Today in history

Today is Sunday, June 7, the 158th day of 2009. There are 207 days left in the year. On this day in 1909, “The Violin Maker of Cremona,” a short film directed by D.W. Griffith and featuring Mary Pickford in her first notable screen role, is released. In London; actress Jessica Tandy is born.

In 1769, frontiersman Daniel Boone first begins to explore present-day Kentucky. In 1776, Richard Henry Lee of Virginia proposes to the Continental Congress a resolution calling for American independence from Britain. In 1929, the sovereign state of Vatican City comes into existence as copies of the Lateran Treaty are exchanged in Rome. In 1939, King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, arrive at Niagara Falls, N.Y., from Canada on the first visit to the United States by a reigning British monarch. In 1948, the Communists complete their takeover of Czechoslovakia with the resignation of President Edvard Benes. In 1981, Israeli military planes destroy a nuclear power plant in Iraq, a facility the Israelis charge could have been used to make nuclear weapons.

June 7, 1984: The swimming pool in Waddell Park, built during the Works Progress Administration, is closed for the first summer in 52 years. The city can’t afford to repair and maintain it.

Some $100,000 in federal jobs bill money is approved for use to pay Youngstown police wages after a two-month review by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Public opposition causes Niles city officials to abandon plans for gas and oil wells in Stevens Park and Niles Union Cemetery.

June 7, 1969: The 1969 graduating class at South High School unveils an illuminated sign erected in front of the school from proceeds of a variety show held during the winter and from class dues.

Al Wagner, widely known Youngstown auto dealer, is retiring from the new automobile business, selling his headquarters building at 3121 Market St. to William Stackhouse, head of Stackhouse Oldsmobile. Wagner’s agreement as a Chrysler-Plymouth-Imperial dealer expires in November; Chrysler says a new local dealership will be named and will open in a building under construction in Austintown.

An agreement in principle is announced by which Republic Corp. of Beverly Hills, Calif., will acquire the Niles Expanded Metals Co. on N. Prospect Street.

June 7, 1959: Some 1,600 safety patrol boys and girls from Youngstown and county schools jam the Pennsylvania Railroad station for their annual baseball excursion to Cleveland. Some 200 adult chaperones accompany the youngsters.

Volunteers will sell peanuts and conduct a house-to-house canvass in Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties to raise $30,000 for multiple sclerosis.

Jim Bickerstaff of Mineral Ridge captures his fourth feature race and Dan Mast his third of the season before a stock car racing crowd of 3,650 at the Canfield Speedway.

June 7, 1934: It may have been the heat, or that Warren is on its best behavior, but for the second time in 20 years, the doors to the jail are open. The city has no prisoners.

“We must not allow this depression to leave scars on our youngsters,” John McSweeney, state welfare director, tells Rotarians from four counties meeting in the Hotel Ohio. Children, especially crippled children, must be properly cared for, he says. Charles Owsley, first president of the Rotary club, introduced McSweeney.