History

May 8: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 8, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1898, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “The Metropolitan Museum of Art is open again after its regular spring cleaning, and has several new exhibits. A sleeping Venus, by Canova, in the classic fashion of that sculptor, has been presented to the museum by Amelia B. Lazarus, and a bust of General McClellan has been given by his widow.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Eagle reported, “The following first lieutenants, National Guard, recently promoted from second lieutenants, have been assigned to the 107th Infantry: John F. Greeney, Richard H. McIntyre and William S. Hawkins.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Eagle said, “Scientists are trying hard to invent something that will split the atom, and the savants’ success in inventing devices that split the eardrum makes it almost certain they will triumph in their latest enterprise.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1937, the Eagle reported, “FRENCH LICK, IND. (AP) — The vivacious, flaming-haired girl who once held a place symbolizing the flapper era on the motion picture screen will likely never meet the public eye from the films again. The girl, Clara Bow, one-time ‘it’ girl of the movies, but now a contented wife of a cowboy-actor-rancherman, and the mother of a 28 months’ old son, gave up her last chance to emerge from retirement by turning down a test for the role of Scarlett O’Hara in the film version of ‘Gone With the Wind.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (U.P.) — This is President Truman’s 61st birthday. The president planned nothing elaborate. Just ending the war with Germany, a worldwide radio broadcast and a dozen or so conferences with government leaders. In the late afternoon he will go over to his residential quarters in the White House and have a birthday dinner with his wife, daughter and some close friends. Maybe after dinner he will play a few favorite tunes on the piano. This was actually the president’s first full day in the White House. The Trumans moved into the redecorated White House late yesterday. He made one of the most historic broadcasts ever given by a president at 9 a.m., announcing the official end of the war with Germany.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, “GI sons and daughters may not be able to send Mother’s Day greetings Sunday, but they’ve wrapped up the most important present they can give — victory over Nazi Germany and a running start in the Pacific war. The mother of 1945 has helped make some of the sensational headlines crowding in on this Mother’s Day. If she’s not actively serving the war effort in a defense job, she’s rolling bandages several hours a day, selling bonds and stamps or serving with the C.D.V.O. or the A.W.V.S.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “Preoccupied with worries over the coal strike, fears of inflation, the growing disunity of the United Nations, the menace of the atomic bomb and the tragedy of the famine abroad, New Yorkers today are observing the first anniversary of VE-Day with little fanfare and not much rejoicing. A year ago today the nation was continuing the celebration set off by a premature report May 7, before the official announcement of the German surrender. Acting Mayor Vincent Impellitteri has asked citizens of New York to observe the day with prayer and thanksgiving, to ‘give thanks to Divine Providence and the men and women of our armed forces for preserving our democratic way of life.’ In the public schools, in accordance with the request of Superintendent of Schools John E. Wade, exercises were held in tribute to those who died to bring about victory. One thousand school children, selected to represent the 1,000,000 public and parochial school pupils of the city, participated in a World Friendship Day celebration in the auditorium of Hunter College. The Permanent Committee of Columbia University held a memorial rally in the McMillin Theater of Columbia as part of a nation-wide program in colleges and universities. As for veterans still nursing wounds, Sgt. Clarence Wingenfield, of 69-19 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village, in Halloran General Hospital, put it thus: ‘It will be mostly just another day out here. We won’t do anything special to celebrate. It’s the day the doctor sees us, that’s all.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “SANTO DOMINGO, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (UPI) — The internal situation remained so critical in Haiti that the United States ordered dependents of United States personnel there to leave the country today by chartered air lift. Private American citizens also were urged to leave. Officials said the move was being taken because of uncertainty concerning the maintenance of law and order in Haiti, which has been torn by internal dissension and faced with possible military action from the Dominican Republic. Units of the United States fleet in the Caribbean have been standing off the island for several days in the event it became necessary to pull out the estimated 1,000 Americans in Haiti.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Gravity’s Rainbow” author Thomas Pynchon, who was born in 1937; Grammy-winner Toni Tennille, who was born in 1940; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire), who was born in 1951; former N.Y. Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni, who was born in 1951; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Alex Van Halen, who was born in 1953; Pro Football Hall of Famer Bill Cowher, who was born in 1957; football coach Lovie Smith, who was born in 1958; Pro Football Hall of Famer Ronnie Lott, who was born in 1959; former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was born in 1961; “Little House on the Prairie” star Melissa Gilbert, who was born in 1964; “King of Latin Pop” Enrique Iglesias, who was born in 1975; four-time NBA All-Star Kemba Walker, who was born in 1990; and actress and model Olivia Culpo, who was born in 1992.