1 March: Ohio

Today is Ohio Admission Day. It became the 17^th state of the Union in 1803, although it didn't get the presidential stamp of approval until President Dwight D Eisenhower signed it off in 1953. He backdated the declaration to the original date. Here are 10 things you might not know about Ohio:

1. The state was named after the Ohio River, which in turn was named for the Native American Seneca word “ohi:yo” which means “great river”. Its nickname is the Buckeye State, after a tree native to the state which produces nuts that look like a deer’s eye. Ohio legend says that carrying one of these nuts in your pocket is good luck.
2. Another state nickname is “Birthplace of Aviation”. While the Wright Brothers historic flight took place in North Carolina, they hailed from Ohio, as did John Glenn, the first man to orbit the Earth, and Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon. According to NASA, 25 astronauts are Ohio natives, having made nearly 80 space flights, including three trips to the Moon.
3. A fair number of US Presidents were born here, too. They are: Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William H. Taft, and Warren G. Harding. 4 of them died while still in office. Ulysses S. Grant was the only one to complete two terms. However, Ohio hasn’t provided any presidents in the last 100 years.
4. Columbus is the state capital and largest city. The state has two other major cities: Cleveland and Cincinnati.
5. There’s a river here which has caught fire 13 times, and a fire in a coal mine which has been smouldering since 1884. The latter started during a workers’ dispute over pay. Disgruntled miners set fire to cars and pushed them into the mine, and the coal is still burning. The Cuyahoga River was one of the most polluted rivers in the country and would catch fire when sparks from a nearby railway line hit the water. In 1969, one of these fires hit the national headlines and Congress was inspired to do something about it. The Environmental Protection Agency was established as a result.
6. You can also find here a Bridge which is the only one in the world which you can cross and still be on the same side of the river. It’s the Y Bridge in Zanesville, built in 1814 to span the confluence of the Licking and Muskingum Rivers.
7. Some of Ohio’s wacky laws: If you own a Tiger and it escapes, you must notify the authorities within one hour. In Cleveland, you must have a hunting licence in order to catch Mice. Cleveland women must not wear patent Shoes, in case men see reflections of their underwear. In Toledo it is illegal to throw Snakes at people. Men with hairy chests must wear shirts at the beach; and it’s illegal to borrow Water.
8. Agriculture is the number one industry here. The state ranks number one in the country’s production of Swiss Cheese. Perhaps no coincidence, then, that Sugarcreek, Ohio is home to the world’s largest fully functional cuckoo clock and is known as the “Little Switzerland of Ohio.”
9. Cleveland became the world’s first city to be lit by Electricity in 1879. The first Traffic Light in America was installed in Cleveland in 1914, and in 1948 the city became home to the first pedestrian controlled crossing.
10. Ohio’s state Flag is the only one in the US to have a pennant shape. The official state motto of Ohio is ‘With God, all things are possible’. More state symbols: State tree: the buckeye; flower: Carnation; bird: cardinal; insect: ladybird; beverage: tomato juice. Beautiful Ohio is the state song. There’s also a state rock song, Hang On Sloopy.

Character Birthday

Julia Lovell: She was the nurse who cared for Unicorn after his accident, and fell in love with him. When he was discharged from hospital they started dating and in due course, married. The couple were unable to have children of their own, and so adopted Brian Watson (Hercules). Julia is a confidant to many of the young superheroes associated with Unicorn’s Freedom League. She appears in Running in the Family and Eternal Flame.