August 16: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

August 16, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

Share this:

ON THIS DAY IN 1899, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “ALBANY ― The Automobile Club of America, with principal offices in Manhattan, was incorporated today by the Secretary of State. It purposes to maintain a social club devoted to the sport of automobilism and its development throughout the country. The club will arrange for pleasure runs, and encourage road contests of all kinds among the owners of automobiles.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Eagle reported, “A new issue of United States postage stamps and one which should become very precious because of its limited availability is now on display and on sale at the book department of the Abraham & Straus store on Fulton st. The issue comprises the 2 cent and 5 cent stamps of the current issue, surcharged with black ink Hawaii 1778-1928, and the issue commemorates the 150th anniversary of the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands by Captain Cook. This issue of stamps is not for general distribution in the United States.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1931, the Eagle reported, “It was befitting the conventionalities that a member of the Whitney family should garner the honors in the race for the Whitney Stakes, worth $8,650; a tribute of respect to the late W.C. Whitney. Mrs. Helen Hay Whitney, daughter-in-law of the one time secretary of the Navy, was warmly congratulated by the crowd and President Bull, when her three-year-old colt St. Brideaux, 3 to 5 favorite, defeated J.E. Widener’s Curate by a head, with the Whitney Stables’ Blenheim a distant third. It was a cutthroat battle every stride of the mile and a quarter course by St. Brideaux and Curate. They raced side by side all the way, and in a ding dong finish, St. Brideaux poked his head in front. Mrs. Joan Whitney Payson, daughter of Mrs. Whitney, received the trophy from President Bull and brought it to her mother, who sat in the clubhouse.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1946, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) ― British Government circles today regarded the federation plan for Palestine as dead and informed sources said the Cabinet was ready to submit the problem to the United Nations. Whitehall sources said British leaders feel the United States has failed to accept a legitimate share of the responsibility on an issue which has assumed world proportions. They said Britain no longer was able to handle the issue alone. The British comments followed receipt of President Truman’s reply to the Anglo-American experts’ proposals for partition of Palestine into four zones under British control. Government sources said the plan was doomed. They pointed out that Britain had agreed to accept it only ‘as a basis for discussion.’ ‘But apparently there is no one to discuss it with,’ one British Government source said. ‘The Arabs and Jews won’t even talk about it and apparently in the United States it is considered too hot a potato for the Administration’s tender fingers.’ The British hope for some measure of agreement in their approaching talks with Jewish and Arab leaders which will enable the United Nations to consider new ‘constructive suggestions for Palestine,’ the informant said. It did not appear, however, that Britain would go to the United Nations Assembly prepared to surrender her mandate over Palestine in the immediate future. Such a step would mean the yielding of military bases which the British now deem doubly essential for Suez Canal protection because of the proposed military evacuation of Egypt.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1948, the Eagle reported, “LONDON (U.P.) — Four Hungarian and Czechoslovakian Olympic swimmers who came to London to compete in the Olympic games refused to return to their Communist-dominated homelands today. The Sunday Dispatch said that other iron curtain athletes, including Yugoslavs and Poles, now live at a secret London address and predicted other applications to remain in Britain might be forthcoming from them. The British Broadcasting Company said a fifth athlete, a Hungarian, had announced his intention of remaining but later decided to return home.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “‘Sports Illustrated’ is a sensationally impressive new magazine, but it is competing for an elusive buck.”

***

Angela Bassett
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include “Mildred Pierce” star Ann Blyth, who was born in 1928; “Batman” star Julie Newmar, who was born in 1933; “Little House on the Prairie” star Ketty Lester, who was born in 1934; “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” star Bob Balaban, who was born in 1945; ballerina Suzanne Farrell, who was born in 1945; former U.S. Sen. Carol Moseley Braun, who was born in 1947; NRBQ co-founder Joey Spampinato, who was born in 1948; TV personality Kathie Lee Gifford, who was born in 1953; incoming Rock and Roll Hall of Famer James “J.T.” Taylor (Kool & the Gang), who was born in 1953; Oscar-winning filmmaker James Cameron, who was born in 1954; “ER” star Laura Innes, who was born in 1957; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Madonna, who was born in 1958; “Black Panther” star Angela Bassett, who was born in 1958; “The Office” star Steve Carell, who was born in 1962; NBA coach Candice Dupree, who was born in 1984; and swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Caeleb Dressel, who was born in 1996.

Caeleb Dressel
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

***

RUSH HOUR: Gold was discovered in the Klondike on this day in 1896. According to the oral tradition of the Tagish First Nations People, Skookum Jim, Dawson Charlie and George Carmack found gold in Rabbit Creek, a tributary of the Klondike River, lying “thick between the flaky slabs like cheese sandwiches.” This event, which led to the great Klondike Gold Rush, is celebrated in the Yukon each year as Discovery Day.

***

THE KING IS DEAD: Elvis Presley died on this day in 1977. The anniversary of the death of one of America’s most popular singers is an occasion for pilgrimages to Graceland, his home and gravesite in Memphis, Tenn.

***

Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

“I’m tough, I’m ambitious and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, OK.”

— Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Madonna, who was born on this day in 1958