September 8

1636: Harvard University, the oldest institute of higher learning in the U.S., was founded. 1894: Hermann von Helmholtz, who experimented with physiology, optics, electrodynamics, mathematics, and meteorology, and inventor of the Helmholtz coil, died. 1900: Galveston, TX, was struck by a hurricane that killed about 6,000 people. 1920: Air Mail service began between NY City and San Francisco. 1930: Scotch tape was developed by Richard Drew. 1930: The comic strip "Blondie" made its debut - her maiden name was Boopadoop. 1944: The German V2 rocket barrage began in London. 1960: NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL, was dedicated. 1965: Joshua Lionel Cowen, founder of the Lionel model train company, died. 1966: NBC-TV aired the first episode of "Star Trek" entitled "The Man Trap." 2000: "Go Slow" protests were held in the UK to protest high fuel prices.