History

February 3: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

February 3, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1878, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Mrs. Washington, being first who in America held the high post she filled for eight years, is always mentioned first in any sketch or conversation relating to her successors. But technically speaking she was never a ‘Lady of the White House,’ for the White House was not thought of when she came to New York as the wife of the first President, and all the acquaintance which she had with that place was of a disagreeable forest through which she passed in going to Alexandria. The first year of Washington’s Administration, the seat of government was removed to Philadelphia, and there, in a house on Market street, between Fifth and Sixth, owned by Mr. Robert Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Washington commenced housekeeping.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1895, the Eagle reported, “Coal fires and stoves are doomed. They will soon meet the fate of spinning wheels, flint lock muskets and other articles that have become memories of the past. The result is that electricity is going to do the cooking and heating in the household of the future. The twentieth century housekeeper will be released from the despotic rule of King Coal, the uncertain, the unclean, the vexatious, and to that extent home duties will cease to be a burden. All this is proven in the residence of Mr. George Peabody, 28 Monroe place, where cooking, heating, lighting and laundrying is all done by the swift and tireless electric current. The Peabody house is the only one in Brooklyn or New York in which electricity broils the chops and bakes the bread and boils the coffee, but the companies are putting the electrical cooking apparatus on the market and its general adoption seems to be a matter of only a little time.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Eagle reported, “CHICAGO — Tentative plans for the creation of a baseball ‘hall of fame,’ on broader lines than anything of the kind hitherto attempted, were announced yesterday by a Detroit manufacturer. He offered to put two automobiles into the hands of a committee of five or seven newspaper men, to be awarded at the end of each playing season to the player in each major league who, in the opinion of the committee, had done the most for his team in the pennant race.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle said, “The French now think that Mona Lisa was stolen by an American. But an American would never have left the frame.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1913, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — An income tax is now one of the provisions of the Constitution of the United States. Wyoming’s ratification today of the income tax amendment — the sixteenth change in the Constitution and the first since the reconstruction — completed a list of thirty-six states — three-fourths of this Union, which have approved the provision. Congress now will enact a law to levy the tax, and it probably will become effective during the extraordinary session to be called by President-elect [Woodrow] Wilson in March. The tax itself, its provisions and its limitations are all left to Congress. The new law probably would supersede the corporation tax and provide for a tax on all incomes above $5,000, although there has been some sentiment in favor of making the limit as low as $4,000. Congressional leaders who have been preparing for the final ratification by the states estimate an income tax would bring in about $160,000,000 a year to the government.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle reported, “George Palmer Putnam, who is married to Amelia Earhart, had quite a reputation as a publisher when he was part of the family firm of G.P. Putnam’s Sons. In 1926 he retired from publishing to head an expedition to Baffin Land under the sponsorship of the American Museum of Natural History. Upon his return he met Amelia, whom he calls A.E. And although she was reported engaged to practically every unmarried man in the land, he was the one to lead her to the altar. He gets quite a kick out of being Mr. Amelia. Even refers to himself as the Forgotten Husband. Thus, one time when Amelia gave a party for the Ninety-Nine Club, composed of women flyers, he went out and rounded up the husbands of the airgirls. Around another festive board he organized the Forty-Nine-Point-Five Club, the association of lesser halves.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1950, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — A top British atomic scientist who was trusted with some of America’s biggest A-bomb secrets was charged today with giving unidentified agents information ‘useful to an enemy.’ Unofficial sources indicated the information went to Russia. The scientist, German-born Dr. Klaus Emil Julius Fuchs, 38, was arrested by Scotland Yard agents yesterday on a tip from American FBI agents investigating Russian espionage. He was accused specifically of giving ‘information relating to atomic research’ to an unknown person in the United States in February 1945, and to an unknown person at an unspecified place ‘on a day in 1947.’ Arraigned in Bow St. Police Court, Fuchs was ordered held until Friday for a hearing to determine whether he should be tried. Only last July he was appointed senior principal scientific officer to the British Ministry of Supply. He has been working at the great Harwell atomic research center, the biggest atomic center in Europe. Its huge cyclotron was recently put through its first tests.”

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Morgan Fairchild
Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Pro Football Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton, who was born in 1940; “Brighton Beach Memoirs” star Blythe Danner, who was born in 1943; Pro Football Hall of Famer Bob Griese, who was born in 1945; “Flamingo Road” star Morgan Fairchild, who was born in 1950; former major league outfielder Fred Lynn, who was born in 1952; “The Birdcage” star Nathan Lane, who was born in 1956; “ER” star Maura Tierney, who was born in 1965; World Golf Hall of Famer Retief Goosen, who was born in 1969; “Willow” star Warwick Davis, who was born in 1970; “The Great Gatsby” star Isla Fisher, who was born in 1976; “Despacito” singer Daddy Yankee, who was born in 1977; former N.Y. Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, who was born in 1986; and “Beautiful Girls” singer Sean Kingston, who was born in 1990.