ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

ON THIS DAY IN 1900, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “Brooklyn is soon to have a new million dollar fort fashioned after the very latest military mode. Or rather Fort Hamilton is to be made over until it will be better than it was when new. In order to make room for this formidable fortification, all the old buildings which now occupy the site of Fort Hamilton, with the exception of those which have been erected since 1895, are to be torn down. Hills on the reservation are to be leveled and the earthworks are to be rearranged. The improvements have been contemplated for a long time. The original plans called for an expenditure of $500,000; but Representative Clayton of Brooklyn interested himself in the matter and, largely through his influence, the plans were enlarged so as to require an outlay of $1,000,000. The Board of Army officers was detailed to report upon the matter. Their report, though much delayed, is now about ready to be submitted. Representative Clayton hopes to get the appropriation through Congress at this session.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1925, the Eagle said, “Now that the ballyhooing is ended and the sporting world has moved back into the even tenor of its usual ways, the people who know and who are interested in hockey are today discussing the introduction of the professional game into New York last night. The fact that Tex Rickard’s team was beaten by a 3-1 score by the Canadiens of Montreal is of but passing interest. It is a long, long road to the end of the year and, as in any other sport, a game at the beginning of the season does not necessarily mean the losing of a championship. It is still too early to form any accurate opinion of the players that were seen in action last night. Or, to be more exact, it is too early for New York to pass any real judgment at the end of a single game.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Eagle said, “WASHINGTON, DEC. 15 — The Pan-American Conference on Conciliation and Arbitration, now in session in Washington, has for its broad object the pacific settlement of disputes in the Western Hemisphere. It is hoped to arrive at a general instrument which will afford practical expression in this region to the spirit of those great agreements for peace which have been negotiated during the past decade. The Conference is meeting under dramatic auspices. Two South American countries — Bolivia and Paraguay — are threatening war on account of one of those frontier incidents so provocative of hostilities in times past. The General Pact for the Renunciation of War — the joint conception of Messrs. Kellogg and Briand — is before the United States Senate for ratification. The President-elect of the United States is on a tour of South America, and the Council of the League of Nations is in session at Lugano, Switzerland. Dominating the scene at Washington, for the moment, is Charles Evans Hughes, one of the American representatives at the Pan-American Conference, with his splendid record in a similar position at Havana last winter an earnest of what he hopes to accomplish at the present meeting of American nations.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1928, the Eagle reported, “Brooklyn, which divides honors with Brazil in having the greatest number of unique communities within its boundaries, independent of the city as a whole in manners, customs and business, has recently developed a city within a city. It is Bush Terminal in South Brooklyn, where ships from every corner of the globe bring sandalwood, necklaces, mahogany logs, chicle for gum, rubber, chrome ore — every product, in fact, that enters into commerce. Thirty-five thousand people inhabit this city within a city. They work at receiving these goods from many lands, then at storing them, at manufacturing them into finished products and at distributing them again throughout the world.”

***

ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “Children all over Metropolitan New York have a special treat in store for them tomorrow, when 37 RKO neighborhood theaters will have ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ holiday shows, in addition to the regular two features. Sixty surprise Rudolph gifts will be waiting for 60 boys and girls in each theater, while every child will receive a free ‘Rudolph’ balloon. Among the gifts are such Rudolph items as books, scarves, tee shirts, Christmas tree ornaments, pins, ties, belts, suspenders, lingerie, schoolbags, rubber toys, games and the Columbia hit record ‘Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer.’ The special treat will be conducted in the 37 RKO Theaters during the first show. Special cartoons and comedies have been scheduled, including the Christmas story of Rudolph coming to the aid of Santa Claus in Technicolor.”

***

Krysten Ritter.
Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include actress and author Joyce Bulifant, who was born in 1937; “Face to Face” star Liv Ullmann, who was born in 1938; journalist Lesley Stahl, who was born in 1941; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Tony Hicks (The Hollies), who was born in 1945; “The Walking Dead” star Xander Berkeley, who was born in 1955; former N.Y. Giants center Bart Oates, who was born in 1958; former NFL tackle William “The Refrigerator” Perry, who was born in 1962; “Law & Order” star Benjamin Bratt, who was born in 1963; “Ford v Ferrari” director James Mangold, who was born in 1963; “Jessica Jones” star Krysten Ritter, who was born in 1981; former NY Giants defensive back Antrel Rolle, who was born in 1982; and “The Chronicles of Narnia” star Anna Popplewell, who was born in 1988.

Benjamin Bratt.
Photo: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

***

HARBORING A GRUDGE: On this day in 1773, the Sons of Liberty protested a new tax by boarding three British ships and dumping 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor.

***

THAT’S A FACT, JACK: “Dragnet” premiered on this day in 1951. The famous crime show stressed authenticity and its episodes were supposedly based on real cases. Jack Webb starred

Anna Popplewell.
Photo: Jon Furniss/Invision/AP

as the stoic Sgt. Joe Friday, who was determined to get “just the facts.” The show is also known for its theme music and a narrative epilogue describing the fate of the bad guys.

***

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

Quotable

“Selfishness must always be forgiven you know, because there is no hope of a cure.” — novelist Jane Austen, who was born on this day in 1775