May 8

May 8 in the history of the Birmingham District:

• 2007: Clay residents voted down a proposed "tax for schools".
• 2004: Birmingham Steeldogs 55 - Macon Knights 27 at the BJCC Arena.
• 1998: South Florida Future 2 - Alabama Saints 1 at South Florida.
• 1993: Agnes gallery opened.
• 1974: The Sea Lion Pool at the Birmingham Zoo was dedicated.
• 1963: Fred Shuttlesworth bruised a rib after being driven into the wall of the 16th Street Baptist Church by a blast from a fire hose during the Children's Crusade.
• 1912: ACIPCO employees were given access to a new bathhouse with hot and cold running water.
• 1908: Vanderbilt Furnace No. 2 was blown in.
• 1891: Andrew Beard applied for a patent for a rotary engine (Patent No. 462,614).
• 1882: Birmingham's first telephone exchange opened in the 3rd floor of Hughes Drug Store with 39 subscribers.

Births and deaths

• 2012: Dance teacher and choreographer Lola Mae Jones Coates died.
• 1997: Former Mayor of Birmingham Art Hanes died.
• 1985: Birmingham Zoo gorilla Jamie was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• 1962: Circus clown "Sunny Jim" Snell died in Tuscaloosa.
• 1940: Singer Doc Soul Stirrer was born in Baltimore, Maryland.
• 1938: Pediatrician Santosh Khare was born in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
• 1916: Hardware store owner Tony Brandino was born in Birmingham.