Years Ago

Today is Friday, Sept. 11, the 254th day of 2009. There are 111 days left in the year. This is Patriot Day. On this date in 2001, America sees its worst day of terrorism. Nearly 3,000 people die when two hijacked jetliners smash into New York’s World Trade Center, causing the twin towers to fall; a commandeered jetliner plows into the Pentagon; and a fourth hijacked plane is crashed in a field in western Pennsylvania.

In 1789, Alexander Hamilton is appointed the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. In 1814, an American fleet scores a decisive victory over the British in the Battle of Lake Champlain in the War of 1812. In 1857, the Mountain Meadows Massacre takes place in present-day southern Utah as a 120-member Arkansas immigrant party is slaughtered by Mormon militiamen aided by Paiute Indians. In 1941, Charles A. Lindbergh delivers a speech in Des Moines, Iowa, in which he says “the British, the Jewish and the Roosevelt administration” are trying to draw the United States into World War II.

September 11, 1984: Liberty schools remain open as non-teaching employees begin a strike against the board of education.

The Farrell Area School Board says it may eliminate all student busing in an austerity move.

During its 109th annual meeting, the Mahoning Valley Historical Society visits the restored Lanterman Mill. Dan O’Hara, who will be the mill manager, demonstrates how grain will be milled when the mill opens in May.

September 11, 1969: Grace Pusey of Hanoverton narrowly escapes death when her car is shoved into a school bus in U.S. 30, crashes over an embankment and is hit again by a tractor trailer that landed on her car.

Four Mahoning County subdivisions learn what amounts they may receive in the division of $7 million in highway funds from proceeds of Ohio’s Bond Issue No. 1.

A bandit armed with a pistol robbed the Gateway Religious Shop at 30 W. Boardman St. The store is a block from the Youngstown Police Department and almost directly across from the Mahoning County sheriff’s office.

September 11, 1959: The Mahoning Valley Historical Society pays its respects to Daniel Shehy, the first person to contract for the purchase of land in Youngstown in 1796, saying Shehy and his family are underrepresented, having only Shehy Street and Shehy Street School named for them.

Liberty Township trustees must decide whether a motor cart track is a proper use of commercial land off Belmont Avenue in the rear of the old C&S Club.

Passage of a public works bill over the veto of President Eisenhower means the future of the West Branch reservoir rests with the ability of Mahoning and Trumbull counties to finance the local $5 million share of the project.

September 11, 1934: Nellie Leach Christiana and her daughter, Mrs. W.C. Drapers, both of Warren, the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of James Heaton, founder of Niles, are honored guests at the Niles Centennial Celebration.

Mahoning County commissioners and the Chamber of Commerce will appeal to the state Legislature to take some action to provide operating funds for the county.

In an effort to speed up justice in Mahoning County, the common pleas judges will attempt to slash the elapsed time between filing and trial of civil suits to seven months, the shortest time in many years. Judge J.H.C. Lyon went to Los Angeles to study the speedy trial system there.