History

May 13: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 13, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The Brooklyn Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor held its 75th annual meeting last night at its headquarters, 104 Livingston St. … Miss Jessie Hixson, general agent of the association, in her annual report said: ‘Just as warring nations were ceasing hostilities, we were called on to fight an epidemic of influenza, leaving in its wake broken homes and orphans. Close at its heels comes the high cost of living and the jump in rents. All these things have created unexpected emergency work. There were 214 cases of influenza in 97 families, causing 44 deaths and leaving 35 widows with children whom this association has had to help in readjusting their lives. One thousand two hundred and sixty-four families have been under our care. Fifty-one children had to be committed, 31 deserted wives, 14 homeless, 26 cripples with 42 tuberculosis cases show need for waging war on the health and morale of the families.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “MONTS, FRANCE (A.P.) — The Duke of Windsor was said today by a close associate to be insisting, with the backing of the royal family, that the British government permit his wedding to Mrs. Wallis Warfield to be public and that it bestow its approval on his bride by officially recognizing her as Duchess of Windsor. The Duke discussed the situation with Queen Mother Mary by telephone and urged the beloved Mary to try and clear up the problem. It has deadlocked government and the royal family. ‘Mother, we can all be happy once more,’ he was said to have told her — if Queen Mary and King George VI can bring the government around to approving the marriage.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “While efforts of the major political parties to agree on nominees for the coming city election remained stalled last night, evidence developed that Fusion leaders were seeking to rally their forces for the nomination of a new independent candidate to succeed Mayor LaGuardia. Maurice P. Davidson, former head of the City Fusion party and now a member of the New York State Power Authority, issued a statement announcing formation of a new independent citizens’ committee to consider candidates for the municipal campaign. ‘Political maneuvering by the regular parties, with regard to the gubernatorial and senatorial elections of 1946, or the next presidential campaign,’ he said, ‘should not be permitted to jeopardize the integrity of municipal government.’ Mr. Davidson was a member of the independent movement which led to Mayor LaGuardia’s first term election in 1933 and also helped to spearhead the 1936 draft movement which resulted in former Gov. Herbert H. Lehman’s renomination after Mr. Lehman had expressed his intention to retire from office. Mr. Davidson’s move appeared to be independent of the activity previously launched by former Judge Samuel Seabury and other Fusionists following Mayor LaGuardia’s announcement one week ago that he would not seek re-election.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “JERUSALEM (U.P.) — The United Nations mission to Palestine prepared today to establish an emergency regime for the Holy Land in the face of Jewish determination to proclaim their own state of Israel at midnight tomorrow. Jewish armed forces estimated at perhaps 70,000 men and women braced themselves on strategic defense lines facing all frontiers to meet an expected Arab invasion when the British surrender responsibility at one minute after midnight. Pablo Azcarate, chief of the U.N. mission, announced that a United Nations secretariat headed by himself will take over emergency powers in Palestine on Saturday. The Jewish provisional government in Tel Aviv, headed by Zionist leader David Ben Gurion, announced a final decision to declare existence of a sovereign Jewish state in the Holy Land at the moment the British lay down their mandate. This decision was reached in a nine-hour debate behind closed doors by the 13-man Jewish cabinet. A committee of five men, headed by Moshe Shertok, scheduled to be foreign ministers of the new state, was appointed to draft the historic declaration.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Mean Streets” star Harvey Keitel, who was born in Brooklyn in 1939; former N.Y. Mets manager Bobby Valentine, who was born in 1950; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stevie Wonder, who was born in 1950; former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who was born in 1952;

comedian and talk show host Stephen Colbert, who was born in 1964; Hootie & the Blowfish founder Darius Rucker, who was born in 1966; Bronze Star recipient and U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, who was born in 1977; “The Walking Dead” star Samantha Morton, who was born in 1977; “Girls” star Lena Dunham, who was born in 1986; “Twilight” star Robert Pattinson, who was born in 1986; and “Jessie” star Debby Ryan, who was born in 1993.

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A STAR IS BORN: Mary Wells was born on this day in 1943. Motown’s first big star, Wells was known for such hits as “You Beat Me to the Punch,” “Two Lovers” and her signature song, “My Guy.” She was one of a group of black artists of the 1960s who helped end musical segregation by having their work played on white radio stations. She died in 1992.

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HOME OF THE BRAVE: Today is Children of Fallen Patriots Day, which seeks to raise awareness for military children who have lost a parent in the line of duty. It honors the bravery of surviving children while also creating awareness of the mission of the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation: to ensure a college education for all children of the fallen. For more information, visit fallenpatriots.org.

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

Quotable:

“Just because a man lacks the use of his eyes doesn’t mean he lacks vision.”
— musician Stevie Wonder, who was born on this day in 1950