Today in history

Today is Wednesday, June 10, the 161st day of 2009. There are 204 days left in the year. On this date in 1935, Alcoholics Anonymous is founded in Akron, Ohio.

In 1865, the Richard Wagner opera “Tristan und Isolde” premieres in Munich. In 1940, Italy declares war on France and Britain; Canada declares war on Italy. In 1942, the Gestapo massacre 173 male residents of Lidice, Czechoslovakia, in retaliation for the killing of a Nazi official. In 1964, the Senate votes to limit further debate on a proposed civil rights bill, shutting off a filibuster by Southern senators. In 1967, the Middle East War ends as Israel and Syria agree to observe a U.N.-mediated cease-fire. In 1978, Affirmed wins the Belmont Stakes and with it, horse racing’s Triple Crown. In 1982, the play “Torch Song Trilogy,” by Harvey Fierstein, opens on Broadway.

June 10, 1984: Mahoning County Democratic Party Chairman Don L. Hanni Jr. says that if Ohio is a barometer, Walter Mondale will defeat Gary Hart for the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

Gilbert Borom, captain of the dining room at the Youngstown Club, is retiring after 50 years service He started as a porter at the bleakest period of the Depression and the only time spent away from the six-day-a-week job was three years of service in the Army during World War II, fighting in Europe.

June 10, 1969: Penn Central Railroad will spend nearly $2 million within the next year to double the capacity of its Goodman Yards at Lordstown to service the General Motors auto-truck complex.

Congressman Frank T. Bow announces a new post office will be built in Canfield, replacing the one at 30 S. Broad St.

June 10, 1959: Three neighborhood dogs that bit and clawed Peter Taafe, 2 1 /2 years old, are being observed for signs of rabies and two of the dogs will be destroyed.

With the cooperation of police, Warren rackets figure Mike Farah is booked and posts bond in less than a minute on charges of assault in the beating of county Republican Chairman Jean Blair.

June 10, 1934: Ohio Secretary of State George Myers receives a referendum petition that would place an issue on the state ballot that would abolish all real estate taxes and provide for a gross income tax.

Reliable sources deny that Youngstown steel mills have purchased tear gas or riot equipment in preparation for a strike. Mills, however, do have stocks of tear gas bought in November when strikes broke out elsewhere.