Today in history

Today is Friday, May 29, the 149th day of 2009. There are 216 days left in the year. On this date in 1953, Mount Everest is conquered as Edmund Hillary, of New Zealand, and Tensing Norgay, of Nepal, become the first climbers to reach the summit.

In 1765, Patrick Henry denounces the Stamp Act before Virginia’s House of Burgesses. In 1790, Rhode Island becomes the 13th original colony to ratify the U.S. Constitution. In 1848, Wisconsin becomes the 30th state of the union. In 1917, the 35th president of the United States, John F. Kennedy, is born in Brookline, Mass. In 1932, World War I veterans begin arriving in Washington to demand cash bonuses they aren’t scheduled to receive until 1945. In 1943, Norman Rockwell’s portrait of “Rosie the Riveter” appears on the cover of The Saturday Evening Post. In 1985, 39 people are killed at the European Champions Cup Final in Brussels, Belgium, when rioting breaks out and a wall separating British and Italian soccer fans collapses.

May 29, 1984: The Ohio House approves a $530 million capital improvements bill that includes $18.9 million for Youngstown State University and nearly $7.3 million for other Mahoning Valley projects.

Ten men and four women plead innocent in Youngstown Municipal Court to gambling charges filed by police after a large scale sweep of bars for electronic poker machines.

Members of Tippecanoe Country Club lay the cornerstone of the new clubhouse which is expected to be completed in September, replacing one destroyed by fire in March.

May 29, 1969: George Perrault Jr. of Salem is out as president of Sharon Steel Corp., apparently a result of his determined fight to prevent the “take-over” of Sharon by Victor Posner’s NVF Corp.

The Joseph Bucheit & Sons Co. of Youngstown is the apparent low bidder for construction of the proposed west wing of St. Elizabeth Hospital at $12.4 million. The W.B. Gibson Co. of Warren bid $12.5 million. The hospital board takes the bids under advisement since both exceed funds on hand for the project.

Diane Tallo of Masury wins the outstanding woman scholar award of Youngstown State University at the 10th annual honors and awards program in C.J. Strouss auditorium.

May 29, 1959: The coming end of trolley bus service in Youngstown will require some office buildings in downtown Youngstown to make renovations because Ohio Edison will discontinue direct-current service. Nine buildings, including City Hall, and the G.M. McKelvey Co. will have to convert their elevators to alternating current.

Nine members of the graduating class of Youngstown University are honored at the second annual Clarence Gould Society dinner, which recognizes outstanding students in liberal arts and sciences. They are Ann Hudak, Wilbur Zedaker, Leslie Domonkos Jr., Frank So, Charles Maas, Patricia Ann Muretic, Janice Georges, Mary Jean Hodor and Veronica Swider.

May 29, 1934: Youngstown City Council passes an ordinance that calls for the cessation of liquor sales in the city at midnight. The bill awaits Mayor Mark Moore’s signature.

The courthouse, city hall, business houses, the post office, public library and state liquor stores will close for the Memorial Day observance.