Cleveland History
January 26, 1978 – One of the worst blizzards in Cleveland history struck the city and Northeast Ohio, bringing extreme winds, heavy snow, and dangerously low temperatures that disrupted travel and daily life across the region.
January 27, 1975 – The Cleveland City Council authorized the layoff of 119 firemen due to budget pressures, joining earlier police layoffs and reflecting economic challenges for municipal services in the mid‑1970s.
World History
January 26, 1788 – The British First Fleet, led by Captain Arthur Phillip, landed at Port Jackson (modern-day Sydney), marking the founding of the first permanent European settlement in Australia. This date is now commemorated as Australia Day.
January 27, 1945 – Soviet troops liberated Auschwitz concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Poland, revealing the full extent of the Holocaust to the world. The date is now observed internationally as Holocaust Remembrance Day.
January 28, 1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, tragically killing all seven astronauts aboard, including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. The disaster led to major changes in NASA’s safety protocols.
January 30, 1948 – Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement, was assassinated in New Delhi by Nathuram Godse, a Hindu nationalist. His death shocked India and the world.
February 1, 2003 – The Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated upon re-entering Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in the deaths of all seven astronauts. The accident was caused by damage sustained during launch.
