MILESTONES: May 24, birthdays for G-Eazy, Tommy Chong, Alyson Hannigan

May 24, 2018 Brooklyn Daily Eagle

G-Eazy. Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

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Greetings, Brooklyn. Today is the 143rd day of the year.

On this day in 1883, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle was filled with multiple headlines and coverage of the opening of the new Brooklyn Bridge. The first paragraph waxed poetic: “Proudly uprearing its mighty towers, secure to the integrity of its massive cables, spanning with the graceful arch of its superstructure to the perilous rush of the swiftly flowing river, the great bridge, which is in the future to weld together the two cities, stands today a completed monument to human ingenuity, mechanical genius and engineering skill.”

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On this day in 1933, the Eagle gave extensive coverage to the Brooklyn Bridge’s golden jubilee. “The Brooklyn Bridge was born of necessity,” the story began. “It triumphed over public apathy, ridicule, a dearth of finances, official bickerings, even the early death of John A. Roebling, the master engineer who planned it, and the later physical incapacitation of his son, Col. Washington A. Roebling, who was appointed to carry to completion the work his father had begun.” A group of photos at the bottom of the page named the “Men Whose Faith and Genius Made Possible the Giant Span.” One of these was James S.T. Stranahan, described as “Brooklyn’s first citizen.” A junior high school in Red Hook was named in honor of Stranahan until 2006, when it was reorganized and renamed. Missing from that listing were any women — in particular, Emily Roebling, daughter-in-law of John Roebling and wife of Washington Roebling, who had to take a leadership role after her husband fell ill.

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On this day in 1913, the Eagle reported on another royal wedding, this one to unite aristocratic houses of Germany and Prussia. “Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, only daughter of the German emperor and Empress, and Prince Ernest August of Cumberland were married with the rites of the Lutheran Church at 5 o’clock this evening in the Royal Chapel of the Imperial Castle, the ceremony sealing the reconciliation between the dethroned House of Hanover and the house of Hohenzollern.” The story continued, “The presence of the three most powerful sovereigns of Europe — the German Emperor, the Russian Emperor and the British king-emperor — on terms of intimate friendship made the event a demonstration of international peace.”

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On this day in 1953, the Eagle reported on the convergence and cooperation of Brooklyn’s civic and religious groups for a vital new borough civic center project. “A smart new office building to house borough intercultural, interracial interreligious organizations will rise in Brooklyn’s new Civic Center if a group of downtown businessmen and bankers has its way. Its supporters look jupon it as an ideal move to dramatize the spirit of community cooperation in this borough.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE born on this day include Oscar Award-winning actor JIM BROADBENT, who was born in 1949; Emmy Award-winning actor GARY BURGHOFF, who was born in 1943; actor TOMMY CHONG, who was born in 1938; actor ERIC CLOSE, who was born in 1967; singer and songwriter BOB DYLAN, who was born in 1941; rapper G-EAZY, who was born in 1989; actress ALYSON HANNIGAN, who was born in 1974; singer PATTI LABELLE, who was born in 1944; basketball player TRACY McGRADY, who was born in 1979; actor ALFRED MOLINA, who was born in 1953; director and puppeteer FRANK OZ, who was born in 1944; actress PRISCILLA BEAULIEU PRESLEY, who was born in Brooklyn in 1945; and actress KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS, who was born in 1960.

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THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE OPENED ON THIS DAY IN 1883. After nearly 14 years in construction, the $16 million bridge opened over the East River. Designed by John A. Roebling, the steel suspension bridge has a span of 1,595 feet.

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BASEBALL WAS FIRST PLAYED UNDER LIGHTS ON THIS DAY IN 1935. The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies by a score of 2–1, as more than 20,000 fans enjoyed the first night baseball game in the major leagues. The game was played at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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THE U.S. LAUNCHED THE AURORA 7 MERCURY SPACE CAPSULE ON THIS DAY IN 1962. With this launch Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit Earth, circling it three times.

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SAMUEL I. NEWHOUSE WAS BORN ON THIS DAY IN 1895. The multimillionaire businessman became “America’s most profitable publisher.” He accumulated 31 newspapers, seven magazines, six TV stations, five radio stations and 20 cable television systems. Newhouse died in 1979.

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THE FIRST U.S. TELEGRAPH LINE OPENED ON THIS DAY IN 1844. The line was formally opened between Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Samuel F.B. Morse sent the first officially telegraphed words — “What hath God wrought?” — from the Capitol building to Baltimore.

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

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“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” — Bob Dylan, who was born on this day in 1941