Years Ago

Today is Friday, Sept. 4, the 247th day of 2009. There are 118 days left in the year. On this date in 1781, Los Angeles is founded by Spanish settlers led by Gov. Felipe de Neve.

In 1886, a group of Apache Indians led by Geronimo surrenders to Gen. Nelson Miles at Skeleton Canyon in Arizona. In 1888, George Eastman receives a patent for his roll-film box camera, and registers his trademark: “Kodak.” In 1893, English author Beatrix Potter first tells the story of Peter Rabbit in the form of a “picture letter” to Noel Moore, the son of Potter’s former governess. In 1917, the American Expeditionary Forces in France suffer their first fatalities during World War I when a German plane attacks a British-run base hospital. In 1948, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands abdicates after nearly six decades of rule for health reasons. In 1951, President Harry S. Truman addresses the nation from the Japanese peace treaty conference in San Francisco in the first live, coast-to-coast television broadcast. In 1969, the Food and Drug Administration issues a report calling birth control pills “safe,” despite a slight risk of fatal blood-clotting disorders linked to the pills.

September 4, 1984: A Youngs-town policeman shoots and kills a 32-year-old Brier Hill man who wounded another man and then turned the gun on police during a quarrel in the Hammaker Drive projects.

Teachers will play the most important role in upgrading the nation’s schools, Mary Futrell, president of the National Education Association, says during a luncheon at the Maronite Center in Youngstown.

There were about 10 people on the carousel at Idora Park as it made its final revolutions on the last day the park was open to the public.

September 4, 1969: Howland teachers, who held a professional study day on the opening day of school, return to the classroom after the Howland Classroom Teachers Association votes overwhelmingly to accept a new contract that provides a starting salary of $6,400. Teachers and other school employees in Struthers continue their strike.

Mahoning County government and 25 political subdivisions are allocated a record $2.3 million in local government funds for 1970.

September 4, 1959: Opening day at the Canfield Fair draws a record-breaking 28,785 people, says director Hugh Bowman.

A McAllister Farm Market truck loaded with bread from the strike-bound Wonder Bread Bakery is stopped in Wickliffe by a group of thugs and about a third of its load thrown into a nearby creek or set afire.

County and state police will add extra men over the Labor Day holiday weekend in an attempt to keep the death rate on area highways down.

September 4, 1934: Eight people are killed in traffic accidents in the Youngstown area over the Labor day holiday weekend.

Alex Sera, 55-year-old farmer on Poland Unity Road near New Springfield, attempts to kill his ex-wife, then kills his daughter, Betty Sera, 19, and then himself.

The Rev. G.B. Booth, 83, of Hubbard, who served the Presbyterian church for 62 years, dies at his home at 33 Stewart Street.