Years Ago

Today is Thursday, Jan. 14, the 14th day of 2010. There are 351 days left in the year. On this date in 1784, the United States ratifies a peace treaty with England, ending the Revolutionary War.

In 1639, the first constitution of Connecticut — the Fundamental Orders — is adopted. In 1898, author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson — better known as “Alice in Wonderland” creator Lewis Carroll — dies in Guildford, Surrey, England, less than two weeks before his 66th birthday. In 1900, Puccini’s opera “Tosca” has its world premiere in Rome. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French Gen. Charles de Gaulle open a wartime conference in Casablanca. In 1952, NBC’s “Today” show premieres, with Dave Garroway as the host, or “communicator,” as he is officially known. In 1953, Josip Broz Tito is elected president of Yugoslavia by the country’s Parliament. In 1963, George C. Wallace is sworn in as governor of Alabama with a pledge of “segregation forever.” In 1969, 27 people aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, off Hawaii, are killed when a rocket warhead explodes, setting off a fire and additional explosions. In 1970, Diana Ross and the Supremes perform their last concert together, at the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas.

January 14, 1985: Trumbull County Commissioner Arthur Magee of Hubbard is elected chairman of the board by Thomas Battin and Anthony Latell.

John Palermo is elected president of the Mahoning County Board of Commissioners by Thomas Carney and freshman Commissioner Leonard Yurcho.

After the Packard Board cancels summer stock productions of Frank Kenley, Kenley says he would try to resurrect his theater in Youngstown.

January 14, 1970: Youngstown draft board must induct 36 men into the armed forces in January. Using the lottery system, the board will pick from men who have numbers 1 through 30 in the lottery.

A group of area residents who want to evaluate Youngstown public schools walks out of a special meeting when the Youngstown Board of Education votes to create its own Citizens Study Commission.

Dr. William Coffield, vice president of Youngstown State University, says 195 of YSU’s 14,762 students got all As during the fall quarter.

January 14, 1960: Harry K. Rayen, grand-nephew of William Rayen, founder of the Rayen School, and the dean of Valley schoolmasters, dies at his home on Youngstown-Poland Road at the age of 89.

Union National Bank will split its stock two-for-one and pay a 20 percent dividend on the new stock. The bank had net earnings of nearly $1 million in 1959.

The Industrial Information Institute publishes a directory of facilities, speakers and materials available from 29 companies for use by area science teachers.

January 14, 1935: Contracts will be awarded for the construction of additions to the property of the Youngstown Brewing Co., which took over the Youngstown Sanitary Milk property on Rayen and North avenues.

A nationwide campaign to sell the country the idea of the 30-hour work week is launched by President William Green of the American Federation of Labor.

More than 300 parishioners attend a program by St. Casimir’s School children to mark the 10th anniversary of the ordination of St. Casimir’s pastor, the Rev. Louis Kazmirski.