Years Ago

Years Ago

Today is Sunday, Nov. 8, the 312th day of 2009. There are 53 days left in the year. On this date in 1859, philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson delivers a lecture in Boston in which he describes abolitionist John Brown, condemned for his raid on Harpers Ferry, Va., as “the new saint awaiting his martyrdom.”

In 1923, Adolf Hitler launches his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup in Munich that comes to be known as the “Beer-Hall Putsch.” In 1929, New York’s Museum of Modern Art first opens to the public at its original location in the Heckscher Building on Fifth Avenue, a day after an invitation-only showing. In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeats incumbent Herbert Hoover for the presidency. In 1942, Operation Torch, resulting in an Allied victory, begins during World War II as U.S. and British forces land in French North Africa. In 1960, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy defeats Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency. In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush wins the presidential election, defeating Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. In 1994, midterm elections result in Republicans winning a majority in the Senate while at the same time gaining control of the House for the first time in 40 years.

November 8, 1984: Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Mitchell F. Shaker upholds a contested Warren ordinance regulating massage parlors but strikes down requirements that employees be fingerprinted and provide their birth certificates.

Michael Del Bane, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, dies at his Hubbard home. He was 66.

Atty. Gary L. Van Brocklin is assembling a transition team for his January takeover as Mahoning County prosecutor after his upset of incumbent Vincent E. Gilmartin.

Greg Valentine retains his Intercontinental heavyweight title by disqualification over Tito Santana at a World Wrestling Federation show at the Struthers Fieldhouse.

November 8, 1969: A 17-year-old East Side girl and her 22-year-old companion are beaten and robbed during an afternoon walk in Lincoln Park.

A 20-year-old Ashtabula man being held on forgery charges is wounded when he and three other prisoners attempt an escape from the Ashtabula County Jail. He was struck by a bullet fired by a deputy that ricochetted off the wall of a boiler room when the would-be escapee was discovered.

Roy Wilkins, executive director of the national NAACP, speaks at the Mercer County NAACP Freedom Dinner in Sharon. Wilkins, who has been a vocal critic of the nomination of Clement Haynesworth of South Carolina to the Supreme Court, says Haynesworth’s chances for winning confirmation are diminishing.

November 8, 1959: The complicated task of putting the Youngstown district’s billion-dollar concentration of steel plants and nearly 50,000 strike-idled workmen back into the business of making steel after the Taft Hartley act is invoked to end the nationwide steel strike.

John Nocera, former North High and Iowa University great, will see action against the Cleveland Browns when his Philadelphia Eagles team invades Municipal Stadium.

The Mahoning County Welfare Department estimates that idled steelworkers and their families have received $1.3 million in relief during the 17-week steel strike and that the need for help will continue for a while as mills are brought back up and workers recalled.

The Catholic Service League, a Red Feather agency devoted to family and child welfare work, is marking 25 years service in Mahoning County.

November 8, 1934: Results of the national election return stalwart supporters of a Mahoning-Beaver canal to Congress and removes two members who have given the canal off-and-on support, increasing the canal’s chances in coming years.

Youngstown’s illegal lottery dealers are struck another expensive blow as the popular number 110 appears for the second time in a week. Local bugmen have had to pay an estimated $35,000 on the number, and had to delay payouts for a few days the first time it hit.

The official count gets under way in the race for Mahoning County prosecutor in which W. A. Ambrose leads J.H. Leighninger by 22 votes out of 63,370 cast.

A county home rule charter commission is elected by a four-to-three vote margin in Mahoning County.