ON THIS DAY IN 1933, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “New York’s weather, which was cold yesterday, became sub-zero today. The official thermometer, for the first time this winter and for several winters past, touched zero at 7 this morning, and then dropped to 3 below zero at 9. It was the lowest temperature on the Weather Bureau’s records for nearly 14 years, the last 3-below weather having been charted on Feb. 1, 1920. It was the coldest Dec. 29 since 1917, when the record low temperature for the antepenultimate day of the year was set at 6 below zero. There was some possibility, as the mercury continued to fall today, that that record, too, might be equaled or passed … As the freezing weather grew in intensity, the total of homeless persons who sought shelter in the Municipal Lodging House, Manhattan, increased to 4,005 men, 76 women and two children.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1943, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The threat of a crippling wartime strike of railroad employees ended today when three holdout unions assured the War Department that they ‘will take no action that will imperil the successful prosecution of the war and that they will immediately cancel the strike order.’ The unions’ promise was announced by Secretary of War [Henry L.] Stimson after their presidents had spent 50 minutes in conference with Lt. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, federal operator of the railroads. The unions — firemen and enginemen, switchmen, and conductors — precipitated federal seizure of the railroads on Monday by refusing to follow 17 other rail unions in accepting presidential arbitration of their dispute. With only 18 hours remaining before the deadline at 6 a.m. tomorrow, the three unions rescinded their strike call as the army prepared to keep the railroads going with soldiers if necessary … The question immediately arose as to how long the government would retain control of the carriers. It was assumed that federal operation, technically speaking, would continue until the wage dispute is finally settled. President Roosevelt said at his news conference yesterday that federal operation would last only until the emergency was over. He wanted to restore the roads to private management as soon as it became certain there would be no strike.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, DEC. 28 (U.P.) — Top-ranking Republicans promised tonight that the G.O.P.-controlled 80th Congress, which convenes Friday, will stress ‘quality rather than quantity’ in drafting legislation. Many members — new and old — already are arriving in the capital to prepare for the new session. But top leaders in both parties were not expected before Monday or the middle of the week. Representative Earl C. Michener (Mich.), who was assistant Republican leader in the old Congress, promised that ‘the program of the majority party will be presented to the House for consideration at the earliest opportunity.’ As for cooperation between Congress and the Democratic administration, Michener said ‘the future of the country is at stake and cooperation is a thing to be devoutly hoped for.’”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “Opposition to the mayor’s plan for a transit fare increase and a new plan for separate business-area and residential-area fares combined today with a reported operating loss of $9,982,371 by the city’s transit system during the four months ending Oct. 31. The executive committee of the Kings County American Legion announced that it has sent a resolution to its state organization calling for opposition to the mayor’s eight-cent fare proposal. Mayor [William] O’Dwyer is seeking legislation from Albany to authorize the Board of Transportation to raise the fare, without referendum, sufficiently to cover operating losses. Edward A. Roberts, 369 Lexington Ave., Manhattan, transit engineer, offered a plan to use only five and ten-cent fares. The higher fares would be used from 59th St. south in Manhattan and from the Long Island Rail Road station at Flatbush and Atlantic Aves., to the East River in Brooklyn. At all other stations the fare would remain a nickel. Mr. Roberts said this plan would avoid the vast complications that would arise through use of an odd-cent fare by subway customers who last year deposited 2,051,000,000 nickels in turnstiles.”
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Alison Brie Charles Sykes/Invision/APJude Law Greg Allen/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Benson” star Inga Swenson, who was born in 1932; Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, who was born in 1938; singer-songwriter Marianne Faithfull, who was born in 1946; “Cheers” star Ted Danson, who was born in 1947; “If I Can’t Have You” singer Yvonne Elliman, who was born in 1951; “Murder One” star Patricia Clarkson, who was born in 1959; former major league outfielder Devon White, who was born in 1962; “The Walking Dead” star Michael Cudlitz, who was born in 1964; The Offspring singer Dexter Holland, who was born in 1965; filmmaker Lilly Wachowski, who was born in 1967; “Cold Mountain” star Jude Law, who was born in 1972; baseball executive Theo Epstein, who was born in 1973; “ER” star Mekhi Phifer, who was born in 1974; “Rogue One” star Diego Luna, who was born in 1979; and “Community” star Alison Brie, who was born in 1982.
Diego Luna Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
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RE-JOYCE: “A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man” was published on this day in 1916. The semiautobiographical novel by Irish modernist author James Joyce was originally serialized in the British literary journal The Egoist from 1914-15.
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SOMETHING ABOUT MARY: Mary Tyler Moore was born in Brooklyn Heights on this day in 1936. A seven-time Emmy winner, Moore broke new ground by wearing capris as the stylish, comedic housewife on “The Dick Van Dyke Show” (1961-66). As Mary Richards on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” she quietly revolutionized TV sitcoms, introducing a single, independent career woman. Her production company, MTM Enterprises, launched numerous hit shows, including “The Bob Newhart Show,” “WKRP in Cincinnati” and “Hill Street Blues.” She also received an Oscar nomination for her role in “Ordinary People” (1980). She died in 2017.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“Take chances. Make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.”
— actress and producer Mary Tyler Moore, who was born in Brooklyn on this day in 1936
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
