
January 21: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY IN 1875, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Philip Quigley and others of Wilmington, Del., have contracted to build Machinery Hall, in the Centennial buildings at Philadelphia, for $575,000. The annual report of Director General [Alfred T.] Goshorn, to be filed today, states that the enterprise is moving forward encouragingly; the building will be entirely completed by February 1, 1876, and the success of the Exhibition is guaranteed without the aid of Congress, though an appropriation not exceeding $100,000 for premiums to exhibitors will be asked for.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1890, the Eagle reported, “In New York last night occurred the fifteenth annual dinner of the Society of California Pioneers of the Men of ’49. About fifty of the members and guests met for that purpose at Morello’s in West Twenty-ninth street, and among the Brooklynites present were ex-United States District Attorney Mark D. Wilber, the president of the association, just elected for a second term, who presided at the banquet and made a thoughtful address; Mr. James McCloskey, the dramatist; ex-Senator Demas Strong, the vice president of the Pioneers; Mr. St. Clair McKelway, the guest of the association, who spoke upon the press, with discursive reference to the place of California in political and economic history, and Mr. R. U. Johnson, one of the editors of the Century, who also delivered an interesting series of remarks. The principal speech of the evening was made by General Sherman, whose reception was enthusiastic and affectionate, and whose recollections as a soldier in California from 1843 to 1851 were graphic, interesting and humorous as well as philosophic in marked degree. Greetings were received from kindred societies in Baltimore, Chicago, Boston and San Francisco.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1902, the Eagle reported, “Congress has been called on to furnish the War Department with funds for carrying out a scheme for the fortification of the island of Guam. Three hundred and seven thousand dollars are needed to put this isolated spot in a state of defense. Of this sum $142,000 will be needed for the construction of seacoast batteries, $40,000 for the purchase of sites, and the balance of $125,000 for torpedo defense, including the construction of mining casements, cable galleries, storehouses, etc. It is pointed out that it is particularly important that Guam should be fortified, especially the harbor of San Luis d’ Apra, which will be a relay station on the projected Pacific submarine cable. The same reasons are offered for urging the prompt appropriation of $526,000 for the defense of Hawaii. Separate army boards have submitted plans for the defense of these two possessions of the United States.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1939, the Eagle reported, “Dedicated to the interests and good fellowship of Canadians in the United States, the Dominion Club has been formed in Brooklyn. All Canadians, Americans who have at any time served with the Canadian Army, or any person married to a Canadian is eligible for membership. The club’s first social affair, an informal dinner-dance, will be held at the Hotel Victoria, Manhattan, on Saturday. The affair is a ‘get-together’ for members, friends and prospective members.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, “The number of American workers in the Panama Canal Zone, with a big program of construction and rebuilding work ahead of them, has increased from 14,000 to 20,000 in less than a year, Brig. Gen. Clarence S. Ridley, Governor of the zone, reported yesterday upon his arrival here. General Ridley was a passenger on the Panama-Pacific liner Panama, which docked at the foot of W. 25th St., Manhattan. He left immediately for Washington to report to the Secretary of War. He said he expected that work would start by Spring on a new set of locks which have been approved by Congress. While the present locks are adequate for commercial traffic, he pointed out, the new ones are designed to permit passage of U.S. naval vessels. The Canal Zone Governor also reported that Army officers there were speeding up work on the emergency Canal Zone program, for which $53,000,000 was voted by Congress. This includes strengthening the coastal batteries, installing anti-aircraft artillery, improving communication facilities and enlarging residential quarters.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON (UP) ― Attorney General-designate Herbert Brownell Jr. conferred with President Eisenhower for 70 minutes today, obviously on the Senate fight over Charles E. Wilson’s appointment to be Secretary of Defense. Brownell, who is studying the legal questions involved in the Wilson appointment, was Mr. Eisenhower’s first official caller since he took office in the new administration. After the conference, Brownell slipped out of the White House through the east wing, avoiding newsmen in the lobby. Before leaving the White House, Brownell conferred with Maj. Gen. Wilton B. Persons, President Eisenhower’s legislative liaison officer ― another indication the Eisenhower-Brownell conference was concerned with Wilson. Brownell entered the White House at 7:55 a.m. Asked if he would discuss with Mr. Eisenhower the Senate fight over confirmation of Wilson, Brownell said: ‘I am not going to make any statement about that.’ He added that he would discuss ‘business matters’ with the new Chief Executive.”
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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “Attorney Bill Shea is delighted they’re naming New York’s new Flushing Meadows Stadium in his honor but he’s mighty unhappy about the park’s chief tenant ― the New York Mets. ‘The National League didn’t do right by New York fans,’ says Shea. ‘We should have been given an established team or, at the worst, far better players.’ Shea’s marathon efforts in behalf of New York’s Mayor Wagner did more to force expansion of baseball’s two major leagues from 8 to 10 clubs than anything else. And for that the city’s new arena in Flushing Meadows henceforth will be known as ‘Shea Stadium.’ ‘It’s a great honor,’ he admits. ‘I was thrilled by it but my son quickly brought me back to earth. He reminded me that ― and a ticket ― will get me into the ballpark.’ Shea got into the act shortly after the Dodgers fled Brooklyn and the Giants deserted New York in the fall of 1957 for the more fertile fields of California. The loss of those two National League teams prompted the Mayor to set up a committee ‘to bring National League baseball back to New York.’ Shea headed the committee. For three solid years, he sacrificed a part of his law practice to do the job.”
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Eric Christian Smith/AP

Evan Agostini/Invision/AP
NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus, who was born in 1940; “L.A. Law” star Jill Eikenberry, who was born in 1947; “Caribbean Queen” singer Billy Ocean, who was born in 1950; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, who was born in 1951; painter and sculptor Jeff Koons, who was born in 1955; “Ice Castles” star Robby Benson, who was born in 1956; Oscar-winning actress Geena Davis, who was born in 1956; Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, who was born in 1963; “NYPD Blue” star Charlotte Ross, who was born in 1968; “Lost” star Ken Leung, who was born in 1970; “Paranormal Activity” director Oren Peli, who was born in 1970; singer-songwriter Cat Power, who was born in 1972; decathlete and Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton, who was born in 1988; and “Baywatch” star Kelly Rohrbach, who was born in 1990.

Jay LaPrete/AP
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GRAND DESIGNS: Christian Dior was born on this day in 1905. The influential French fashion designer was the world’s premier style maker after World War II. He was also one of the first designers to utilize licensing to help create his own brand. He died in 1957.
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UP TO SPEED: The supersonic Concorde airplane was put into service by Britain and France on this day in 1976. It was taken out of service on Oct. 24, 2003, bringing an end to supersonic air travel.
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Special thanks to “Chase’s Calendar of Events” and Brooklyn Public Library.
Quotable:
“Don’t be too proud to take lessons. I’m not.”
— World Golf Hall of Famer Jack Nicklaus, who was born on this day in 1940
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