September 21: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
ON THIS DAY IN 1871, a Brooklyn Daily Eagle editorial said, “While men are making what is non-euphoniously called a ‘muddle’ of politics, society, and all the interests included in the comprehensive term ‘human affairs,’ the seasons calmly accomplish their work with customary regularity, and offer impressive proof of the satisfactory results of strict attention to business. The Spring time of planting, the Summer of growth, and the Autumnal harvest period follow in faithful order, performing each its beneficent function with absolute reliability, despite municipal frauds in New York or war-making in Europe. But for this seasonable regularity the recuperation of a heavily taxed public plundered by its employees, or a people stricken by a terrible discipline of fire and blood, would be impossible. If the seasons were as capricious and conscienceless as men often are, the race would be swept from the face of the earth; but, by a benignly inevitable routine, the revolving year repairs reckless human waste.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1900, the Eagle reported, “Most satisfactory assurances were furnished yesterday by the Rapid Transit Commissioners of their intention to extend the underground to this borough at the earliest possible date. The question of the Brooklyn extension was the chief topic discussed at the meeting, and while no action was taken, practical agreement was arrived at regarding its vital features. After the meeting, Controller [Bird Sim] Coler said a definite proposition would probably be laid before the board next Thursday, providing for a tunnel along Broadway down to Whitehall street and thence to the river and over to Brooklyn at the foot of Joralemon street, whence it will run to the City Hall and up Fulton street to Flatbush avenue. This is the plan advocated by the Committee of Fifty, who were represented at several hearings given early in the summer. The majority of the members of the commission approve this plan as the one likely to give the greatest measure of relief to Brooklyn both in the immediate future and later on.”
Brooklyn Boro
View MoreNew York City’s most populous borough, Brooklyn, is home to nearly 2.6 million residents. If Brooklyn were an independent city it would be the fourth largest city in the United States. While Brooklyn has become the epitome of ‘cool and hip’ in recent years, for those that were born here, raised families here and improved communities over the years, Brooklyn has never been ‘uncool’.