Literary Landmarks: Sinclair Lewis Boyhood Home This house, at 812 Sinclair Lewis Avenue, Sauk Centre, Minnesota, was the childhood home of Sinclair Lewis (1885-1951). His most-famous book, Main Street, was inspired by his home town as he perceived it from this house where his father, Dr. Edwin J. Lewis, practiced medicine. The ladies literature readings in depicted Main Street were held by his step-mother in the parlor. The medical emergencies in Arrowsmith were played out on the front porch as patients rushed to see his father. For more information click here: Sinclair Lewis Museum, or click here for Books by Sinclair Lewis.

Today's Birthdays:

• Frank Capra (1897-1991), Sicilian-born American producer, director, writer (Mr. Deeds Goes to Town, It's a Wonderful Life)
• Dame Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991), English ballerina
• Pope John Paul II (Karol Józef Wojtyla, 1920-2005), 264th Pontiff of Catholic Church, first Polish Pope and second-longest pontificate of almost 27 years