ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle said, “In these June days when the mercury takes fits and starts and forecasts only an era of the warmest weather in the months to come, the thoughts of Brooklynites are all turned countryward. Through the minds of those on Heights and Hill, Bedford Section, Park Slope, Eastern District — wherever they may live — there flit visions of wooded lake, rural town, pictures of rocky island and winding coast, forest and farmland. Before many weeks have gone by — and the exodus of the summer has already commenced — much of what is known as social Brooklyn will have its house fronts boarded up, its shutters closed. The pictures and the visions are close to their realization.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1901, the Eagle reported, “The Long Island Railroad Company proposes to extend its lines to the heart of Manhattan. The company is behind the Long Island Extension Railroad Company, articles incorporating which were filed with the Secretary of State in Albany today. The company seeks a charter and the right to construct tunnels from Long Island City under the East River to a point below Fiftieth street, Manhattan, through which it is proposed to operate cars by electric motive power, connecting with the Long Island Railroad in Long Island City.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1903, the Eagle reported, “The movement to have the Liberty Bell brought to Brooklyn and exhibited in Prospect Park has attracted a great deal of attention in this city, particularly among the school children who are anxious to see the famous old bell. Today Borough President Swanstrom telegraphed to Mayor Weaver of Philadelphia asking to have the bell brought to Brooklyn and exhibited in Prospect Park, but as yet no answer has been received. If President Swanstrom receives a favorable reply the necessary arrangements for the exhibition will be made at once. The bell could be brought from Boston by rail to New York and placed upon a float while crossing the East River. Then it would be placed upon a large truck and driven up Bedford avenue to the park. The intention is to have the bell placed on exhibition somewhere on Long Meadow. Just how the Philadelphians will view the proposition is not known, for several other cities have been trying to get the bell and have it on view in public places. There is said to be similar attempts in Manhattan, the Bronx and Richmond boroughs. A great many prominent Brooklynites are interested in the scheme and today a petition signed by 200 or more Brooklyn citizens was handed to Mayor Low urging his cooperation in the movement.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1906, the Eagle reported, “A pushball game on roller skates will take place tonight in Madison Square Garden, between teams of the New York Athletic Club and the Metropolitan Roller Skating Club. The ‘Silent Five’ basketball team will meet a picked five tomorrow night. Wednesday night the regular weekly amateur races will be decided.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1929, the Eagle reported, “Basketball was unknown before December, 1891, when Dr. James Naismith, then instructor of the Y.M.C.A. Training School at Springfield, Mass., invented the game.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1930, the Eagle reported, “City authorities today were completing plans for the reception tomorrow for Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd and his companions from the Antarctic, and completing details of one of the most elaborate programs ever prepared in honor of returning heroes. It is expected that the Byrd ships, the City of New York and the Eleanor Bolling will arrive in Quarantine tomorrow morning at 10. To be there in plenty of time the steamers Macom, Riverside and Manhattan will leave Pier A at 9 o’clock, taking down the bay Grover A. Whalen, chairman of the Mayor’s Reception Committee; immediate families of Rear Admiral Byrd, officers and crew, representatives of the Army and Navy, members of the Mayor’s Committee and newspaper men. The Police Department Band will be on the Macom and the Fire Department Band on the Riverside. A marine parade up the bay will follow transferring of the explorers to the steamers and at Governors Island a salute of 13 guns will be fired in Admiral Byrd’s honor. The parade up Broadway from the Battery will include soldiers, sailors and Marines and Boy Scouts and will pass in review before Mayor Walker at noon. Formal ceremonies at City Hall will begin at 12:30. The city’s guests will go to the Advertising Club for luncheon.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1932, the Eagle reported, “With the official slogan for this year, ‘Show Dad You Remember,’ Father’s Day will be observed tomorrow in most sections of the United States. Gifts, ranging from cigars to suspenders, spats and cuff-links, as well as greeting cards, will be the order of the day for the male parent whose only other big moments are forced upon him the first of each month when the bills roll in. Just how the day will be observed will depend on the individual members of the family, but for the day he will reign supreme. The official flower for the day has been selected — the homely dandelion.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “The distance around the Spring Mills course on which the recent national open championship was played was so policed that for a wedding taking place near the club the guests had to get passes from the U.S.G.A. It was the first time the golf solons ever controlled a wedding.”
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Alana de la Garza. Photo: Charles Sykes/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include businessman and politician Brooks Firestone, who was born in 1939; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Paul McCartney, who was born in 1942; “Taxi” star Carol Kane, who was born in 1952; “Blue Velvet” star Isabella Rossellini, who was born in 1952; “Dream On” star Brian Benben, who was born in 1956; Boyz II Men founder Nathan Morris, who was born in 1971; Hockey Hall of Famer and former N.Y. Rangers right winger Martin St.
Paul McCartney. Photo: Amy Harris/Invision/AP
Louis, who was born in 1975; “Law and Order” star Alana de la Garza, who was born in 1976; country music superstar Blake Shelton, who was born in 1976; Pro Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates, who was born in 1980; and former N.Y. Rangers center Derek Stepan, who was born in 1990.
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THE HEAT OF BATTLE: Red Adair was born on this day in 1915. The Houston native began fighting oil well fires after serving in an Army bomb disposal unit during World War II. He founded Red Adair Co. in 1959 and during his career battled more than 2,000 land and offshore oil fires. In his 70s, he took part in extinguishing oil fires in Kuwait that were set by retreating Iraqi troops during the 1991 Gulf War. He died in 2004.
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Derek Stepan. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
SPACE FOR EVERYONE: Sally Ride became the first American woman in space on this day in 1983. The 32-year-old physicist and pilot was a mission specialist on a six-day trip aboard the space shuttle Challenger. Ride was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 2007. She died in 2012.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“The stars don’t look bigger, but they do look brighter.” — astronaut Sally Ride, who went into space on this day in 1983.
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.
