March 30: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

March 30, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1848, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “John Jacob Astor, long celebrated all over the world as the richest man in America, died yesterday morning a little after 9 o’clock, at his residence in New York. He was born in Waldrop, near Heidelberg, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, July 1763, and had consequently almost reached the great age of four score and five years. He came to this country in 1783, by the earnest request of a brother, a butcher, who had preceded him hither, and made such representations as finally prevailed. He was then poor, but soon began to mend his fortunes, and continued to grow rich until he became the richest man in the new world.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1915, the Eagle reported, “Tomorrow being the last day during which the income, corporation, war emergency and other taxes may be paid without the infliction by the Government of the prescribed penalties, five special agents are out in Brooklyn today with a long list of delinquents, who are to be arrested by direction of Collector of Internal Revenue Harry P. Keith. Though the list includes the names of a number of well-known Brooklyn business men, secrecy was maintained as to the identity of the delinquents. The penalty for nonpayment of the income tax is $20 on the $1,000 income earned, a year’s imprisonment or both. The total income tax collected in the Federal Building is approximated at upward of $3,000,000.

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “The hosiery business is reported improving generally, with the higher priced field expected to see a record demand this year. The introduction of Nylon on a commercial basis as a substitute for the cheaper grades of natural silk is expected to help the sales of branded hosiery.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Brooklyn Spectator reported, “Dawn services will be held on Easter Sunday in a number of Bay Ridge churches this year with special music, as usual, featuring all services. Especially impressive in these war-torn years are the worship services held in this land, where Freedom of Worship is one of the fundamental rights for which our men are fighting on far-flung battle fronts. According to its annual custom, the Spectator lists the special Easter services to be held in all local churches. These announcements will be found on pages eight and nine of this issue.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1951, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — Weather changes on earth may be caused by tremendous explosions 93,000,000 miles away on the face of the sun, the Smithsonian Institution said today. These explosions, known as solar flares, make the A-bomb look like a midget firecracker, hurling great masses of hydrogen gas thousands of miles into space at speeds up to 200 miles a second. Most of the incandescent material falls back into the sun as a flaming rain. But some of it, apparently, streams across the void to earth. Two days after a solar flare, the Smithsonian said, the earth’s atmospheric pressure is likely to go up in places, while at the same time it falls in other places.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1956, the Spectator reported, “On Good Friday, from 6 P.M. to midnight, three office buildings in the Wall Street area will depict the Crucifixion Scene. Crosses 150 feet high — formed by lighted windows — will tell the story of Christ and the Two Thieves on Calvary. The Williamsburg Bank Building in Brooklyn is also displaying a cross. The display was arranged by the Anchor Club of the Fire Dept.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1962, the Brooklyn Record reported, “It’s a baseball spring in New York, with two major league teams — the New York Yankees and the Mets — warming up for a hectic season. Sports fans swell the streams of tourists as the sports capital of the world dusts off its stadium seats. The fanfare and excitement are heightened this year by New Yorkers’ fond hopes for a ‘subway series’ — a World Series between the two home town teams. Casey Stengel’s new National League team, the Mets, will be the subject of much comment and controversy among sports fans and baseball writers this year. The Mets combine promising young rookies and stalwart veterans in a team to be reckoned with, even in its first season at the Polo Grounds. (First game in New York, April 13.) No introduction is necessary for the New York Yankees, swinging into their 39th season at Yankee Stadium. From the opener on April 10 to the suspenseful games in late August, these hard-driving champs have their eyes on the World Series.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “GENEVA (UPI) — The United States yesterday called for immediate action on setting up a direct ‘hot telephone’ link between Washington and Moscow to reduce the risk of accidental war. U.S. Ambassador Charles C. Stelle urged the Soviet Union to quit stalling at the 17-nation disarmament conference and to agree to technical discussions on the proposed direct line. Soviet delegate Semyon Tsarapkin ignored the invitation and instead attacked the United States for ‘openly arming counter-revolutionaries who are conducting forays against Cuba.’ He charged the West was ‘sharpening the threat of war daily’ by increasing military preparations in Europe. ‘The button which can trigger off a nuclear war is the point of attraction to many eager fingers,’ he said. He called again for a non-aggression treaty between the Communist Warsaw Pact and NATO. Tsarapkin made no reference to Stelle’s ‘hot line’ proposal. The establishment of direct and instant communication between the White House or the Pentagon and the Kremlin in Moscow is regarded here as one of the most important measures which could be taken to lessen the risk of war.”

***

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “The Addams Family” star John Astin, who was born in 1930; Oscar-winning director Warren Beatty, who was born in 1937; Basketball Hall of Famer and Olympic gold medalist Jerry Lucas, who was born in 1940; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Clapton, who was born in 1945; “Mad About You” star Paul Reiser, who was born in 1957; rapper and actor MC Hammer, who was born in 1962; “Fast Car” singer Tracy Chapman, who was born in 1964; “My Heart Will Go On” singer Celine Dion, who was born in 1968; “Riverdale” star Mark Consuelos, who was born in 1971; “Sunrise” singer Norah Jones, who was born in 1979; “Veronica Mars” star Jason Dohring, who was born in 1982; and Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale, who was born in 1989.