April 16: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

April 16, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Everybody who has had occasion to consider the matter even casually knows that the population of city suburbs is increasing rapidly. This statement is made without particularizing New York, because what is happening in this city is happening in every other city where congestion of the population has been going on. And the movement toward the suburbs, or even the adjoining towns and villages, becomes doubly interesting and significant when it is taken as an index of the extent to which the crowded portions of the city are being and will still further be relieved. The most conservative students of social problems seem to believe that in this movement may be seen the first steps toward the solution of this, the most vexing problem incident to the massing of population in the great cities. It is a solution which nature herself is offering, rather than one which is attributable to any particular reform idea. Just as the big buildings on Broadway are being squeezed up into the air by the pressure of the value of land, so will the people be squeezed out of the congested districts by the mere pressure which they bring to bear upon each other.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1941, the Eagle reported, “Summer, which arrived ahead of schedule yesterday, when the thermometer hovered in the low 80s, lingered on today, but the Weather Bureau predicted showers and cooler [temperatures] for tonight and tomorrow. Friday and Saturday, however, will be warmer again. The mercury climbed to 70 by noon today and was expected to go up to 78 before sundown. Record high for the date is 85 degrees, recorded in 1896, and the record low of 28 was recorded in 1928. Yesterday’s unseasonable heat, which reached a high of 83 degrees at 2 p.m., put a sweltering Summer flavor on the ball game crowds and sent several hundred sun bathers to the beaches. At Manhattan Beach 20 hardy souls even braved the icy water, which has not yet shed its Winter frigidity.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “U.N. HEADQUARTERS (U.P.) — The United States and Great Britain risked an even wider Big Three split today and stood pat with enough votes in the United Nations Security Council to defeat the Soviet demand for immediate abandonment of the Iranian case. Only Poland gave unequivocal support to Russia, although France was willing conditionally to remove Iran from the agenda. China expressed no views, but Australia, Brazil, Egypt, Mexico and the Netherlands lined up with the Anglo-American bloc. The final showdown may come when the Council meets today. Russia delivered the first blow to relations with Britain and America by accusing her wartime partners of acting in bad faith in the Iranian case. But American officials emphasized that the Russians chose to ignore the main issue — removal of Red Army troops from Iran. If both Iran and Russia could report today — or anytime before the May 6 deadline — that evacuation of Iranian territory was complete, the United States would be willing and happy to declare the Iranian case closed. But Russia has shown no inclination to do so and resents the Council’s insistence upon keeping a finger in Iran until the last Red Army soldier has left that country.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Weeb Ewbank, former coach of the Baltimore Colts, has been signed as coach and general manager of the New York team in the American Football League. The team formerly known as the Titans has been officially designated the New York Jets and will play its home games in the new Shea Stadium adjacent to the World’s Fair Grounds. These announcements were made yesterday by David A. (Sonny) Werblin, president of the Gotham Football Club, Inc., which owns the New York franchise. Gotham is comprised of a five-man group of sportsmen who paid more than $1,000,000 for the rights several weeks ago. The other owners are Philip H. Iselin, president of Korell Co., Leon Hess, president of Hess Oil and Chemical Co., Donald C. Lillis, partner in Bear Stearns & Co., and Townsend B. Martin, investment banker. Ewbank has signed a three-year contract, according to Mr. Werblin, who is also president of MCA-TV, Ltd. Of the last six of nine years under Mr. Ewbank’s aegis, the Colts won two National Football League Championships and never finished the season under .500. The site of the new stadium between New York’s two major airports, symbols of this speedy, modern age, influenced the selection of the new name ‘Jets.’ It reflects the spirit of these times and the eagerness of all concerned — players, coach and owners — to give New York another worthy team. The new team’s colors of green and white were chosen for much the same reasons, plus the fact that down through the ages green has always signified hope, freshness and high spirits. New York is also a green conscious town, from the dividing stripe down Fifth Avenue to the verdant hills and dales of Westchester to the beautifully landscaped parks and parkways of Long Island.”

***

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Roses are Red” singer Bobby Vinton, who was born in 1935; Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was born in 1947; former New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, who was born in 1952; “Futurama” star Billy West, who was born in 1952; “Sea of Love” star Ellen Barkin, who was born in 1954; Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who was born in 1955; Soul Asylum founder Dave Pirner, who was born in 1964; “Pretty in Pink” star Jon Cryer, who was born in 1965; “Bad Boys” star Martin Lawrence, who was born in 1965; U.S. poet laureate (2017-19) and former Brooklynite Tracy K. Smith, who was born in 1972; singer and record producer Akon, who was born in 1973; Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, who was born in 1976; “The Queen’s Gambit” star Anya Taylor-Joy, who was born in 1996; and “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink, who was born in 2002.