ON THIS DAY IN 1876, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “PHILADELPHIA, PA. — Today being a legal holiday in this State, all the places of business in the city are closed, and bunting is displayed in profusion on all the thoroughfares, and tonight there will be a grand illumination. 10 A.M. — The gates of the Exhibition were promptly opened at 9 A.M. Since that hour there has been at all the different entrances a continuous jam. The clouds, which up to 7 A.M. had been very threatening, have now entirely disappeared, and the indications are that the day will be extremely hot. The Foreign Commissioners and other distinguished guests are being seated with very little confusion, their entrance being effected through the main exhibition building, which will remain closed to the general public until noon.; 10:25 A.M. — The ceremonies opened at precisely 10:15 A.M., the national airs of all nations being performed by the large orchestra. It is estimated that fifty thousand people are on the grounds and the populace is still pressing at all the various entrances. Every available spot in the neighborhood of the grand stand in front of Memorial Hall is occupied by the crowd, who are now impatiently awaiting the arrival of the President of the United States, who has just been escorted to the main entrance by the military. The sun is now shining brightly, and the mud in the streets and exhibition grounds is rapidly drying.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1912, the Eagle reported, “With President Taft as honorary president, governors as state vice presidents and leading Catholic and Protestant clergymen as advisers, the International Association of Mothers Day has become a mighty elevating force in our national civic and social life. The founder of Mothers Day, Miss Anna Jarvis of Philadelphia, has pushed the day to general successful recognition as it seeks to keep alive the memory of mother and the strengthening of the tie too often strained by long distances and years of separation. The anniversary of Mothers Day will be observed jointly by the Young Women’s Christian Association, Schermerhorn street, and the Young Men’s Christian Association in the Central Y.M.C.A. auditorium, on Sunday, May 12. The meeting, which begins at 3:45 p.m., will be addressed by Mrs. Kate Upton Clark, authoress and lecturer, and the Rev. Dr. L.L. Henson, pastor of the Hanson Place Baptist Church, each making appropriate remarks relative to the anniversary. The Y.W.C.A. Choral Society will furnish special music and Mrs. Anna Park Angell, cornetist, will play special numbers. An invitation has been extended by both associations to their friends to attend.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1917, the Eagle reported, “The ‘Lafayette Entrance’ is the name by which the entrance to Prospect Park at Prospect Park West and Ninth Street will be known hereafter. Park Commissioner Raymond V. Ingersoll today informed the Eagle that he was heartily in accord with the suggestion that the entrance be so made and that it will be referred to as the ‘Lafayette Entrance’ in all official communications from the Park Department hereafter. The suggestion that the name of the entrance be made a lasting memorial to the visit of the French Commissioners and the tablet unveiled by them today was made by Samuel F. Martin in a letter to the Eagle. The Eagle transmitted his suggestion to Commissioner Ingersoll.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1926, the Eagle reported, “An airplane at last has been flown to the North Pole and been brought back safely. The plane was handled by two Americans, both naval officers — Commander Richard E. Byrd and Chief Petty Officer Floyd Bennett, with the former in command. Dispatches from many sources indicate universal acceptance of Commander Byrd’s claim to having reached his goal and of having confirmed his position by careful scientific observations taken while the plane circled the spot several times. Due to heavy static in the far North, wireless transmission of a detailed report has been interrupted, but, according to the New York Times, the flying time was between 15 hours and 30 minutes and 15 hours and 51 minutes. No attempt to land was made, although Commander Byrd said that in the neighborhood of the Pole there were frequent stretches of

Bono. Photo: Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

apparently smooth ice. Obviously, it was the Commander’s sole intention to reach the spot, compare the observations he made with those compiled by Admiral Robert E. Peary, the Pole’s discoverer, and fly back. His initial statement contained full verification of the statements of Admiral Peary and thus America’s claim to ‘The Top of the World’ appears to be incontestably confirmed.”

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NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Basketball Hall of Famer Jim Calhoun, who was born in 1942; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Donovan, who was born in 1946; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bono (U2), who was born in 1960; supermodel Linda Evangelista, who was born in 1965; “Saturday Night Live” star Kenan Thompson, who was born in 1978; former N.Y. Knicks and Brooklyn Nets forward Wilson Chandler, who was born in 1987; “Prodigal Son” star Halston Sage, who was born in 1993; Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer Missy Franklin, who was

Missy Franklin. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

born in 1995; and Phoenix Suns point guard Tyus Jones, who was born in 1996.  

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DANCING DAYS: Fred Astaire was born on this day in 1899. The Nebraska native began dancing with his sister Adele and in the 1930s he partnered with Ginger Rogers. After his first Hollywood screen test, a producer said of him: “Can’t act. Slightly bald. Can dance a little.” Despite this, Astaire starred in more than 40 films, including “Holiday Inn,” “Silk Stockings” and “Easter Parade.” He died in 1987.

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Kenan Thompson. Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

GETTING IN TUNE: Maybelle Carter was born on this day in 1909. The guitar/banjo-playing Virginia native founded the Carter Family — the first country music stars in the U.S. The group combined influences of folk, bluegrass, rural country and gospel. Their hits include “Wabash Cannonball” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.” Carter died in 1978.

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

Quotable:

“We didn’t have any instruments, so I had to use my guitar.” — musician Maybelle Carter, who was born on this day in 1909.