Brooklyn Boro

July 6: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

July 6, 2021 Brooklyn Eagle History
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ON THIS DAY IN 1863, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The gallant army of the Potomac has saved the nation’s capital, has driven the foe from Pennsylvania, has saved the North from the actual presence of war, and rescued the people from the humiliation which a week ago seemed inevitable. All honor to the army and to its gallant leader. The salient points of the battle of Gettysburg are readily understood. General Lee, playing for a great stake and leading an army which has twice manifested its superiority solely on account of the superior ability of the generals at its head, hurled his troops with unparalleled recklessness against a commanding position, defended by the most powerful artillery, and was driven back with fearful slaughter. Weakened, disappointed, discomfited, he has now abandoned the purpose of the campaign, and is endeavoring to secure a retreat into Virginia. The probabilities are that he will succeed in this, or if driven to bay, the foe is yet capable of fighting a battle, upon the result of which it is not safe to count with absolute certainty.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “The cornerstone of the grandstand at Ebbets Field, the new home-to-be of Brooklyn baseball, was laid this morning at the southwest corner of the field, which lies on Bedford Avenue, between Montgomery and Sullivan streets … Despite the heat, there was a large crowd on hand, and most of the fans showed their enthusiasm by placing within the stone their cards or other forms of signature … The archeologist of future generations who burrows through the accumulated debris of ages and pries the cornerstone loose from the concrete and steel structure will have a great variety of names to puzzle over and have food for speculation over to what race or tribe the Brooklynites of 1912 belonged. Among other articles for the scientist of the distant future to use as material for lectures were a copy of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of January 3, 1912, describing what the park was to be like; a copy of the Eagle of yesterday, giving the programme for the exercises today; and a copy of the Eagle Almanac.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Eagle reported, “Perhaps the Red demonstrations were postponed on account of the heat … The crimson uprising was confined to the thermometer.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1952, the Eagle reported, “A week ago today, Coney Island’s concessionaires viewed the day’s business with dismay. Threatening skies had kept the crowds below normal for a summer Sunday. The sun and fun seekers lured out by last week’s spotty sunshine numbered only a paltry — 1,000,000! That the Coney Island Chamber of Commerce measures attendance in digit displays like this is strong proof of the compelling attraction increasingly exercised by New York’s ‘Baghdad on the B.M.T.’ The conglomeration of glitter, the sun, the sand, the sacks of popcorn, even the shanty-like structures and the crowds add up to a recreational phenomenon unparalleled on earth. The topper of it all is that Coney is within reach of the city’s fun-starved millions for the price of subway fare.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “‘The Mecca of Millions’ returned to normalcy today after 2,800,000 sun worshipers had made their weekly weekend pilgrimage to its sands, amusements and concessions. With nary an orator or a brass band, little Coney Island took on the giant Fourth of July weekend in its own inimitable style. Fireworks, bright lights, water, hot dogs, soda pop, amusements, sand and people with at least 20 cents for carfare. These were the secrets to Coney’s successful weekend. The fireworks lit up the island Saturday night. At 2 a.m. Sunday, several hundred thousand people were still ducking the city’s heat and troubles at Brooklyn’s own ‘Baghdad on the B.M.T.’ Less than six hours later, hundreds of buses from as far south as Virginia began arriving at the amusement center for a day’s stay. Within a short time, yawning New Yorkers began descending on that small patch of Brooklyn which, on a weekend, is doubtless the most populated area in the world.”

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Willie Randolph
Seth Wenig/AP
Sylvester Stallone
Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Duke of Earl” singer Gene Chandler, who was born in 1937; former President George W. Bush, who was born in 1946; “Hunter” star Fred Dryer, who was born in 1946; “Rocky” and “Rambo” star Sylvester Stallone, who was born in 1946; Hockey Hall of Famer and former N.Y. Ranger Brad Park, who was born in 1948; Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, who was born in 1951; “Moonlighting” star Allyce Beasley, who was born in Brooklyn in 1954; former N.Y. Yankees co-captain and Mets manager Willie Randolph, who was born in Brooklyn in 1954; “Absolutely Fabulous” star Jennifer Saunders, who was born in 1958; rapper and actor 50 Cent, who was born in 1975; “Sister, Sister” stars Tamera and Tia Mowry, who were born in 1978; former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, who was born in 1982; and “GLOW” star Kate Nash, who was born in 1987.

George W. Bush
Alex Brandon/AP

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SEEING STARS: Major League Baseball held its first All-Star Game on this day in 1933. The game took place at Comiskey Park in Chicago. Babe Ruth homered to lead the American League to a 4-2 victory over the National League. Prior to the summer of 1933, All-Star contests consisted of pre- and postseason exhibitions that often found teams made up of a few stars playing beside journeymen and even minor leaguers.

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MEET THE BEATLES: John Lennon and Paul McCartney met on this day in 1957. In Liverpool, England, the 15-year-old McCartney watched a band called the Quarrymen, led by the 16-year-old Lennon. The two teens met later that day and before long created one of the most popular rock groups of the 20th century.

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

Quotable:

“Remember, the mind is your best muscle. Big arms can move rocks, but big words can move mountains.”
— Sylvester Stallone, who was born on this day in 1946

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