June 3: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

June 3, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1906, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “While hundreds of thousands of people ‘go down to the sea’ for the summer season, there are hundreds of thousands of others who go up from the sea and from elsewhere into the mountains. The impulse or object of all is practically the same — to flee the heated environs of the work-a-day and domestic world and to recuperate their wasted energies in the cool, exhilarating atmosphere which the sea breezes and high altitudes insure. In addition to this dominant purpose, the question of pleasure and diversion always comes in as an accessory to the influences designed to make for health and happiness. In seeking a summer resort or in going on vacation, people demand both a refreshing atmosphere and facilities for entertainment. But most all resorts, as they now run, if they are not fully provided by nature, are reinforced by art, in giving to them a variety of attractions which will strengthen their appeal to the many-sided disposition of the resorter.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1908, the Eagle reported, “The Luna Park song contest was decided yesterday by Frederic Thompson. The winning song is entitled ‘Take a Trip Down to Luna With Me,’ and was written by S.R. Henry and William Cahill, authors of three other song hits now being sung by Miss Rosie Lloyd.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Eagle reported, “The Crown Heights Associated Activities team won the third annual tournament of the Catholic Debating League of the diocese of Brooklyn by defeating St. Vincent Ferrer Holy Name Society team last night at the Columbus Club, 1 Prospect Park West. Taking the negative of ‘Resolved, That the Five-Cent Subway Fare Should Be Increased,’ Paul Jones, Joseph Swords and Daniel L. Fitzgerald were declared the winners over Joseph Claro, Dr. George Mullen and Frank McClymer. James P. Munro, president of the Diocesan Union of Holy Name Societies, presided.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1947, the Eagle reported, “SHELTER ISLAND — This community of farms and summer homes is host today to the top brains in the realm of higher physics and mathematics. Twenty-three of the country’s most famous physicists, including those who made the atom bomb, are gathered here for a three-day conference to determine, if possible, the direction of future research on the behavior of neutrons, protons, electrons and light waves. Official title of the gathering, sponsored by the National Academy of Science, is ‘A Conference on the Foundations of Quantum Physics.’ The setting for the discussions, involving formulae that are gibberish for the great majority of mankind, is the Rams Head Inn. The conference began yesterday and will continue through tomorrow. Among those participating are Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, who directed the construction of the atom bomb; Dr. I.I. Rabi of Columbia University, Nobel Prize winner in physics; Dr. Hans Bethe of Cornell University, Dr. Julian Schwanger of Harvard University, recently made a full professor at 29, and Dr. John Von Neumann of the Institute of Advanced Study at Princeton.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS (U.P.) — Gen. Omar Bradley today listed the nation’s great problem of 1950 as ‘the determination of the proper course in world affairs and domestic affairs that we must follow.’ The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, speaking to the graduating class of Texas A&M College last night, warned the students each must solve the problem for his generation ‘and for generations to come.’ The genial general said that 1950 could be the turning point in the relationship of the United States to the rest of the world. ‘The events that have taken place in the past decade have brought us face to face with decisions which will affect your lives, the lives of your children in the years to come, and the future of this country.’ The nation’s future leaders will need faith, strong spirit and generosity to face these problems, Bradley said. ‘We must continue, rather than limit, any programs which will contribute to peace and reconstruction. Our great opportunity lies before us in Western Europe, and I feel sure that Americans will give full consideration to continuing the project we have underwritten so far, provided that those nations do everything they can to help themselves.’ Bradley received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the ceremonies.”

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Deniece Williams
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Basketball Hall of Famer Billy Cunningham, who was born in Brooklyn in 1943; sprinter and Olympic gold medalist Edith McGuire, who was born in 1944; World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, who was born in 1945; “Hey There Lonely Girl” singer Eddie Holman, who was born in 1946; special effects wizard John Dykstra, who was born in 1947; “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” singer Deniece Williams, who was born in 1950; First Lady Jill Biden, who was born in 1951; “Can’t We Try” singer Dan Hill, who was born in 1954; Slayer co-founder Kerry King, who was born in 1964; CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, who was born in 1967; tennis great Rafael Nadal, who was born in 1986; and “28 Weeks Later” star Imogen Poots, who was born in 1989.

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THE DRIVE TO SUCCEED: Ransom Olds was born on this day in 1864. The American automobile inventor and manufacturer founded the Olds Motor Works, which made Oldsmobile, the first affordable, mass-produced American car. It was also the first car produced in quantity with a progressive assembly system and composed of interchangeable parts. Olds died in 1950.

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LIBERATION IN PARIS: Josephine Baker was born on this day in 1906. The sensation of 1920s Paris, Baker was born into poverty in St. Louis. She began working as a dancer at age 16 and went to Paris in 1925, where her seminude “danse sauvage” became a hit. She was the first American-born woman to be awarded the Croix de Guerre and the Legion of Honor, in recognition of her Red Cross work during World War II. Baker performed up until her death on April 12, 1975.

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

Quotable:

“The things we truly love stay with us always, locked in our hearts as long as life remains.”

— dancer Josephine Baker, who was born on this day in 1906