ON THIS DAY IN 1867, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “A brilliant meteor was seen at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the evening of the 3rd instant. Its light was equal to that of a full moon.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1880, the Eagle said, “The Philadelphia Record will insist upon calling the Olympic Club of that city the ‘oldest base ball organization in existence.’ This club did not begin to play base ball until 1859. Previous to that time they were a ‘town ball’ club, a very different game from base ball. Ask the veteran Richards. He will tell the Record people that that is so. The Olympics have been a base ball club since 1860. The Knickerbockers, of New York, were a base ball club in 1845.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1895, the Eagle reported, “Advices were received from the internal revenue department at Washington by Acting Collector McKinny today, which will lead to important changes in the computation of the income tax as applied to corporations. According to the regulations as laid down in the income tax law, the net profits of all corporations, companies and associations, including the amount of interest, annuities, dividends and any other sums paid to stock or share holders, shall be subject to the 2 per cent taxation.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1923, the Eagle reported, “Old Man Winter will make his exit tomorrow to the accompaniment of a final tremendous blast of cold weather. This last convulsive struggle of the waning winter, says Mr. James Scarr, the local weather forecaster, will begin, for New York and vicinity, some time this afternoon with a downward movement of the mercury. By tonight it will have passed below the freezing point. By tomorrow morning, he declares, it will be about 15 above zero. By Wednesday a reverse motion on the thermometer will have set in. But Wednesday will be March 21, and the first day of spring.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The Iranian Embassy announced today that it has accused the Soviet Union of violating its 1942 treaty by retaining Red Army troops in Iran after March 2. A formal protest was filed with the United Nations Organization. The protest came as some diplomatic quarters expressed belief the Iranian crisis may lead President Truman to send Generalissimo Josef Stalin a direct appeal for Big Three unity. Iranian First Secretary Gholam Abbas Arao revealed that his country’s complaint to the United Nations Security Council was filed with UNO Secretary-General Trygve Lie yesterday shortly after Mr. Lie’s arrival here for a three-day visit. UNO officials revealed today that Mr. Lie will make an announcement later today on the Iranian situation — presumably making public the text of the Iranian complaint. The State Department denied that a White House communication to Moscow was being considered now, but, it was pointed out, it could not be expected to confirm such an appeal before it was sent or even before the decision to do so finally was made. Such a top-level appeal would not be without precedent. On several occasions in the past Mr. Truman and his predecessor, Franklin D. Roosevelt, have gone over the head of the Soviet foreign office when Russian-American relations bogged down. It would be a logical last-minute move now before the United Nations Security Council meets next week.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA (UPI) — President Kennedy told Central Americans today ‘we will build a wall around Cuba’ composed of ‘dedicated men to protect their own freedom and sovereignty.’ The President addressed the opening session of his conference with six Central American Presidents soon after he was cheered by 200,000 Costa Ricans as he arrived here after a flight from Palm Beach. ‘We will build a wall around Cuba, not a wall of mortar or brick or barbed wire, a wall of dedicated men to protect their own freedom and sovereignty,’ the President said in his opening speech amid the baroque splendor of Costa Rica’s national theater. With this tack, Kennedy rejected demands for a new hard-line against Fidel Castro’s Cuba as pressed by Guatemala and Nicaragua. Earlier today Kennedy landed here through a sprinkle of volcanic dust bearing a doctrine of hemisphere cooperation that he promised would ‘forge ultimate victory’ against poverty and injustice. The President’s pilot reported it was a good flight but the aircraft came in for a landing through a sprinkle of ash coming from the smoking crater of the 11,260-foot volcano, Mt. Irazu. Kennedy was rubbing his eyes as he emerged from a marine green helicopter. The President’s helicopter was followed by two more carrying other members of his party which included Secretary of State Dean Rusk and ranking members of Congress from both parties who flew here for the meeting with the Central American President.”
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Bruce Willis. Photo: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “The Nanny” star Renee Taylor, who was born in 1933; “Dr. No” star Ursula Andress, who was born in 1936; musician Ruth Pointer, who was born in 1946; “Fatal Attraction” star Glenn Close, who was born in 1947; “Die Hard” star Bruce Willis, who was born in 1955; Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, who was born in 1958; basketball player Tyrone Hill, who was born in 1968; “Star Trek: Enterprise” star Connor Trinneer, who was born in 1969; football player Sheldon Brown, who was born in 1979; former
Glenn Close. Photo: Arthur Mola/Invision/AP
N.Y. Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw, who was born in 1986; former L.A. Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw, who was born in 1988; and Indianapolis Colts guard Quenton Nelson, who was born in 1996.
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FREEDOM’S MARCH:Operation Iraqi Freedom began on this day in 2003. At 9:30 p.m. (EST), two hours past a deadline for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein to step down from power, U.S. and British forces began air strikes against his regime. A ground campaign, including Australian forces, followed quickly, and by April 9 Baghdad was under the control of allied forces. Hussein was captured by U.S. forces on Dec. 13, 2003. On June 28, 2004, Iraq regained its sovereignty. On Dec. 15, 2005, 70 percent of Iraq’s registered voters turned out for parliamentary elections — one of the freest elections on record in the Arab world. Sectarian and terrorist violence prevented the withdrawal of U.S. and other
Andy Reid. Photo: Michael Conroy/AP
national combat troops until Aug. 18, 2010.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“I’m much more proud of being a father than being an actor.” — Bruce Willis, who was born on this day in 1955.
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.
