As I was busy doing other things the last few days, I’d forgotten to look at my calendar.* Now that night has fallen here on the Farm, and I’ve turned on a light by which to read, I thought I’d see what I’d missed.

February 8

Boy Scouts of America formally incorporated 1910

February 9

William Henry Harrison born 1773; “Soldier and ninth President of the United States. … He died after only one month in office and was succeeded by Vice-President Tyler.”

Nebraska admitted to the Union 1867 (37th state)

U.S. Weather Service established 1870. Originally under the Signal Corps of the Army, it was transferred to the Department of Agriculture in 1890 and “officially became” the United States Weather Bureau. 

February 10

Birth of some folks of whom I’d never heard.

February 11

Thomas Alva Edison born 1847 (died 1931):

American wizard inventor and electrical investigator; creator of the phonograph, the incandescent lamp (1879), and the motion picture projector (1887); pioneer in the field of electrical power distribution.

~~
Of note: 

1) The U.S. Weather Service was created by an act of Congress nine years before Edison invented the incandescent light bulb.

2)  The U.S. Weather Service is now The National Weather Service, an agency of The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, a part of The United States Department of Commerce. It has an annual budget of $5,500,000,000.

3)  An Act of Congress shattered the 100 Watt bulb, and— according to that infallible source, Wikipedia— effective 1/2013, the 75 Watt bulb, too. Who knew?

~~
* All uncited date facts from the crappy old book referenced here.