June 10: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY IN 1880, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The Barnum Museum Company of New York has purchased the Madison Square Garden block for $800,000 from the Harlem Railroad Company, and will build an immense structure, which will include a colosseum, an opera house, several smaller entertainment rooms, a museum, a tropical garden and conservatory. Mr. Barnum is to manage the business, which is represented by capital stock valued at $5,000,000, divided into 30,000 shares, of which Mr. Vanderbilt has purchased $250,000 worth. The building will be five stories high, constructed of brick, stone and iron, and will contain eleven acres of available floor room. The first floor will be devoted to Barnum’s Opera House, and the company promises to make it one of the best appointed in the country. There are to be grand concerts every afternoon and evening throughout the year, and listeners will be provided with a promenade lined on either side, with refreshment tables after the European style.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1906, the Eagle said, “Among the high class summer resort sections within easy reach of New York, there is none more entitled, in many respects, to fame and distinction than the New Jersey coast. A comparison, however, should not be made between this wonderfully developed sea front and other resort areas, for the Jersey beaches are peculiar in their features and conditions of development. These white sand stretches practically string together five great cosmopolitan cities and lay tribute upon the millions of population and untold wealth of these cities. It might be truthfully said that the Jersey coast forms the common beach of New York, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, and almost every mile of it from Atlantic Highlands on the north to Cape May on the south has some distinguishing feature. Many of these beaches have long since ceased to be merely summer resorts, but are all-year places, with a permanent population counting into the thousands. But nevertheless, so long as the old ocean pounds in from the east they will never cease to be summer resorts, and during the hot, sultry days in the summer, their breezes will never cease to blow cool and carry their invigorating tonic with them.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1916, the Eagle reported, “Anticipating the increased demand for suitable books which the President’s proclamation relative to the observance of Flag Day on June 14 was bound to produce, the Brooklyn Public Library undertook to satisfy, and is now satisfying, the needs of the community in this regard to the fullest extent of its resources. The fifty-six copies of Schauffler’s ‘Flag Day,’ which is undoubtedly the chief source book of information bearing upon the observance of this day, are in constant use at the various branch libraries. There are many other books in the library devoted to the history and significance of the American flag.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1924, the Eagle reported, “MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY — Montevideo went wild upon receipt of news that the Uruguayan socker team had defeated Switzerland 3 to 0 at Paris thereby winning the Olympic championship for 1924. A large crowd was addressed by President Serrato, who read a telegram which he sent to the Uruguayan team, saying: ‘The Republic felicitates her sons who in noble, valiant effort have made their country’s name acclaimed before the world.’ A national holiday is planned when the team returns.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Surrounded by a white picket fence and lawns, a house and barn just off Kings Highway is today one of the few remaining landmarks that link contemporary Brooklyn with this country’s historical heritage. The Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead at 1669 E. 22nd St., which was occupied by Hessian soldiers during the Revolutionary War, seems untouched by the centuries as it stands amid ivy-covered lawns with crisp ruffled curtains at its shutter-framed windows. Neighbors in the Kings Highway area will eagerly point with pride to the ancient white frame house with columned porches and its big barn, which has continued in use since its erection prior to 1776. The significant year, 1776, was found carved into one of the beams in the barn, according to a descendant, Gertrude Ryder Bennett, a writer. The family still preserves a windowpane on which two Hessian soldiers had scratched their names during the American Revolution when the British and German mercenary troops occupied Brooklyn. Clearly seen are the names George Toepfer and Capt. Reg. de Dittfourth. A country mailbox attached to an old-time lamp post is set into the front lawn of the Wyckoff-Bennett Homestead and bears the legend, ‘Built Prior to 1776.’ It is believed the house was erected at that time by Andrew and Hendrick Wyckoff (or Wijkhof).”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Shirley Owens (the Shirelles), who was born in 1941; “Das Boot” star Jurgen Prochnow, who was born in 1941; former N.Y. Yankees broadcaster Ken Singleton, who was born in 1947; former “Saturday Night Live” star Rich Hall, who was born in 1954; former N.Y. Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who was born in 1959;

“Riverdale” star Gina Gershon, who was born in 1962; “Big Love” star Jeanne Tripplehorn, who was born in 1963; “Bedazzled” star Elizabeth Hurley, who was born in 1965; “A Walk to Remember” star Shane West, who was born in 1978; Olympic gold medal-winning figure skater Tara Lipinski, who was born in 1982; model and actress Kate Upton, who was born in 1992; and former first daughter Sasha Obama, who was born in 2001.

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WIND OF CHANGE: Hattie McDaniel was born on this day in 1893. A child of former slaves, the Kansas native began her show business career as a singer and was the first African-American woman to sing on the radio. She moved into films in the 1930s and ’40s and was the first African-American person to win an Academy Award, for her role as Mammy in the 1939 blockbuster “Gone With the Wind.” She also appeared in “I’m No Angel,” “Alice Adams” and “Show Boat.” She died in 1952.

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A STAR IS BORN: Judy Garland was born on this day in 1922. The actress and singer is best known for her role as Dorothy Gale in the 1939 film “The Wizard of Oz” and won a juvenile Oscar for her screen work that year. The Minnesota native also starred in “Meet Me in St. Louis,” “Easter Parade,” “A Star is Born” and many other films. She died in 1969.

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“WILD” MAN: Maurice Sendak born on this day in 1928. The Brooklyn native wrote and illustrated many notable children’s books, including “In the Night Kitchen,” “Kenny’s Window,” and his most famous work, “Where the Wild Things Are.” Widely regarded as the first picture book artist to deal openly with children’s emotions, he received numerous awards, including the Caldecott Medal (1964) and the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal (1983). He died in 2012.

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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.” — actress and singer Judy Garland, who was born on this day in 1922.