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Facts: Mississippi Homestead

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  • The first European settlers to settle in Mississippi were the Spanish, who came there in the 16th century.
  • Due to the high taxes imposed by the British on spinning wheels, it was considered a patriotic act for a colonial settler to spin their own cloth.
  • All shoes were interchangeable between feet until 1818, when new technological advances allowed the manufacturing of shoes specifically for left and right feet.
  • When the US Congress passed the 1830 Indian Removal Act many Indians in Mississippi were forced to move to Oklahoma. American settlers moved into the area shortly after.
  • The first recording devices, invented by Thomas Edison in 1877, utilized tinfoil cylinders to record sound. He later started using wax instead of tinfoil in the 20th century.
  • According to legend, the first recorded sound Edison made was of the nursery rhyme "Mary Had a Little Lamb".
  • Edison's early recording machines could only record for two minutes. The Amberola doubled that to four minutes.
  • While both were respected writers, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemmingway often argued and criticized each other's work.
  • Ice boxes were first developed in the 19th century, and they are considered the predecessors to modern refrigerators.
  • Ice boxes got their name because large chunks of ice were used inside of insulated cabinets to keep foods cool.
  • Moonshine jugs were popular with alcohol makers and sellers during Prohibition because it was difficult to see what was inside of them, making it less likely they would get caught.
  • In addition to being an accomplished poet, Alfredo's aunt Dovie was also a math teacher and genealogist.
  • In addition to the Korean War, the B-52 has also been used in combat during the Vietnam War and Persian Gulf War.
  • The Air Force Good Conduct Medal was given to personnel who had character or efficiency ratings of excellent or higher during their service in the Air Force.
  • The worst tornado in Fulton's history occurred in 1974, when a tornado swept through and killed 28 people.
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