May 11: ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

May 11, 2024 Brooklyn Eagle History

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ON THIS DAY IN 1847, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported, “THE NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN CRANBERRY STREET (late Dr. Cox’s) — Messrs. [Seth] Hunt, David Hale, and [Henry C.] Bowen have purchased the Cranberry street building for a congregational church. The house is to be opened by the new congregation next Sunday, and Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, from Indianapolis, Ia., is to preach morning and evening; he has a ‘call’ to be the regular pastor, and probably will be.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1886, the Eagle said, “A private letter from one of Miss [Frances] Folsom’s acquaintances in Paris to a friend in this country, mentions Thursday, the 19th of August next, as the day set for the wedding at the White House. Mrs. Grundy had appointed the leafy month of June for the ceremony, and she attributes the postponement to the President’s chagrin over the publicity given to his engagement. The old lady is probably wrong. Mr. Cleveland has too much sense to defer his wedding as a sacrifice to his resentment. But the interest which all the world takes in the lovers will undoubtedly find vent in the expression of some regret that the parties did not select a more romantic month than August for the nuptials.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1911, the Eagle reported, “The following circular has been sent out by the promoters of Mothers Day, the observance of which will occur next Sunday: ‘Mothers Day, the second Sunday in May, in honor of ‘The best mother who ever lived’ — your mother; badge, white carnation; observance, ‘Live this day as your mother would have you live it,’ and give happiness to her (or in her memory), through some special kindness, visit, gift or letter. Remember the unfortunate in hospital, home or prison with needed comfort, letter of cheer, or the ‘memory flower’ of the day. Mothers Day is so simple in observance and so universal in its appeal that it is possible for it to be observed by every creed, class, race and country. Men and nations may differ as to the fitness of many ‘honor days,’ but all will surely unite in a movement to exalt the home and motherhood in a way that adds to the integrity of domestic and national life.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “Mrs. Arthur J. Bowler was shocked and not a little alarmed when a V-mail letter arrived from her corporal husband in England, ‘Your letter was the first time I ever heard the expression D-day.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1944, the Eagle reported, “WASHINGTON — To the millions of American wives, mothers and sweethearts whose menfolk are poised in England for the mightiest battle in history, Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower recommends faith and confidence in the high command as invasion day approaches. It is this confidence in American might and skill, and this faith, that helps Mamie Eisenhower stand as perhaps the most poised woman in this tense wartime capital. Instead of worrying about the tide of impending battles, she proposes that those on the home front use their energies for the jobs at hand, keep themselves fit and leave the fighting to the warriors. ‘These men will need serene homes when the war is over,’ she said. ‘Worry will not contribute to that end.’ The most eloquent expression of faith that she has seen, she said, was shown by many army wives in San Antonio, Texas, whose husbands are imprisoned by the Japanese. ‘These women keep busy, knowing that stewing and fussing will only make everything more difficult,’ she said. ‘General Ike’ can be assured that slender Mrs. Ike is not worrying. Home after three months in San Antonio, she is reopening her apartment and establishing herself there for the invasion. Among the first things she did when she returned was to attend a special showing of news films about the general. ‘That was a real experience,’ she said. ‘He looked so fine and his voice sounded just like him. I got a great kick out of it.’”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1949, the Eagle reported, “BERLIN (U.P.) — The Berlin blockade, Russia’s supreme and futile maneuver in the cold war, crumbled away today as a land rush of Western traffic raced toward the city and the Soviets razed their barriers here. U.S. authorities sent their first train speeding for Berlin, and 16 others were waiting with steam up for the formal windup of the blockade at one minute after midnight (6:01 p.m. Brooklyn time). Hundreds of vehicles — automobiles, trucks, bicycles, horse-carts, wheelbarrows — massed along the highways and surged toward the zonal border. Berlin itself prepared for a historic celebration to mark its liberation from the 11 months of Soviet traffic shackles. The Russians blasted 60 traffic barriers along the Soviet sector border inside Berlin — iron and concrete monuments to the all-out effort short of war to oust the Western Powers from the former capital.”

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ON THIS DAY IN 1963, the Eagle reported, “The supersonic air-to-surface Hound Dog missile will be on display May 14 at the Borough Hall concourse, when Borough President Abe Stark dedicates the site as Air Force Plaza in a noon-hour ceremony. Carried under the wings of a B-52 intercontinental jet bomber, the Hound Dog can be released more than 500 miles from a target. They can be controlled in flight to confuse enemy radar by making feints at pseudo targets before streaking to their objective. Air Force technicians will answer spectators’ questions before trucking the nearly 75 foot long missile from Borough Hall to Union Square in New York City, where it will become part of an Armed Forces Week display.”

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Sabrina Carpenter
Evan Agostini/Invision/AP

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include fashion designer Valentino Garavani, who was born in 1932; Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Eric Burdon (The Animals), who was born in 1941; artificial heart developer Robert Jarvik, who was born in 1946; “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” star Tim Blake Nelson, who was born in 1964; baseball player Francisco Cordero, who was born in 1975; model and actress Laetitia Casta, who was born in 1978; Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart, who was born in 1983; former NFL wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who was born in 1988; Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who was born in 1989; former NBA forward Maurice Harkless, who was born in 1993; “Girl Meets World” star Sabrina Carpenter, who was born in 1999; and actress and voice artist Kaitlyn Dias, who was born in 1999.