February 15: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

February 15, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1920, Brooklyn Daily Eagle columnist Frederick Boyd Stevenson wrote, “Because of the new, strong and subtle propaganda now untiringly active in Europe and in this country, favoring a little here, edging in a little there, encouraging on all sides the principles of Bolshevism, I called upon Lydia Lipkovska. Lydia Lipkovska is a Russian singer. She fled first from Petrograd when the Red Terrorists overran the city. She fled from Odessa when the advance guards of the disciples of Brute Force pushed in there and threatened to spread over all Russia. And then she fled to France, barely escaping with her life, losing all her property, all her jewels, save those she wore; all her clothing, save a few costumes. And now she is in America. She just arrived in New York the other day from France … ‘There is no atrocity you can imagine that the Bolsheviki have not committed,’ she said to me. ‘There is no horror you can name that they have not done.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1936, the Eagle reported, “The tenth annual observance of Narcotic Education Week will be held Feb. 22-29, sponsored by the World Narcotic Defense Association and the International Narcotic Education Association. A brochure giving suggestions for efficient programs has been prepared, noting for special emphasis prompt and efficient narcotic law enforcement; enactment of the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act; active campaign against the marihuana menace, and more thorough instruction in schools regarding the danger in habit-forming narcotic drugs. Complete information is given as to the various narcotics sold in the United States and their effect on the human system.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Defense Secretary James V. Forrestal tonight announced plans to meet the threat of atom bombs, guided missiles and bacteria war with a national civil defense organization. Secretary Forrestal received his authority from President [Harry] Truman. He acted on the recommendations of an army board report that warned of the danger of attack on the United States. ‘In the event of another war,’ the board found, ‘widespread destruction can be anticipated in industrial areas and centers of population. The populace should be organized into small groups under leaders and trained in fire-fighting, rescue and first aid.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — The magazine Aviation Week says more than 400 mammoth bombers of two new types are poised in Northern Russia ‘across the polar ice cap from the North American continent.’ Reconnaissance versions of the big planes, driven by turbine-propeller engines, have made routine flights ‘at extreme altitude above the Alaskan and Canadian defense perimeter,’ the magazine says. The authoritative McGraw-Hill publication carries pictures and performance details of the two models in its current issue. Originals of the two photographs, one showing a craft similar in appearance to the U.S. B-36 superbomber, were turned over to Air Force intelligence officers. The official Air Force spokesman said ‘we are happy to have the pictures and are very much interested in them.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Brooklyn Heights Press reported, “The Transit Authority has announced that it will maintain a manned elevator at the Clark St. (IRT) subway station during the hours from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. The announcement came Tuesday after the semi-monthly meeting of the TA’s three governing members. It was a result of a study made by the authority’s Stations Dept. of the traffic volume at the Clark St. and Court St. (BMT) stations. No mention was made in the announcement of the Court St. elevators. An automatic elevator is scheduled to be installed there sometime after June. Two automatic lifts are slated to go into operation at the Clark St. stop next month. A spokesman for the TA said that the transit body had decided to deal with ‘first things first’ in rendering its decision to station an operator at Clark St. station during the late night and early morning hours. Residents had expressed fears that previous TA plans to leave the elevators unmanned during these hours might result in assaults and muggings on the lifts or at the lower landings.”

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Megan Thee Stallion
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

Matt Groening
Paul A. Hebert/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Charly” star Claire Bloom, who was born in 1931; feminist author Susan Brownmiller, who was born in Brooklyn in 1935; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Mick Avory (the Kinks), who was born in 1944; “Maus” author Art Spiegelman, who was born in 1948; “Don’t Cry Out Loud” singer Melissa Manchester, who was born in 1951; “Live and Let Die” star Jane Seymour, who was born in 1951; “Eve’s Bayou” star Lynn Whitfield, who was born in 1953; “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, who was born in 1954; guitarist Jake E. Lee, who was born in 1957; Pro Football Hall of Famer Darrell Green, who was born in 1960; Space Shuttle astronaut Leland D. Melvin, who was born in 1964; “Family Guy” star Alex Borstein, who was born in 1971; “Xena: Warrior Princess” star Renee O’Connor, who was born in 1971; former N.Y. Rangers right wing Jaromir Jagr, who was born in 1972; Incubus singer Brandon Boyd, who was born in 1976; “Glee” star Amber Riley, who was born in 1986; and rapper Megan Thee Stallion, who was born in 1995.

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REVOLUTIONARY: Galileo Galilei was born on this day in 1564. The Italian physicist and astronomer proved the theory that all bodies, large and small, descend at equal speed, and he gathered evidence to support Copernicus’ theory that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun. In 1632 he was tried by the Inquisition and found guilty of heresy. He remained under house arrest until his death in 1642. The Catholic Church issued an official apology to Galileo in 2000.

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THE FAMILY JEWELS: Charles Lewis Tiffany was born in Connecticut on this day in 1812. The famous jeweler’s name is synonymous with high standards of quality. He died in 1902.

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

Quotable:

“My standard comment is, ‘If you don’t want your kids to be like Bart Simpson, don’t act like Homer Simpson.’”

— “The Simpsons” creator Matt Groening, who was born on this day in 1954