Years Ago

Today is Saturday, Dec. 19, the 353rd day of 2009. There are 12 days left in the year. On this date in 1777, Gen. George Washington leads his army of about 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa., to camp for the winter.

In 1907, 239 workers die in a coal mine explosion in Jacobs Creek, Pa. In 1946, war breaks out in Indochina as troops under Ho Chi Minh launch widespread attacks against the French. In 1957, Meredith Willson’s musical play “The Music Man” opens on Broadway. In 1972, Apollo 17 splashes down in the Pacific, winding up the Apollo program of manned lunar landings. In 1974, Nelson A. Rockefeller is sworn in as the 41st vice president of the United States. In 1984, a fire at the Wilberg Mine near Orangeville, Utah, kills 27 people. Britain and China sign an accord returning Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty on July 1, 1997. In 1998, President Bill Clinton is impeached by the Republican-controlled House for perjury and obstruction of justice (he is later acquitted by the Senate).

December 19, 1984: The LTV Steel Co. is debating between closing welded pipe operations in Youngstown or Aliquippa, Pa..

The Mahoning Valley Economic Development Corp. moves forward with acceptance of 100 acres of land in Warren to form Warren Commerce Park.

Youngstown Mayor Patrick J. Ungaro says a federal courthouse will be built in Youngstown despite budget cuts by the Reagan administration.

President Reagan proposes a $28 billion reduction in his defense buildup over three years, far less than needed to meet his goal of cutting the overall federal deficit in half by 1988.

December 19, 1969: The Springfield Local Education Association continues its boycott of public schools, spurning an offer of meeting with two members of the board of education. The education association is seeking a $400 annual cost-of-living raise.

Officers of the Mahoning County Medical Society are elected at the Mural Room, with Dr. John Stotler named president-elect.

Thieves steal a completely decorated live Christmas tree from the lobby of North Side Hospital and a nine-piece plastic manger set from the yard of James Jones, 1535 Shehy St.

Mahoning County, Boardman Township and Mill Creek Park officials will meet at the courthouse to discuss the pollution of park waters.

December 19, 1959: Three strangers who loitered around the Fireside Cafe at 27 N. Meridian Road after closing time stage a $210 robbery. Youngstown police arrest three New Castle men as suspects two hours later.

Special Christmas chapel services are held at St. Joseph Church and St. John’s Episcopal Church for students and faculty of Youngstown University.

A Trumbull County man who resembles the Union National Bank bandit takes an intensive lie detector test at Youngstown police headquarters and is released after the results were negative.

December 19, 1934: Bethlehem Steel Corp., which once sought a merger with Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co., has apparently abandoned plans to grow by merger and will build a $10 million new plant near Buffalo.

Advertisement: Cowboy and Indian costumes for under the tree of good little boys, $1.95. Include hats, tomahawks, guns, etc., at McKelvey’s .

Staffs of downtown Youngstown stores have been augmented by hundreds of temporary clerks, wrappers and delivery men as Christmas sales increase over 1933.

Radio stars Gene and Glenn raise $2,526 for Youngstown’s needy in the second annual Christmas community broadcast from Radio Station WKBN.