https://www.facebook.com/OddPittsburgh/posts/it-was-a-bitter-cold-winter-day-263-years-ago-on-december-29th-1753-when-the-21-/1850802401830293/ 1753 Winter, a young George Washington, trying to paddle to (today's) Lawrenceville, instead accidently plunged into the freezing Allegheny River near Herr"s Island. Thankfully for History, George's life continued. Getty