September 3: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

September 3, 2023 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The businessmen of Coney Island today visited the bank, after the biggest day Coney has seen this year. The police estimate that nearly 300,000 persons and 5,000 automobiles visited the nation’s playground yesterday. As early as 3 o’clock, walking on Surf Avenue was almost impossible, the crowd was so great. The beaches, too, were well occupied from the early morning until sundown. The oil that for the past week has been raising havoc with the bathers yesterday took a day off and the bathhouse owners spread the news with unbounded joy … The island was in full glow last night — the last Monday night it will be that way until next season. The lighting was only made possible by agreeing to keep dark Friday.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “‘Man the spray guns’ has become the battle cry of residents in the neighborhood of S. 9th St., between Roebling and Havemeyer Sts., Williamsburg, in a defensive war they are waging against an invading army of caterpillars. Not content with ruining trees, the fuzzy invaders are entering homes, getting into beds, pantries and food. Some householders say they have been unable to eat in their own homes. ‘It’s disgusting,’ said Mrs. Rose Cohen. ‘You can’t open your windows because the caterpillars come in, and in this hot weather you must have air. They even get in the bed. You can’t sleep in the rooms.’ The caterpillar invaders were first observed about two weeks ago. They have bivouacked in the trees, spinning white webs around the trunks and limbs and there laying their eggs. With each mild breeze, the caterpillars fall from the trees by the hundreds. From backyards, they have made their way over buildings to the street, where they are attacking other trees. Spray guns are a popular weapon with the beleaguered householders.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “The Trump Construction Company, builders of more than 800 houses in Brooklyn during the past 30 months, will send their advertising boat out of Coney Island again today, despite the decision by Magistrate Francis Giaccone on Friday, deciding in favor of the city’s contention that a violation had been committed the last time the boat went out. Magistrate Giaccone fined George Reilly of 2918 Avenue P, owner of the boat chartered by the building firm, the sum of $100 on three counts: $50 for navigating a boat in the bathing area, $25 for advertising in the bathing area, and $25 for operating a loud speaker in the bathing area. Assistant Corporation Counsel Ramsgate argued the case for the Park Department. William Butler of 32 Broadway, Manhattan, attorney for the Trump firm, contended that the Park Department had no authority to issue summonses in United States navigable waters, particularly in channels prescribed and marked by buoys. Fred C. Trump, head of the firm, announced yesterday that the case would be appealed and that the boat would go out again yesterday and today, leaving the dock in Gerritsen Beach at noon. He has invited newspapermen and Park Department officials, including Park Commissioner [Robert] Moses, to ride on the boat to assure themselves that it is sailing, as he claims it always has, well outside of the 1,000-foot limit in which the Park Department claims jurisdiction.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “MANILA, P.I. (U.P.) — Secretary of State John Foster Dulles arrived from the United States today and predicted the Southeast Asia Treaty Conference (SEATO) opening Monday would find a way to protect Southeast Asia against aggression. But a major controversy already has developed over how strong the anti-Communist alliance should be. Dulles’ arrival added new urgency to behind-the-scenes negotiations which thus far have been unable to heal the major split between Asian and European delegates that is threatening to wreck the meeting even before it begins. Participating Asian nations made it clear they want a strong military agreement patterned along the North Atlantic Treaty Organization line. Some Western nations favored quick ‘consultations’ instead of fast action in the case of new Communist aggression. Dulles will confer with Philippine officials to work out details on the most efficient manner of implementing the mutual defense treaty between the United States and the Philippines.”

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ON SEPT. 4, 1934, the Eagle reported, “The sea monster at Loch Ness, whose discovery inspired a wide epidemic of sea monsters in other parts of the world, is not a monster nor yet a denizen of the sea. It is only a German blimp shot down during the World War, Terrence McGrath, Cunard Line executive, reported today on his arrival aboard the White Star liner Majestic. Also aboard was tall, blonde Sir Ronald Lindsay, the British ambassador. Sir Ronald, usually slow of speech, startled reporters by chattering rapidly and whimsically about all manner of things in the fashion of a P.G. Wodehouse character. The chatter was used to avoid answering questions about Britain’s war debt to the United States. He even sang two stanzas from Gilbert and Sullivan’s ‘The Gondoliers’ when the conversation threatened to reach dangerous ground.”

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Garrett Hedlund
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Al Jardine (The Beach Boys), who was born in 1942; “Superman” star Valerie Perrine, who was born in 1943; Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer, who was born in 1948; “The Sopranos” star Steve Schirripa, who was born in Brooklyn in 1957; “Seinfeld” writer Spike Feresten, who was born in 1964; 1995-96 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire, who was born in 1973; “Bring It On” star Clare Kramer, who was born in 1974; former NFL defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was born in 1976; “Friday Night Lights” star Garrett Hedlund, who was born in 1984; snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who was born in 1986; and model and actress Kaia Gerber, who was born in 2001.