On this day: April 5

Chicago Black Hawks Clinch 1938 Stanley Cup After Emergency Goalie from Stands

In a dramatic and unusual finish to the 1938 Stanley Cup Final on April 5, the Chicago Black Hawks secured the championship after using an emergency goaltender—reportedly a hockey-playing fan and amateur—who was found in the arena stands when their regular goalie was injured.

First Electric Subway Train Began Service in 1900

On April 5, 1900, the City & South London Railway — the world’s first deep-level electric underground railway — began regular passenger service, marking a key shift from steam to electric traction in urban transit.

First Practical Refrigerator Demonstrated, 1913

On April 5, 1913, an early practical mechanical refrigerator was demonstrated, marking a key step toward household refrigeration by showing reliable, controlled mechanical cooling using compressed refrigerant rather than large ice delivery systems.

First Electric Traffic Signal Installed in Cleveland, 1914

On April 5, 1914, the first electric traffic signal in the United States began operation in Cleveland, Ohio, marking a shift from manual traffic control and early experimentation with electrically controlled intersections.

Bakelite: The Birth of the First True Synthetic Plastic

On April 5, 1907, Belgian-born chemist Leo Baekeland announced the creation of Bakelite, the first fully synthetic thermosetting plastic, marking a turning point in materials science and the rise of mass-produced, nonmetallic consumer goods.