February 26: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

February 26, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1862, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — The streets are filled with soldiers, army wagons and supply trains, and from morn to night they are going in every direction. In some cases from twenty to fifty wagons can be counted together, wading through the mud to the depot in quest of supplies, while the arrival of new regiments or change of those already stationed here keeps the air filled with martial music. The news from the West inspires the men hereabouts encamped with a desire to have a share in the fray, and many are beginning to fear that the ‘fun,’ as they say, will be all over without their being permitted to take a ‘hand in;’ but to move at this moment is literally impossible, for it is as much as men there can do just now to drag themselves about, without loads in addition. The supply wagons are even in the streets of this city drawn by four or six horses, and then from seven to ten bales of hay at a time is about all they can get along with. The illumination last night was dispensed with here by request of the Cabinet, owing to the death of Willie Lincoln, and but few transparencies or mottoes were exhibited.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1877, the Eagle reported, “The Committee on Bartholdi’s statue of Liberty will give to the public this week the plan for raising funds for the pedestal. The subscription is to be national, all citizens being invited to give twenty-five cents each, although larger contributions will not be refused. The amount needed is $150,000. Committees for receiving funds have already been formed in Boston and other cities.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1922, the Eagle reported, “Health Commissioner Copeland gave out the cheering news that he sees the end of influenza in Greater New York, but added that he is still anxious about scarlet fever and measles, which are quite prevalent.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1923, the Eagle reported, “A gentle spring day clad in zephyrs and soft sunshine sneaked past Jack Frost and came to Brooklyn yesterday on the tail end of the coldest week of the winter. The results were amazing. Straw hats — at least a dozen of them — white flannels and a crowd of at least 100,000 supplanted the fur overcoats and barren exterior of the day before at Coney Island. Even ten individuals, by actual count, went in bathing, and about 100 more appeared on the beach and watched them, without going near the water. Coney Island, though, was tipped off that the visiting weather was coming around in spring togs, and got all ready to greet it. The boardwalk was clear of snow, and afforded ample opportunity for the promenaders to give an advance version of the season’s fashions. Bright colors — very bright — striped parasols and ankle-length dresses predominated, also sport canes, monocles, foot-and-a-half cigarette holders and pink spats were exhibited by the Island’s royalty.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1924, the Eagle reported, “MUNICH, BAVARIA (AP) — The sanguinary events of last November became again a topic of intense public interest today with the opening of the trial of former Field Marshal [Erich] Ludendorff and his nine associates for their parts in the attempt to overthrow the government. Aside from Ludendorff, the defendants are Adolph Hitler, leader of the Bavarian ‘Fascisti’; former Police Chief Poehner; Dr. Frich, ex-president of the Munich District; Lieut. Henry Purnet, who is Ludendorff’s stepson, and five men accused of being Hitler’s aides — Lieuts. Wagner and Bruecker, Capt. Roehm, Dr. Weber and Col. Kriebel. The Nationalist ‘putsch’ was extremely short lived. It started the night of Nov. 8, when Hitler at the head of his men raided a meeting attended by the Bavarian government leaders and proclaimed the Cabinet overthrown. Hitler named himself chancellor and Ludendorff dictator of the entire German Republic. The ‘putsch’ leaders were arrested the next day.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1924, the Eagle reported, “The International Business Machine Company, formerly the Computing Tabulating Recording Company, today increased its dividends from a $6 to an $8 basis. The stock moved up 3¼ points early, but then relapsed and fluctuated a little above yesterday’s close.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “Members of the U.S. Signal Corps, Army Special Forces, will have no formal ceremony to commemorate the eighty-second anniversary of the corps Saturday. Work ‘as usual’ is slated. Among the many functions the Signal Corps has acquired since its inception in 1863 are the training and directing of the army’s photographic and motion picture service, now the principal function of Army Pictorial Service. The organization has grown from early Civil War days from less than 100 officers and men to the size of the peacetime regular army.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “City department heads and Borough Presidents have submitted 1963-64 budget requests totaling $3,206,161,257, which represents an increase of $416,574,336 over the current fiscal budget. The allocation requests represent large additional appropriations for education, health and welfare. Education topped the list with requests of $83,480,519 over current expenditures to total $725,694,918. Requests for welfare spending were up a whopping $55,448,047 over the present budget to $354,373,930. Hospitals followed with a requested increase of $42,734,833. According to Budget Bureau officials, the increases are generally due to mandatory entitlements, salary adjustments required under the City’s career and salary plan, and to rising costs of equipment and materials. Brooklyn Borough President Abe Stark submitted a request for $832,702 to carry his staff of 122. This was $498,409 less than last year’s budget. The breakdown was given as $419,615 for executive management, $94,050 for administrative services and $319,037 for engineering operations. The Borough President’s budget request gave a sharp view of the meager functions remaining to his $35,000-a-year office since it was emasculated under Mayor [Robert] Wagner’s new City Charter. A paragraph at the top of the request defined the Borough President’s functions, which include serving on the Board of Estimate, the Site Selection Board and as chairman of the Borough Improvement Board. His other scant duties include maintenance of a topographical bureau and operation of the Canarsie Cemetery. He may hold public hearings and make recommendations to the Mayor and other city officials.”

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Corinne Bailey Rae
Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP

Marta Kristen
Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include actor and producer Bill Duke, who was born in 1943; businessman and activist Ronald Lauder, who was born in 1944; “Lost in Space” star Marta Kristen, who was born in 1945; musician Mitch Ryder, who was born in 1945; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Jonathan Cain (Journey), who was born in 1950; musician Michael Bolton, who was born in 1953; “Ally McBeal” star Greg Germann, who was born in 1958; astronaut Susan Helms, who was born in 1958; U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, who was born in 1958; “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” star Chase Masterson, who was born in 1963; singer-songwriter Erykah Badu, who was born in 1971; Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, who was born in 1973; singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae, who was born in 1979; and Olympic gold medal-winning skier Hannah Kearney, who was born in 1986.