September 3: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY IN 1902, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “LENOX, MASS. — A terrible accident overtook President [Theodore] Roosevelt’s coach, a short distance from Pittsfield, about 10 o’clock this morning. After a short visit to the home of ex-Senator Dawes, the president started on the long drive to Lenox. He had not gone far when an electric car ran into the coach, throwing everyone to the ground and badly damaging the vehicle. The president received a cut on the head, and Governor Crane was bruised. William Craig, the secret service man, was instantly killed. The president was able to resume his journey to Lenox but sent word ahead that there should be no cheering.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1918, the Eagle reported, “The businessmen of Coney Island today visited the bank after the biggest day Coney has seen this year. The police estimate that nearly 300,000 persons and 5,000 automobiles visited the nation’s playground yesterday. As early as 3 o’clock, walking on Surf Avenue was almost impossible because the crowd was so great. The beaches, too, were well occupied from the early morning until sundown. The oil, which for the past week has been raising havoc with the bathers, yesterday took a day off, and the bathhouse owners spread the news with unbounded joy … The island was in full glow last night — the last Monday night it will be that way until next season. The lighting was only made possible by agreeing to keep dark Friday.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “The Trump Construction Company, builders of more than 800 houses in Brooklyn during the past 30 months, will send their advertising boat out of Coney Island again today, despite the decision by Magistrate Francis Giaccone on Friday, deciding in favor of the city’s contention that a violation had been committed the last time the boat went out. Magistrate Giaccone fined George Reilly of 2918 Avenue P, owner of the boat chartered by the building firm, the sum of $100 on three counts: $50 for navigating a boat in the bathing area, $25 for advertising in the bathing area, and $25 for operating a loudspeaker in the bathing area. Assistant Corporation Counsel Ramsgate argued the case for the Park Department. William Butler of 32 Broadway, Manhattan, attorney for the Trump firm, contended that the Park Department had no authority to issue summonses in United States navigable waters, particularly in channels prescribed and marked by buoys. Fred C. Trump, head of the firm, announced yesterday that the case would be appealed and that the boat would go out again yesterday and today, leaving the dock in Gerritsen Beach at noon. He has invited newspapermen and Park Department officials, including Park Commissioner [Robert] Moses, to ride on the boat to assure themselves that it is sailing, as he claims it always has, well outside of the 1,000-foot limit in which the Park Department claims jurisdiction.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “New shows will be presented at all local RKO theaters today, except at the Kenmore and Dyker, where ‘They Drive By Night,’ the George Raft, Ann Sheridan, Ida Lupino, Humphrey Bogart starrer, and ‘Anne of Windy Poplars,’ with Anne Shirley, will continue through tomorrow. The new programs, which will play for two days only, beginning today, include ‘Murder in the Air,’ a drama of the United States Secret Service, with Ronald Reagan and Lya Lys in the leads, and ‘Scatterbrain,’ in which Judy Canova, the Jenny Lind of the Ozarks, plays a hillbilly girl who crashes Hollywood through error.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “MANILA, P.I. (U.P.) — Secretary of State John Foster Dulles arrived from the United States today and predicted the Southeast Asia Treaty Conference (SEATO) opening Monday would find a way to protect Southeast Asia against aggression. But a major controversy already has developed over how strong the anti-Communist alliance should be. Dulles’ arrival added new urgency to behind-the-scenes negotiations, which thus far have been unable to heal the major split between Asian and European delegates, threatening to wreck the meeting even before it begins. Participating Asian nations made it clear they want a strong military agreement patterned along the North Atlantic Treaty Organization line. Some Western nations favored quick ‘consultations’ instead of fast action in the case of new Communist aggression. Dulles will confer with Philippine officials to work out details on the most efficient manner of implementing the mutual defense treaty between the United States and the Philippines.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Al Jardine (The Beach Boys), who was born in 1942; “Superman” star Valerie Perrine, who was born in 1943; Grand Funk Railroad drummer Don Brewer, who was born in 1948; “The Sopranos” star Steve Schirripa, who was born in Brooklyn in 1957; “Seinfeld” writer Spike Feresten, who was born in 1964; 1995-96 NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire, who was born in 1973; “Bring It On” star Clare Kramer, who was born in 1974; former NFL defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was born in 1976; “Friday Night Lights” star Garrett Hedlund, who was born in 1984; snowboarder and Olympic gold medalist Shaun White, who was born in 1986; and model and actress Kaia Gerber, who was born in 2001.

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U.S.A., U.S.A., PART 1: The flag of the United States was flown in battle for the first time on this day in 1777, at Cooch’s Bridge, Delaware, during the American Revolution. The battle site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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U.S.A., U.S.A., PART 2: The U.S. and Britain signed the Treaty of Paris on this day in 1783, ending the American Revolution. American signatories included John Adams, Benjamin Franklin and John Jay.

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

Quotable:

“There’s no such thing as quality time; there’s only quantity time.”

— actor Steve Schirripa, who was born on this day in 1957