September 2: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

September 2, 2022 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1882, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The Central Labor Union of New York will have a parade and demonstration on Tuesday next.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1931, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “[Infantile] paralysis cases reported today totaled 53, of which 20 were in Brooklyn and 12 in Queens. Yesterday the total was 71 new cases, so today’s figures were construed by Health Commissioner [Shirley] Wynne as a continued gradual lessening of the epidemic. In Weehawken, N.J., the School Board today decided to follow the lead of New York and postpone the opening of school. Instead of starting Sept. 8, sessions there will start Sept. 14. In New York, the schools will not open until Sept. 22.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “Grover Whalen has suggested two gasless Sundays a month as a means of conserving gasoline, it was revealed today as representatives of station operators gathered in Philadelphia for a conference. Louis Kimmel, business manager of the Gasoline Merchants of Brooklyn and Queens, said that while he did not approve of Whalen’s plan, he would favor ‘no driving two Sundays a month.’ Whalen was recently appointed by Mayor LaGuardia to devise methods of saving gasoline and has been conferring with oil industry and retail leaders for several weeks. Kimmel declared that cessation of pleasure car motoring on the two Sundays would cut down tremendously the number of accidents as well as aiding in the gasoline conservation program. Shortly before he left to join other retailers in Philadelphia, Kimmel asserted: ‘We will do everything to help the government, even if it hurts.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “Police Commissioner [Lewis] Valentine today announced that at ceremonies at 11 a.m. Thursday, in City Hall Plaza, Mayor LaGuardia would swear in Police Lt. Samuel Battle, first Negro member of the Police Department and first of his race to reach a lieutenant’s rank, as a member of the New York City Parole Commission, filling the place of the late Lou Gehrig. At the same ceremonies, 197 probationary patrolmen and six probationary policewomen appointed June 6, who have since completed the required course at the Police Academy, will be graduated, and 200 additional patrolmen on probation will be appointed. Promotions will at the same time be announced of one deputy inspector to inspector, one caption to deputy inspector and three lieutenants to captain.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “ABOARD THE U.S. BATTLESHIP MISSOURI IN TOKYO BAY (U.P.) — Japan surrendered formally, finally and unconditionally to the United States and its Allied powers today. On the starboard bow deck of this battleship in Tokyo Bay, her representatives signed a surrender document, which made her 80,000,000 people, from Emperor Hirohito down, subject to the authority of Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the Supreme Allied Commander. At the moment of signing, Japan was reduced to her four main islands and such minor islands as the Allies grant her. Her people, her government, her Demi-God Emperor, her industry, her very life came under Allied military rule and will remain there until the day when she is deemed to have for the first time in her 2,605 years of history a democratic, peacefully inclined government and thus is worthy of rejoining the family of nations … General MacArthur before the signing told the Japanese that the surrender was not one to be carried out in a spirit of distrust, malice or hatred and that he would rule them with justice and tolerance. After the signing, he told the American people the Japanese for the first time in their history would be freed from their slavery and could, if they used their talents rightly, lift themselves to a place of dignity in the world.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include horse trainer and U.S. Racing Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who was born in 1935; former Commissioner of Baseball Peter Ueberroth, who was born in 1937; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Rosalind Ashford (Martha and the Vandellas), who was born in 1943; Hockey Hall of Famer Glen Sather, who was born in 1943; Basketball Hall of Famer Nate Archibald, who was born in 1948; Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, who was born in 1948; “NCIS” star Mark Harmon, who was born in 1951; International Tennis Hall of Famer Jimmy Connors, who was born in 1952; Pro Football Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson, who was born in 1960; “Bill & Ted Face the Music” star Keanu Reeves, who was born in 1964; former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who was born in 1965; “Frida” star Salma Hayek, who was born in 1966; and N.Y. Rangers playoff hero Stephane Matteau, who was born in 1969.

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COIN OF THE REALM: Congress established the third presidential cabinet department, the Treasury, on this day in 1789. President George Washington appointed Alexander Hamilton as the first secretary. The department oversees the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

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UP TO THE CHALLENGE: Christa McAuliffe was born on this day in 1948. The high school teacher from Concord, N.H., was to have been the first “ordinary citizen” in space, but she died along with six crew members when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on Jan. 28, 1986. Intermediate School 187 in Dyker Heights was renamed the Christa McAuliffe School in 1994.

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

Quotable:

“I touch the future. I teach.”

— astronaut Christa McAuliffe, who was born on this day in 1948