Today in History: October 1

959: King Edgar I assumes the throne of England.  He’ll promulgate some of England’s earliest product regulations, such as “Let the iron that is for the threefold ordeal weigh three pounds; and for the single, one pound.”

1811: The new Pittsburgh-built New Orleans, the first steamboat designed for use on the Mississippi River, is delivered at New Orleans.

1829: A new boys’ school, South Africa College is founded.  It will later become the University of Cape Town, whose motto, “Spes bona,” means “Good hope.”

1854: The American Horology Company relocates its headquarters to a new factory on the banks of the Charles River at Waltham, Massachusetts.  Under the “Waltham” name it will become the first watchmaker to use interchangeable parts.

1891: The Leland Stanford Junior University, named for the deceased son of a railroad baron and California governor, opens its doors in a converted horse farm.

1903: Charles “Deacon” Phillippe allows just six hits and Jimmy Sebring drives in four runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Boston Pilgrims Americans 7-3 in the first-ever World Series game.

1924: U.S. Chief Justice William Hubbs Rehnquist born at Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

1957: The motto “In God We Trust” appears on U.S. paper currency for the first time.

1971: Walt Disney World — at 47 square miles more than twice the size of Manhattan — opens in Orlando, Florida.  Unlike Manhattan, all its streets are steam cleaned every night.