Years Ago

Today is Tuesday, Feb. 2, the 33rd day of 2010. There are 332 days left in the year. This is Groundhog Day. On this date in 1848, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, ending the Mexican-American War, is signed.

In 1536, present-day Buenos Aires, Argentina, is founded by Pedro de Mendoza of Spain. In 1653, New Amsterdam — now New York City — is incorporated. In 1870, the “Cardiff Giant,” supposedly the petrified remains of a human discovered in Cardiff, N.Y., is revealed to be nothing more than carved gypsum. In 1876, the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs is formed in New York. In 1882, Irish poet and novelist James Joyce is born near Dublin. In 1897, fire destroys the Pennsylvania state capitol in Harrisburg. (A new statehouse is dedicated on the same site in 1906.) In 1943, the remainder of Nazi forces from the Battle of Stalingrad surrenders in a major victory for the Soviets in World War II. In 1948, President Harry S. Truman sends a 10-point civil rights program to Congress, where the proposals run into fierce opposition from southern lawmakers. In 1980, NBC News reports the FBI has conducted a sting operation targeting members of Congress using phony Arab businessmen in what becomes known as “Abscam,” a codename protested by Arab-Americans.

February 2, 1985: Youngstown Councilman Herman P. Starks opens his mayoral campaign with a blast at Patrick J. Ungaro’s administration, accusing the incumbent of failing to produce an economic recovery plan.

Pamela Hyde, director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health, comes to Youngstown to say she has no intention of closing Woodside Receiving Hospital

February 2, 1970: President Nixon makes good on his vow to deliver a balanced budget, but the record $200 billion plan is predicated on some unlikely cooperation on spending cuts in the military and space exploration budget, acceleration in collection of income and excise taxes and an increase in postal rates.

Youngstown police are called to North High after some students tell coaches and administrators that East High youths might attack them during the lunch hour.

Wage increases for employees and other expenses could create a deficit of about $140,000 for the Youngstown Transit Co. which would have to be subsidized by the city to keep buses rolling.

Whitney M. Young, executive director of the National Urban League, with headquarters in New York City, will be the guest speaker for the 40th annual dinner meeting of the Warren Urban League.

February 2, 1960: The Youngs–town Board of Education turns down an offer of $125,000 for the old Market Street School from Edgar J. Cumiskey, supervisor of right-of-way for expressway construction.

The arrest of two 16-year-old McGuffey Heights youths solves a rash of car thefts. The boys say they took 18 cars for joy rides over a month.

Attorneys for Lombard Corp. challenge referendum petitions seeking a public vote an a controversial commercial zone change that would allow Lombard to build an office building in the Wick Avenue cultural area.

Tom Nunciato is elected mayor of Smoky Hollow at the annual homecoming celebration at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.

February 2, 1935: May Marrin, 36, widely known as “She,” a night club and burlesque dancer, is found dead of carbon monoxide poisoning in her bed at her E. Federal Street apartment. Steve Colucci, former high school athlete, is found unconscious and is not expected to live.

Lowell Leake, editor of the Youngstown Telegram, acknowledges during a hearing on Locke Miller’s suit to challenging the re-election of Congressman John Cooper, that his newspaper had initially endorsed Miller, but subsequently switched, advising voters “not to vote for roosters, eagles or clowns.”