Today is Thursday, Feb. 26, the 57th day of 2009. There are 308 days left in the year. On this date

February 26, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

Today is Thursday, Feb. 26, the 57th day of 2009. There are 308 days left in the year. On this date in 1870, an experimental air-driven subway, the Beach Pneumatic Transit, opens in New York City for public demonstrations. (The tunnel is only a block long, and the line has only one car.)

In 1815, Napoleon Bonaparte escapes from exile on the Island of Elba in Italy. In 1907, Congress creates the Dillingham Commission to examine the impact of immigrants on America. (The panel later recommends curtailing immigration from southern and eastern Europe.) In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson signs a measure establishing Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. In 1929, President Calvin Coolidge signs a measure establishing Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

February 26, 1984: The Youngs–town Civil Service Commission will send questionnaires to all city employees, asking where they and their families live in an attempt to determine the extent to which the city’s residency law is being violated.

U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams meets with members of Vice President George Bush’s staff, seeing support for construction of a federal courthouse in Youngstown. During a visit to Youngstown in 1983, Bush voiced support for the project.

Youngstown grocery stores are struggling to keep bottled water in stock as Mahoning Valley Sanitary District water continues to have a foul smell attributed to algae growth at the reservoir.

February 26, 1969: As the Youngstown Board of Education considers placing a 10-mill issue on the ballot, a group of senior citizens urges the board to seek a lower increase and the Youngstown Chamber of Commerce pledges its support for whatever the school board determines it needs.

General Motors Corp.’s two major Mahoning Valley facilities poured $133 million in wages into the Valley’s economy in 1968, GM reports. Included was $83 million to employees of Packard Electric and $50 million to employees at the Fisher Body-Chevrolet plant at Lordstown.

Striking Warren city employees say they will ignore an edict by Mayor Raymond E. Schryver that they return to work or consider their jobs forfeited.

February 26, 1959: The Atomic Energy Commission is wasting $58,000 in public funds by awarding a contact for a hydraulic extrusion press to a high bidder because of a technicality, the Lombard Corp. of Youngstown charges.

More than 200 employees of Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.’s Brier Hill Works walk off the job, demanding time to eat lunch.

Razing the First Presbyterian Church at Wick Avenue and Wood Street will begin in March, after the last service at the old church is held March 8.

February 26, 1934: Despite snowdrifts along the highways and swirling snow in the air, James Jones of Niles marks his 83rd birthday by walking from his Hyde Street home in Niles to the Trumbull County Courthouse in Warren and back. He makes the trip yearly to prove to himself and his family his fitness and completed this walk in 3 hours and 40 minutes, including a brief visit with his son, assistant county auditor Elmer Jones.

Fire damages the brownstone home of Mrs. A.E. Adams, widow of the former president of First National and Dollar banks, at Broadway and Fifth. Damage is estimated at $6,200.