History

Brooklyn Today for October 23

October 23, 2013 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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Good morning. Today is the 296th day of the year. On this day in 1865, Harriet Tubman, who helped hundreds of Southern slaves escape to Canada via the “Underground Railway,” spoke to an audience at the African A.M.E. Church on Bridge Street in Downtown Brooklyn, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported. The audience was comprised of both whites and blacks. The Eagle described how she had been named “Moses” by the famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, since Moses had helped the Hebrews escape from slavery in Egypt.

Well-known people who were born today include actor Ryan Reynolds, satirist “Weird” Al Yankovic, director Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Brokeback Mountain”) and country singer Dwight Yoakam.

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Today, the Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District will lead a fashion and home goods/furniture design walking tour along Atlantic Avenue from Fourth Avenue to the river. The home goods/furniture tour will take place from noon to 2 p.m., followed by the fashion design tour from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. … Today at 10:30 a.m., the Coney Island Library, which was damaged by Superstorm Sandy, will reopen. The ceremony will be presided over by State Sen. Diane Savino and Councilmembers Domenic Recchia and Vincent Gentile. … Also in Coney Island, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce will host its annual membership meeting and trade show at Gargiulo’s Restaurant from 4 to 8 p.m. The guest speaker will be NYU President John Sexton.