January 24: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

January 24, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1877, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “It is said that the tests made recently by Professor Graham Bell, of Boston, in the practical development of telephony, is dispensing with the use of the battery entirely, so that now all that is required to communicate between the most distant points is simply a wire and the telephones.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1895, the Eagle reported, “LONDON — Lord Randolph Churchill died at 6 o’clock this morning at his residence, 50 Grosvener square, to which place he was removed after his return to England, in December last, after his tour of the world in search of health. All the members of his family were present at his bedside when he breathed his last. Winston Churchill, the eldest son of the late Lord Randolph Churchill, who is now about 20 years of age and who has been devoted to his father, informed a reporter that his father’s death was most peaceful and painless. During the morning a private funeral service for the family only was held at the Churchill residence. The remains will be interred on Monday next to Bladon church, near Blenheim, where the two younger brothers of the deceased are buried. The mother of the late Lord Randolph Churchill, Frances Anne Emily, Duchess of Marlborough, wife of the seventh Duke of Marlborough, is seriously ill. Lord Randolph leaves a widow, formerly Miss Jennie Jerome and daughter of the late Leonard Jerome of New York, who has shown herself a most devoted attendant upon him during his last illness, and two sons, Winston Leonard, born in 1874, and John Henry, born in 1880.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1897, the Eagle reported, “President McKinley will ride around Washington in carriages built in Chicago. He has sent $5,000 to a firm in this city to pay for this part of the equipment of the White House stables. He made the purchase in this city because he naturally concluded that it has the best in the world — a conclusion expressed in an order for the right thing — right for anybody, and especially right for a man in the presidency. It was decided by the McKinley household that three vehicles would be necessary. A cabriolet will be needed for dry days and turns along the avenue, a landau for rain and society trips and a brougham would carry all the members of the family. All are to be made for two horses, and the instructions to the builders was to spare nothing to make them rich — not showy.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1927, the Eagle reported, “Brooklyn, despite its rapidly increasing skyscrapers, is still something of a rural community and counts 40 thriving farms to its credit. The Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce breaks this news, adding that sophisticated Manhattan still has five farms nestling within her boundaries. Of course such things are to be expected of Queens with its many wide, open spaces, and that boro now has 191 farms left. Richmond comes second with 159 and the Bronx follows with 41. There are 32 horses, 149 head of cattle and 2,725 chickens eating away contentedly on those 40 Brooklyn farms, says the Chamber. The chickens contribute some 24,250 dozen eggs annually and the cows come across with 81,700 gallons of milk. The farms of Greater New York totaled 436 last year with Richmond showing an increase of 33 over statistics of 1920. Having a total value of $18,453,500, the city’s farms cover 10,4547 acres, of which 8,525 are crop lands and 348 acres are devoted to grazing.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, Home Talk/The Item reported, “Estimating the popularity of the new subway service on the 4th Ave. line during the morning rush hours, officials of the B.M.T. today indicated that if test runs continue to prove satisfactory, the operation of the two express trains started Monday will continue permanently. In the opinion of the officials the operation of the express trains has, to a great degree, relieved congestion at the 59th, 36th and Pacific St. stations. It has also been indicated by the officials of the railroad that if the present schedules continue to work satisfactorily and the response of residents is sufficient, there will be an effort made to run expresses from Manhattan to Bay Ridge during the evening rush hours. J.F. Eagan, superintendent of transportation of the B.M.T., was present when the two express trains left the 95th St. station for their first run on the line. The number of passengers that took advantage of the trains and the subsequent ease in conditions at other stations that had suffered from congestion convinced the officials that the trains are needed. The first train that left 95th St. made the run from that station to 59th St. in seven minutes. Inspectors of the B.M.T. found that with the new trains running there were much fewer transfers at the 59th St. and Pacific St. stations. This check of stations is to continue for some time until the officials of the line are convinced that the new trains do make a material difference in the operation of trains over the tracks of the 4th Ave. subway.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Diamond, who was born in Brooklyn in 1941; “Tell It Like It Is” singer Aaron Neville, who was born in 1941; science fiction writer David Gerrold, who was born in 1944; “Twin Peaks” star Michael Ontkean, who was born in 1946; comedian and actor Yakov Smirnoff, who was born in 1951; “Cat People” star Nastassja Kinski, who was born in 1961; “Mad TV” star Phil LaMarr, who was born in 1967; gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Mary Lou Retton, who was born in 1968; “The Hangover” star Ed Helms, who was born in 1974; actress and writer Kristen Schaal, who was born in 1978; “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” star Tatyana Ali, who was born in 1979; former San Francisco Giants pitcher Scott Kazimir, who was born in 1984; and “The O.C.” star Mischa Barton, who was born in 1986.