ON THIS DAY IN 1896, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Admirers of canine beauty will have their inning on February 19, 20, 21 and 22 when the Westminster Kennel club gives its twentieth annual dog show at Madison Square Garden. The exhibition bids fair to outdo all previous events of the kind in point of number, variety and quality. There are 246 classes as against 238 for last year and nearly every known breed of dog is provided for. The premiums in the regular classes foot up a sum of over $8,000, which, with the special prizes offered by the Mastiff, St. Bernard, Bloodhound, Great Dane, Pointer, Irish Setter, Gordon Setter, American Spaniel, Collie, Bulldog, Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier, Beagle, Fox Terrier, Bedlington Terrier and Scottish Terrier clubs is increased to over $12,000. Among the most valuable specials are: The Westminster challenge cup, for the best mastiff under 3 years of age, value $300; the silver challenge cup, value $150, for the best American bred mastiff owned by a member of the American Mastiff club; the Taunton gold medal, value $50, for the best American bred mastiff under 2 years of age; the club’s silver challenge cup, value $100, for the best mastiff dog and the club’s silver challenge cup, value $100, for the best mastiff bitch owned by a member of the club. The old English Mastiff club of England, not to be outdone in generosity, offers its challenge cup, value 40 guineas, for the best mastiff dog or bitch, the property of a member, also the challenge cup, value 20 guineas, for the best mastiff opposite in sex to the one winning the 40 guinea cup.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1902, the Eagle said, “During the present session of Congress a carefully planned campaign is to be made in both houses to procure the money necessary to make a substantial beginning of the great work of reclaiming the arid lands of the West by means of irrigation. If this attempt is successful — as it is considered almost sure to be — it will create no new drain upon the resources of the government. The necessary money is to be obtained by setting aside as an irrigation fund the money which is obtained from the sale of public lands. At present this money is turned in to a governmental fund, where it is available for the general purposes of the government. These purposes, as a rule, do not require the use of the sum, so that it lies idle as an accumulated surplus. In the opinion of those who are interested in the success of the irrigation measures, this diversion of the money will not be felt, while the good that will be done by the utilization of the money for irrigation purposes is said to be incalculable. It is conceded that President Roosevelt will make an irrigation law of comprehensive proportions one of the features of his administration.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle said, “This is Candlemas Day in the church calendar, but to you, and you, and you it is groundhog day, and those citizens who are given to worrying about inconsequential matters are waiting with bated breath for Ol Man Woodchuck to dodge out of his hole and give the public the annual wrong steer about the weather for the next six weeks. The tradition is that if the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow he will stay out of his burrow, in which case great numbers of taxpayers will accept as gospel truth the assumption that Winter is practically over. On the other hand, if the sun is shining and he sees his shadow, the same citizens swear the groundhog will be scared back into his hole and that the weather will be practically putrid for six more weeks. The worst — or best — of it is that soothsayers who handed down the tradition never said anything about what time of day the groundhog is supposed to come out and look around, so there is nearly always room left for doubt about his weather prediction. Take this morning, for instance. From dawn until well after 8 o’clock the skies were overcast. If the four-footed weather prophet had stuck his snout out before 8 o’clock, his judgment would have told him to stay out. On the other hand, the sun was shining — timidly, it’s true — after 8:30, and the most chuckle-headed woodchuck must have known enough to duck back into the shadows. Of course the Groundhog Day Editor is acquainted only with run-of-the-mill groundhogs about whose ancestry there is grave doubt. Mayor LaGuardia, who suspects the groundhog yarn is just a lot of malarkey, has gone the Groundhog Editor one better and borrowed a couple of pedigreed woodchucks from the Central Park Zoo. At high noon, with the odds that the sun will be shining, the Mayor and a bunch of mammalogists and meteorologists will turn the two groundhogs loose in synthetic burrows in City Hall Park and find out for themselves whether this groundhog business is on the level.”
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Brent Spiner. Photo: Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Graham Nash, who was born in 1942; “Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Brent Spiner, who was born in 1949; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Ross Valory (Journey), who was born in 1949; model and actress Christie Brinkley, who was born in 1954; “Guiding Light” star Kim Zimmer, who was born in 1955; “The Pretender” star Michael T. Weiss, who was born in 1962; “Rescue Me” star Adam Ferrara, who was born in 1966; former NBA forward Sean Elliott, who was born in 1968; former NFL wide receiver Donald Driver, who was born in 1975; “Hips Don’t Lie” singer Shakira, who was born in 1977; “Haven” star Emily Rose, who was born in 1981; “Clash of the Titans” star Gemma Arterton, who was born in 1986; and “Girls” star Zosia Mamet, who was born in 1988.
Donald Driver. Photo: Mel Evans/AP
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DUTCH TREAT:NewYork City was born on this day in 1653 when the magistrates of the Dutch colony on Manhattan Island signed a municipal charter making New Amsterdam a city. When the English took over in 1664, the city was renamed in honor of James, the Duke of York.
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HALLOWED HALL:The Baseball Hall of Fame announced its five charter members on this day in 1936. Of 226 ballots cast, Ty Cobb was named on 222, Babe Ruth on 215, Honus Wagner on 215, Christy Mathewson on 205 and Walter Johnson on 189. A total of 170 votes was necessary for election.
Shakira. Photo: Michel Euler/AP
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable
“You want a friend who’s going to tell you the truth. That’s what it’s about.” — former NFL wide receiver Donald Driver, who was born on this day in 1975
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.
