Years Ago

Today is Wednesday, Sept. 16, the 259th day of 2009. There are 106 days left in the year. On this date in 1919, the American Legion receives a national charter from Congress.

In 1498, Tomas de Torquemada, notorious for his role in the Spanish Inquisition, dies in Avila, Spain. In 1893, more than 100,000 settlers swarm onto a section of land in Oklahoma known as the “Cherokee Strip.” In 1908, General Motors Corp. is founded in Flint, Mich., by William C. Durant. In 1940, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signs into law the Selective Training and Service Act, which sets up the first peacetime military draft in U.S. history. Samuel T. Rayburn of Texas is elected Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives. In 1966, the Metropolitan Opera officially opens its new opera house at New York’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with the world premiere of Samuel Barber’s “Antony and Cleopatra.” (There had been a student matinee performance of “La Fanciulla del West” on April 11 to test the theater’s sound quality.)

September 16, 1984: An Ungaro administration plan to demolish the privately owned Youngstown Hotel could cost the city more than $90,000, with little prospect that the city would get any of the money back.

U.S. Rep. Lyle Williams, R-17th, confirms that he has been negotiating with an international aircraft manufacturer for the takeover of the Commuter Aircraft Corp. plant in Vienna Township.

An enthusiastic crowd of 20,000 celebrates Cityfest ’84 in downtown Youngstown.

September 16, 1969: The East-wood Mall in Niles, the area’s first ultra-modern shopping center under cover, is preparing for a 10-day grand opening.

Representatives of the Edward J. DeBartolo Corp. tell members of the Boardman Civic Association that the multimillion-dollar Southern Park Mall that is under construction will bring Boardman many community benefits.

Dr. Peter A. Baldino Jr. of Urbana, Ill., is named an associate professor in the department of education at Youngstown State University.

September 16, 1959: Youngs-town police storm the Mahoning County Jail with guns drawn after a repair crew cuts all telephone cables into the jail, cutting all contact and causing deputies on the outside to suspect something was amiss.

Eddie Bracken, star of stage and screen, will be the master of ceremonies for a TV special promoting the candidacy of Edward J. Gilronan for Youngstown mayor and other Mahoning County Republican candidates. Bracken is hosting the event as a favor to Gilronan, with whom he became friends when Gilronan was manager of Idora Park and Bracken was traveling with a dance band.

September 16, 1934: About 4,000 people attend the dedication of the new $50,000 stadium in Niles, one of the finest in the area.

An organizational meeting of the Youngstown Chapter of the American Liberty League will be held at the Youngstown Club, says Atty. Theodore A. Johnson.

Prof. Charles Liebman, who left Youngstown 25 years ago to teach music in New York City, returns to find Youngstown has grown up, and many of the landmarks of his day are gone.