ON THIS DAY IN 1876, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The complimentary resolution adopted by the Common Council at the close of the year to Hon. Ripley Ropes has been engrossed by W. V. Peacon, of this city, and is now on exhibition in the Common Council Chamber. It will be exhibited later in the show windows of McNeuman’s store, 413 Fulton street. The work stands in its frame four and a half feet by three feet. The frame is ebony and gold, engraved and gilded. The testimonial is said to be the handsomest ever engrossed for the Common Council. Mr. Peacon is preparing a piece for the Centennial Exhibition, anticipating the exertions of all the prominent penmen of this country. In this branch of fine arts he will, we doubt not, amply sustain Brooklyn’s reputation at the Centennial.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1904, the Eagle reported, “Admirers of the dog will be given an opportunity to see the best specimens in the land at the 28th annual bench show of the Westminster Kennel Club, which takes place at Madison Square Garden on February 10, 11, 12 and 13. The entries this year are far ahead of all former records, and include the best in America and many of the English champions which have been entered.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1913, the Eagle said, “Much as the people of the United States may approve of regarding this country as an asylum of political offenders and fugitives, they have to recognize the matter to be one of law. In the first instance it comes for decision before the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. From him appeal lies to the United States Court, by which it must be determined. This in a nutshell is the case of [Cipriano] Castro, the ex-President of Venezuela. Secretary Nagel has declared that Castro’s refusal to answer questions about the assassination of a Venezuelan citizen has primarily stamped him as guilty of murder. Holding him so to be guilty, his deportation to the country whence he came is ordered. From this decision an appeal has been taken by counsel for Castro to District Judge Holt of the Federal judiciary. The latter has granted a stay of proceedings for Castro and appointed a day for the argument of the question. There is reason to believe that an appeal from Judge Holt, whichever way he may decide, can be taken to the higher courts of the United States, just as in any other suits involving personal liberty and the right of asylum. In short, the subject is on the course of law in a country under law, and it must be decided by law as it is, with the full liberty of the law-making body to change the law for the future in the way formally and constitutionally provided.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “The Weather Bureau warned New Yorkers today that a Jekyll-Hyde storm that turned to rain at 11 a.m. after depositing four inches of snow on the city would switch back to snow and driving winds tonight. With a steadily falling barometer, the bureau predicted sleet mixed with snow as the storm center drove on the city from the Gulf States, where it originated. The city wallowed in slush as the rains came. Traffic was snarled and in some cases halted. Truck drivers reported that it took two hours to get through Canal St. to the Manhattan approach to the Manhattan Bridge. A coating of ice ripped down high tension wires at Rogers Ave. and Eastern Parkway and police emergency squads restored detoured traffic around the area until repairs were made. During the height of the snowstorm this morning, Christian C. Schleyer, 57, of Massapequa, was killed when his auto was struck by a Long Island Rail Road train at the Broadway crossing, near the railroad station in that village. The automobile skidded on the snow-covered pavement and slid into the path of the train, which had left Brooklyn at 8:01 a.m. for Babylon. The train was delayed 50 minutes by the accident. Electric power was cut off the eastbound tracks from 9:07 a.m. to 9:55.”
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAYinclude composer Philip Glass, who was born in 1937; Baseball Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan, who was born in 1947; “A Different World” star Glynn Turman, who was born in 1947; Sex Pistols singer John Lydon, who was born in 1956; swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Shirley Babashoff, who was born in 1957; “Without a Trace” star Anthony LaPaglia, who was born in 1959; “Road House” star Kelly Lynch, who was born in 1959; news host Martha MacCallum, who was born in 1964; “Good Will Hunting” star Minnie Driver, who was born in 1970; “Arrested Development” star Portia de Rossi, who was born in 1973; former N.Y. Knicks
forward Othella Harrington, who was born in 1974; “Scandal” star Kerry Washington, who was born in 1977; singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake, who was born in 1981; singer-songwriter Marcus Mumford, who was born in 1987; and former N.Y. Knicks shooting guard Donte DiVincenzo, who was born in 1997.
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BEST OF THE WEST:Zane Grey was born in Ohio on this day in 1872. The prolific author of tales of the Old West wrote more than 80 books that were translated into many languages. He is best known for the novel “Riders of the Purple Sage” (1912). He died in 1939.
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Nolan Ryan. Photo: Pat Sullivan/AP
SECOND TO NONE: Jackie Robinson was born on this day in 1919. The Georgia native became the first African-American man to play major league baseball in the 20th century when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers on April 15, 1947. He was named Rookie of the Year at the end of the season and was the National League MVP in 1949. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 and died in 1972.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable
“Life is not a spectator sport. If you’re going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you’re wasting your life.” — Baseball Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, who was born on this day in 1919
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.
