ON THIS DAY IN 1905, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The white granite blocks of a national museum will soon rise above a tall fence along the north side of the Smithsonian grounds, in Washington, says the Washington Star. The great pile will be the largest building in Washington, excepting only the Capitol, and if stood on end the completed structure would lack only four feet of towering as high as the Washington monument. The nation’s 6,000,000 of curiosities ― now largely in storage ― will be assembled within this enormous structure and placed within view of all pilgrims to Washington. This vast curio cabinet will be the free university of the masses, who will see therein the stages through which things have been evolved by nature and man. This new national museum will stand directly in front of the great brown castle occupied by the Smithsonian Institution, and its center will be upon the same axis.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle reported, “CALDWELL, OHIO (A.P.) ― The giant dirigible Shenandoah crashed to its doom in three pieces here early today and killed its commander, Lieutenant Commander Zachary Landsdowne, and at least 14 of the officers and men who made up its crew. The airship struck a line squall ― a variety of storm most feared by airmen ― shortly after 5 o’clock this morning near this Noble County village, while traveling at an altitude of 3,000 feet en route from Lakehurst, N.J., to the West. The Navy Department was informed that the Shenandoah was ‘struck by lightning’ at 5:35 o’clock this morning. The message indicated the information had been obtained from Army aviators who had gone to the scene of the disaster. There was no explosion. The big ship simply met winds of a strength which it was unable to combat. After encountering the storm at the high altitude the ship headed heavenward at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, when it suddenly came down again and broke into three pieces.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1926, the Eagle reported, “Members of the Municipal Club of Brooklyn will visit the Sesquicentennial Exposition in Philadelphia Saturday, Sept. 25, and return the next morning. Of the limited membership of the club of 100, more than 50 have already made arrangements to make the trip. They will leave New York early in the morning and will make the Pennsylvania Athletic Club their overnight headquarters during their stay in Philadelphia. Mayor Kendrick of Philadelphia will be invited to speak at a dinner which will be held in honor of the Municipal Club members Sept. 25.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1933, the Eagle reported, “ATLANTIC CITY, SEPT. 2 ― New York and Brooklyn visitors here are lengthening their seasonal stay to attend the colorful Atlantic City Pageant, Tuesday to Saturday. The entry of both a Miss Greater New York and a Miss New York State as rivals adds interest to the revived celebration, the first since 1927. They will compete with the most beautiful young women in the nation for the crown of Miss America 1933. Contestants from the more distant States already are on their way to the shore. The last to be named, Miss Pennsylvania, was chosen Thursday night in Philadelphia. The judging of Miss Greater New York, a week ago in Madison Square Garden, held cheering spectators through an all-night session before Miss Elsa Donath was proclaimed the winner.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle published the following letter: “Since the city’s budget is too short to permit the hiring of additional police, it becomes necessary for those of us who would like once again to walk our city’s streets without fear to devise a plan offering reasonable protection without appreciable cost. The most obvious answer is suggested by history ― some form of organized, volunteer service. There are thousands of reserve and national guard officers living within the city limits. These are men in whom the Federal Government reposes ‘special trust and confidence.’ Most of them have had training in the use of small arms. It is my suggestion that volunteers from this group be deputized as unpaid auxiliary, plainclothes policemen without either duty hours or specified beats to patrol. They should have authority to make arrests in certain specified cases such as assault and they should be armed with pistols which have been ballistically ‘fingerprinted’ for easy identification in cases of misuse. The mere knowledge that added thousands of armed men with police powers were on the streets and subways would be a strong deterrent to any form of assault or robbery in public places. The cost of such a plan would amount only to the insurance protecting the volunteers in case of injury in the line of duty plus the expense of arming them.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “The Parade Grounds Football League will hold its first meeting tomorrow at the Parade Grounds clubhouse at 8 p.m. All teams interested in joining are urged to attend the meeting.”
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Kaia Gerber Vianney Le Caer/Invision/APGarrett Hedlund Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Al Jardine (The Beach Boys), who was born in 1942; “Superman” star Valerie Perrine, who was born in 1943; Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer, who was born in 1948; “The Sopranos” star Steve Schirripa, who was born in Brooklyn in 1957; “Seinfeld” writer Spike Feresten, who was born in 1964; 1995-96 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire, who was born in 1973; “Bring It On” star Clare Kramer, who was born in 1974; former NFL defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was born in 1976; “Friday Night Lights” star Garrett Hedlund, who was born in 1984; snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who was born in 1986; and model and actress Kaia Gerber, who was born in 2001.
Steve Schirripa Scott Roth/Invision/AP
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U.S.A., U.S.A., PART 1: The flag of the United States was flown in battle for the first time on this day in 1777, at Cooch’s Bridge, Delaware, during the American Revolution. The battle site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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U.S.A., U.S.A., PART 2: The U.S. and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris on this day in 1783, ending the American Revolution. American signatories included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“There’s no such thing as quality time; there’s only quantity time.”
— actor Steve Schirripa, who was born on this day in 1957
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
