Let’s go back to March 12, 1894, when Coca-Cola took a big step from soda fountain to your hand—yep, it started selling in glass bottles! Before this, you’d only get that fizzy goodness at a drugstore counter, mixed fresh by a guy called the soda jerk. But a Mississippi bottler named Joseph Biedenharn had a lightbulb moment: why not bottle it up so folks could sip it anywhere? He sent his first batch to Coca-Cola’s big boss, Asa Candler, and just like that, the bubbly legend went portable.

Coca-Cola wasn’t new—it’d been around since 1886, cooked up by John Pemberton as a “brain tonic” with a secret recipe (and a tiny bit of cocaine back then). By 1894, it was a hit, but you had to visit a fountain to enjoy it. Biedenharn’s idea changed the game—he used Hutchinson bottles, those chunky ones with a wire stopper, to trap the fizz. They weren’t the curvy classics we know today (those came later), but they let Coca-Cola travel beyond the counter, from picnics to porches.

The move paid off big-time. Candler saw dollar signs and kicked bottling into high gear, though he didn’t patent it right away. Soon, Coca-Cola was popping up everywhere, and by 1899, a full-on bottling franchise system was rolling. It wasn’t just a drink anymore; it was a grab-and-go lifestyle, perfect for a world speeding up. Fun fact: early ads bragged it “relieved exhaustion”—so next time you’re tired, blame history for that caffeine craving!

March 12, 1894, is when Coca-Cola broke free from the fountain and became a household name. It’s a sweet little tale of how one guy’s brainstorm turned a soda into a global star. Today, those bottles are collector’s gold, and Coke’s still fizzing up our lives. Next time you crack one open, toast Biedenharn—he made it happen with a little glass and a lot of enthusiasm.

Now let’s switch gears to March 12, 1980, when a Chicago courtroom delivered a grim verdict: John Wayne Gacy, the “Killer Clown,” was guilty of murdering 33 young men and boys. This wasn’t your typical bad guy story—Gacy was a community guy, a contractor who dressed as “Pogo the Clown” for kids’ parties. But behind the painted smile was a monster, luring victims to his home, killing them, and hiding bodies in his crawl space. After a trial that gripped the nation, the jury decided he was guilty on all counts of murder.

The case unraveled in 1978 when police started digging—literally—after a teen went missing and Gacy’s name popped up. They found 26 bodies under his house, plus more in rivers, and the details were chilling: he’d charm victims with jobs or drinks, then trap and kill them. Gacy’s double life shocked everyone—he was a local bigwig, shaking hands with politicians, all while hiding a nightmare. The trial lasted weeks, with Gacy claiming insanity, but the evidence was a mountain nobody could ignore.

The verdict came fast—after just two hours, the jury gave him 12 death sentences and 21 life terms, a legal slam dunk. People were stunned; how could a clown be this dark? The case sparked big questions about trust, safety, and what lurks behind friendly faces. Gacy sat on death row until 1994, when he was executed, but his story stuck around through true crime podcasts and spooky Halloween tales. It was a wake-up call: evil doesn’t always wear a mask—but it might wear a red nose.

March 12, 1980, closed a dark chapter, but it’s one we still talk about. Gacy’s crimes were a shock, showing that monsters can hide in plain sight, even at a kid’s party. It’s a heavy reminder to keep an eye out — and next time you see a clown, maybe just wave from a distance—history says so!

Headless Chicken🐓
In 1945, a farmer in Colorado chopped off a chicken’s head for dinner—only to find that the bird, later named Mike, just kept on living. Instead of dying, Mike walked around, attempted to peck, and even tried to crow (though it came out as a gurgle). His owner started feeding him with an eyedropper, and soon, Mike became a national sensation, touring the U.S. as the “Headless Wonder Chicken.” He finally died after 18 months, when a clogged throat ended his unbelievable run. Scientists later determined that part of his brainstem remained intact, keeping him alive.

Roman Fast Food🍱
Long before McDonald's, ancient Romans grabbed quick meals from "thermopolia"—fast food stalls that served hot, ready-to-eat food to the masses. These small street vendors were everywhere in Rome, catering mostly to workers and poor citizens who didn’t have kitchens at home. Customers could order bread, cheese, stews, wine, and even spiced meats, served from large clay jars embedded in stone counters. Archaeologists even found a beautifully preserved thermopolium in Pompeii, proving that fast food has been a thing for over 2,000 years.

First UFO Sighting🛸
Long before flying saucers and sci-fi movies, the first recorded UFO sighting in the U.S. happened in 1639—and it was documented by John Winthrop, the governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop wrote in his journal about three men in a boat who saw a mysterious glowing object in the sky. The bright light darted back and forth over the Charles River for hours before disappearing. Even stranger? Their boat had somehow moved miles from its original spot—without them rowing. So while UFOs are often seen as a modern mystery, history suggests that strange things have been flying around for centuries.

Egyptian Lady Liberty🗽
Before she became America’s iconic symbol of freedom, the Statue of Liberty was originally designed for Egypt. French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi first envisioned a massive statue called "Egypt Bringing Light to Asia" to stand at the entrance of the Suez Canal. The statue would have depicted a veiled Egyptian woman holding a torch, symbolizing progress and enlightenment. However, Egypt declined the project due to cost, so Bartholdi repurposed the idea and later gifted it to the U.S. as Lady Liberty. So, instead of welcoming immigrants to New York, she almost stood in the desert, greeting ships to the Suez.

If you enjoy this edition of Today In History be sure to send it to a friend and force them to sign up because that’s what good friends do. Until next time, stay curious, question everything, and keep uncovering the mysteries of the past. - Zach⛺️