboni was born in Utah. He grew up to invent an ice re-surfacer we still call a Zamboni.
It’s important to have smooth ice for figure skating, skate races, and ice hockey. Before Zamboni invented the Zamboni Ice-Resurfacing Machine, several workers would have to scrape the ice with tractors, then shovel away the scrapings, and finally hose down the surface. People would still have to wait longer for the water to freeze into the new, fresh surface.
Zamboni Ice-Resurfacing Machines do all three steps in one: a blade shaves the ice smooth, a device sweeps up the shavings, and another apparatus rinses the ice with a very thin layer of water that freezes in less than a minute. Within a very short time, one worker can drive a Zamboni up and down an ice rink and create a smooth new ice surface.
Go skating today!
With roller blades…
…roller skates…
…or ice skates!
Also on this date:
Soup Swap Day
Fig Newton Day
International Hot and Spicy Food Day
Primatologist Dian Fossey’s birthday
Birthday of cyborg-enabler Anders Ekeberg
Religious Freedom Day
National Nothing Day
Appreciate a Dragon Day
Astrobiologist Jill Tarter’s birthday
Russian Winter Festival
Birthday of dancer, choreographer, teacher Debbie Allen
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Anniversary of the discovery of the magnetic South Pole
Martyrs’ Day in Benin
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World Snow Day
(Third Sunday of January)
World Religion Day(Third Sunday of January)
Tu B’Shvat
(date varies)
Plan ahead:
Check out my Pinterest pages on:
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January holidays
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January birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in January
And here are my Pinterest boards for:
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February holidays
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February birthdays
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Historical anniversaries in February