March 9: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

March 9, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1858, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The drill of the first company of the National Guard Battalion, under command of Capt. Fowler, took place at Gothic Hall last evening. Although the first time that the men were formally drilled, they evinced a thoroughness of discipline highly commendable, and which will show to advantage at any future parade. The National Guard have the reputation of being a superior military organization so far as precision in all that pertains to the art of war is concerned, and from the manner in which the company deported themselves last night there can be no doubt that their enviable reputation will be maintained hereafter in the public streets as well as in the drill room. The Battalion is under the command of Major Sprague, one of the most thorough disciplinarians in the country.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1874, the Eagle reported, “Last night, at ten minutes past eleven o’clock, Millard Fillmore died, at his residence, in Buffalo. Millard Fillmore discharged the duties of the Presidency of the United States for the two years and eight months of official time unexpired at the death of Zachary Taylor. During his lifetime, Fillmore filled a variety of executive and legislative offices. He was a member of our State Assembly in 1829. He became a member of Congress in 1832, and again in 1836, and again in 1840. He was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee of the Twenty-seventh Congress. In 1847 he was Controller of the State of New York, and in 1848 he was elected Vice President of the United States and, as already stated, became President.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1905, the Eagle said, “The new subway station leading to the Brooklyn Bridge direct was used by 1,800 people the first three hours, according to an official statement; but the number of these persons who reached home alive is not given. That is a serious omission.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “OYSTER BAY, L.I. — Colonel Roosevelt had a day off from jury duty today, there being no session of the court at Mineola on Saturday. He said he thought it likely that he would go to the courthouse every day next week, for he has no idea when his period of service will end. He may be drafted at any time. The Colonel expects no visitors at Sagamore Hill today. He will remain home all day.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Eagle reported, “A fairly large audience thoroughly enjoyed the show at the Bushwick Theater last night, for there was much to entertain, and good variety withal. The Four Marx Brothers top the bill, with their support of ten competent persons, not counting an efficient personal carpenter, who looks out for the rather elaborate stage settings. The Marxes are clever, and in their individual specialties make lots of fun and provide amusement that is not a bit offensive or objectionable. One of them plays the harp skillfully, all of them sing, and there is a cheery heartiness about their work that makes their act pleasing.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1930, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON, MARCH 8 — William Howard Taft, former president of the United States and former Chief Justice of the nation, died at 5:15 o’clock this afternoon following a sudden relapse. As former commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the United States, Mr. Taft will be interred in Arlington Cemetery … Mr. Taft made a record which no other man has accomplished. He occupied the two highest offices in the government … His character, his kindliness, his good humor, his unfaltering tolerance and his unswerving integrity evoked for him a degree of goodwill and affection which the American people have seldom shown to one of their public servants. The interment at Arlington will be at the request of the Taft family. The decision was felt here to be altogether appropriate. Mr. Taft spent most of his mature life in Washington. He came here first in 1891. Here he experienced his moments of triumph and his hours of defeat. It is considered fitting that he should lie on the hills overlooking the Capital of the Nation which he served so well.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “STOCKHOLM (AP) — Negotiations toward a Russian-Finnish peace appeared today to have shifted to Moscow, with Sweden’s role in the matter more or less finished. Attention was centered on the whereabouts of Dr. Juhu Justi Paasikivi, Finnish negotiator who was reported to have left Stockholm and was believed already in Berlin, en route to Moscow. Paasikivi led the Finnish delegation which unsuccessfully negotiated in Moscow before the war began last Nov. 30. The United Press reported intense diplomatic activity in Moscow. Numerous embassies and legations established contact with the American Embassy in connection with a two-hour talk which American Ambassador Laurence A. Steinhardt had yesterday with Foreign Commissar Molotov. Contact also was established by foreign envoys, with the Swedish legation, Steinhardt also having talked to Swedish Minister P.V.G. Assarsson. There were rumors that Riga, Latvia, might be the center of final negotiations, and that a Finnish delegation was en route there to meet Soviet representatives. These reports developed as efforts to settle the undeclared war in Finland drew speedily toward a climactic stage with the probable outcome still shrouded by indecision and official secrecy.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “Dr. F.D. Patterson declared today that nearly half of all Negro college students attend the 27 private universities which are represented in the United Negro College Fund. Dr. Patterson, who is president of Tuskegee University, told a meeting of the United Negro College Fund campaign at the Waldorf-Astoria that ‘the time has come when we must cease to think of racial or regional standards in education.’ He said Negro universities and institutions did not like to take ‘advantage of a period of unrest’ but stressed the need for raising $1,500,000 for distribution to the 27 sharing colleges by May.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Pretty Suzanne Pleshette, whose dad was the last manager of the departed Brooklyn Paramount Theatre, was named the most promising actress of the year by Photoplay Magazine.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “The Bad News Bears” star Joyce Van Patten, who was born in 1934; “On the Wings of Love” singer Jeffrey Osborne, who was born in 1948; “Men in Black” star Linda Fiorentino, who was born in 1958; former N.Y. Knicks player and coach Darrell Walker, who was born in 1961; Oscar-winning actress Juliette Binoche, who was born in 1964; lawyer and journalist Kimberly Guilfoyle, who was born in 1969; “Webster” star Emmanuel Lewis, who was born in 1971; N.Y. Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who was born in 1973; “Criminal Minds” star Matthew Gray Gubler, who was born in 1980; skier and Olympic gold medalist Julia Mancuso, who was born in 1984; “Pitch Perfect” star Brittany Snow, who was born in 1986; and “Good Trouble” star Cierra Ramirez, who was born in 1995.