September 1: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

September 1, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1887, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The Parade Committee of the Central Labor Union held a meeting last evening at O’Brien’s Hall, on Myrtle avenue, corner of Spencer street, for the purpose of carrying on to completion their arrangements for an appropriate celebration of Labor day. A significant part of the proceedings was the determination of the committee to have no speechmaking at the park. They were guided in deciding this question from the position assumed by the three labor parties toward each other. The committee believed that the pleasures of the day would be interfered with if they allowed orators to inject into the festivities speeches of a political character.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1913, the Eagle reported, “The Yankees still have a chance to climb out of the cellar. The St. Louis Browns are fighting hard for the place, and yesterday’s defeat put them within two games of the bottom of the heap.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1929, the Eagle reported, “Eleven new public schools in Brooklyn and Queens, a temporary one in Brooklyn, and an addition to Richmond Hill High School in Queens, will be ready for occupancy Sept. 9, when school opens, President George J. Ryan of the Board of Education announced last night. Of the new schools five are in Brooklyn and six are in Queens. These new buildings will provide seats for 13,762 students, exclusive of the additional high school facilities of the Richmond Hill High School. In Brooklyn the number of additional sittings that will be provided will be 8,099 and in Queens, 5,241. Eleven other schools are scheduled to open before the end of the fall term and 23 more are slated for opening around Feb. 1. Despite this building spurt, part time and the overcrowding problem will not be eliminated. School officials anticipate an increase of 15,000 in the elementary school enrollment of both Brooklyn and Queens. High school registration figures will soar to new levels, and not until the opening of Samuel J. Tilden High School, late in the year, will there be any way to alleviate this congestion.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle reported, “BRUSSELS, AUG. 31 (AP) — A war-time Queen, saddened by the death of her own husband, has taken Belgium’s three motherless royal children under her care. Dowager Queen Elizabeth of Belgium assented quickly to the tearful request of her son, King Leopold, that she substitute for their mother. Queen Astrid was killed in an automobile accident in Switzerland. It was only last year she lost her husband, King Albert, who fell to his death while mountain climbing. Since that time she has shunned public life. She has remained out of Belgium since last March. The new duty will not be easy for the graying, 59-year-old Queen-mother. Tiny Prince Albert, hardly more than a year old, requires a great deal of attention. Princess Josephine Charlotte, approaching her eighth birthday, and her younger brother, Prince Baudoin, nearly 5, must be made to understand and accept their loss as they wander through their playrooms at Stuyvenberg Castle. Scores of titled personages were arriving for the funeral of Queen Astrid on Tuesday. Grief was not confined to royalty, however. Thousands of the populace stood in the rain today for hours awaiting a chance of a farewell glimpse of the young Queen.” (Editor’s note: Albert II was King of the Belgians from 1993 to 2013. He turned 89 in June.)

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — President Roosevelt today pledged his Administration to make every effort to keep the United States out of war. He also announced the resignation of Hugh R. Wilson as Ambassador to Germany, and appealed to the four major European Powers to avoid the ‘inhuman barbarism’ of bombing civilians and unfortified cities. He let it be known that summoning of a special session of Congress and invocation of the Neutrality Act are not an immediate prospect. Meanwhile Adolf Hitler sent President Roosevelt his reply to the President’s appeal for peace last week, the Associated Press stated. The German Embassy forwarded it to the State Department this morning, and the department was expected to make it public shortly. A well-informed person described the reply as being ‘very positive.’ Asked at a press conference whether he cared to say anything about the chance of this country staying out of war, Mr. Roosevelt replied: ‘Only this: That I not only sincerely hope so, but I believe we can stay out, and that every effort will be made by the Administration to do so.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “HOLLYWOOD (U.P.) — Film actor Robert Mitchum and three other Hollywoodites were arrested today on a narcotics charge by police who raided a marijuana party in the home of a blond starlet. ‘This is the bitter end of everything — my career, my home, my marriage,’ said Mitchum as he was booked. He surrendered calmly, shrugging his broad shoulders as he was taken into custody by officers who said they caught him smoking a marijuana cigarette. Arrested with him were Lila Leeds, 20, golden-haired actress whose home was raided; dancer Vickie Evans, and Robin Ford, 31, a friend of Mitchum’s. Mitchum, Ford and Miss Leeds were booked on suspicion of violating the Narcotics Act. If convicted, their sentences could range from 90 days to 10 years. There can be no probation, police said. Miss Evans, who lives with Miss Leeds, was booked on a technical charge of visiting a house where marijuana is used.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “PROVINCETOWN, MASS. (U.P.) — A man arrested on a vagrancy charge had 218 separate items in his pockets. Included were fountain pens, surgical throat lights, vitamin pills, two dictionaries, a wad of stage money, scissors, aspirin tablets and several empty billfolds.”

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Padma Lakshmi
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Grace and Frankie” star Lily Tomlin, who was born in 1939; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Barry Gibb (Bee Gees), who was born in 1946; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Greg Errico (Sly and the Family Stone), who was born in 1948; TV personality and author Phil McGraw, who was born in 1950; two-time NBA champion Vinnie Johnson, who was born in Brooklyn in 1956; Songwriters Hall of Famer Gloria Estefan, who was born in 1957; five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, who was born in 1966; “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, who was born in 1970; Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, who was born in 1974; “Felicity” star Scott Speedman, who was born in 1975; former N.Y. Rangers right winger Mats Zuccarello, who was born in 1987; Miss America 2016 Betty Maxwell, who was born in 1994; and “Euphoria” star Zendaya, who was born in 1996.