In the Sunshine State on this day in 1836 The initial nine mile segment of the Lake Wimico and St. Joseph Canal and Railroad Company line opened today. This was the first operation of a steam-powered railroad in Florida.

In 1950 Hurricane Easy struck the area from Yankeetown to Cedar Key. This unusual storm, with winds of 125 mph, produced the single greatest 24 hour rainfall in Florida since records have been kept. Over today and tomorrow (September 5-6), 38.7 inches of rain would fall at Yankeetown.