December 15: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

December 15, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1934, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Under the foundations of the house in which Grace Budd was choked to death and her body dismembered, workmen began digging today for evidences of any ‘other murders’ that might have been committed by the elderly Albert Howard Fish. On orders of Dr. Amos O. Squire, Westchester medical examiner, they ripped up the basement floor of the deserted house in Greenburgh in which, Fish had confessed, he committed the crime, and started a careful, thorough search of the earth. A man like Fish, who had committed a murder like that of 10-year-old Grace Budd, said the medical examiner, ‘would be apt to commit other murders.’ Though Fish, under close guard in the Tombs Prison, Manhattan, had specifically denied any connection with the kidnaping and slaying of Mary Helen O’Connor, or any other kidnaping or killing except that of Grace Budd, Dr. Squire was not ready to believe him. ‘It seems strange to me,’ he said, ‘that when I casually lifted a board in the basement I found a bone.’ That bone, about ten inches long, ‘may be the bone of an animal,’ the medical examiner conceded, but he thought it unlikely that anyone would hide an animal’s bone so carefully. In any event, he would make certain, by a methodical search, what other evidence might be found there that would indicate the commission of other murders. The ground in the vicinity of the murder house was also being carefully dug up and searched with the same purpose.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1942, the Eagle reported, “BEIRUT, SYRIA (U.P.) ― American support of Syrian-Lebanese independence after the war in exchange for continued Arab backing of the United Nations war effort was pledged today by George Wadsworth, United States diplomatic representative in the Near East.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “Dr. George B. Hoadley, in charge of the instructional microwave laboratory at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, told the 597th meeting of the New York Electrical Society last night in the Engineering Auditorium, 29 W. 39th St., Manhattan, that nationwide television hookups through microwave radio stations 20 to 100 miles apart will operate in the postwar period. ‘With the great impetus the war has given electronics and the tremendous still secret advances which have been made, the succession of booster stations long envisioned by scientists is now practical,’ Dr. Hoadley said.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “It’s definitely settled ― those Brooklyn Dodgers WILL play basketball on the stage of the Brooklyn Paramount starting Monday night. Of course, the team composed of Gil Hodges, Ralph Branca, Eddie Miksis, Rex Barney and Don Newcombe won’t be known as the Brooklyn Dodgers. They’ll be the Brooklyn All-Stars, and they’ll play a series of six games on the Paramount’s huge 89-foot stage on consecutive Monday nights at 8:45. The basketball games will be played in addition to the regular double-feature screen show at no advance in prices. All this and popcorn, too.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1954, the Eagle reported, “‘Safe Driving Day’ dawned today ― during which President Eisenhower asked the nation for a day free of traffic accidents ― and Brooklyn came through with flying colors ― so far. Up to 8 a.m. today, police reported, there were only two minor Borough accidents. Two persons were slightly injured in one of them, and no one was hurt in the other. The day climaxed a dramatic attempt by public and private agents to reduce traffic fatalities in a nation where there is an accidental death every 14 minutes. One year ago today 60 persons died in traffic accidents.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1961, the Brooklyn Record reported, “Council President Abe Stark will take the oath as the new Borough President of Brooklyn on Monday, December 18, 2:30 p.m., at the Appellate Division Courthouse, Monroe Place. Appellate Division Justice Henry L. Ughetta and Supreme Court Justice Walter R. Hart will administer the oath as Borough President to Mr. Stark. Both jurists are close personal friends of the newly elected Borough President. The swearing-in ceremonies will be private, and will be attended by Mr. Stark’s family. There will be no public induction. Last November 7, Mr. Stark was elected to a four-year term as Borough President, succeeding the late John Cashmore. For the past eight years he has served as President of the City Council.”

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Garrett Wang
Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include former Supremes member Cindy Birdsong, who was born in 1939; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Clark, who was born in 1939; Baseball Hall of Famer Jim Leyland, who was born in 1944; drumming legend Carmine Appice, who was born in Brooklyn in 1946; former N.Y. Mets manager Art Howe, who was born in 1946; “Miami Vice” star Don Johnson, who was born in 1949; Fuzztones singer Rudi Protrudi, who was born in 1952; theater and film director Julie Taymor, who was born in 1952; “Supergirl” star Helen Slater, who was born in 1963; former N.Y. Knicks player David Wingate, who was born in 1963; “Star Trek: Voyager” star Garrett Wang, who was born in 1968; “Stargate SG-1” star Michael Shanks, who was born in 1970; “The O.C.” star Adam Brody, who was born in 1979; “Downton Abbey” star Michelle Dockery, who was born in 1981; and N.Y. Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was born in 2000.

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LAW OF THE LAND: The first 10 amendments to the Constitution — known as the Bill of Rights — became effective on this day in 1791 following ratification by Virginia. The anniversary of ratification and effect is observed as Bill of Rights Day.

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POP THE CORK: The 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution became effective on this day in 1933. It repealed the 18th Amendment, which instituted a nationwide prohibition on alcohol beginning in 1919. It’s the only amendment that repeals another.

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

Quotable:

“My formula for success is rise early, work late, and strike oil.”

— industrialist J. Paul Getty, who was born on this day in 1892