November 13 Birthday
On November 13, 1927, the Holland Tunnel opened, connecting New York and New Jersey under the Hudson River. It was the first mechanically ventilated underwater tunnel in the world. The ventilation system, designed by Ole Singstad, exchanges the air in the tunnel every ninety seconds, removing carbon monoxide. The tunnel is 1.6 miles long and carries 100,000 vehicles per day. It was named after Clifford Holland, its chief engineer, who died of a heart attack at forty-one before it was completed. Robert Louis Stevenson, born this day in 1850, wrote Treasure Island (1883) and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886). He was often bedridden with tuberculosis and wrote much of his work while traveling in search of a climate that would help his health. He settled in Samoa, where the locals called him "Tusitala" — teller of tales. He died there at forty-four. People born on November 13 fall under the zodiac sign of Scorpio. The birthstone is Topaz and the birth flower is Chrysanthemum. Historical events on November 13 include 1927: Holland Tunnel opens — first underwater vehicular tunnel in US, 1789: Ben Franklin writes "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes", 1942: Minimum draft age lowered from 21 to 18. Famous people born on November 13 include Robert Louis Stevenson (1850), Whoopi Goldberg (1955), Chris Noth (1954).