Years Ago

Today is Wednesday, Oct. 19, the 292nd day of 2011. There are 73 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1936: H.R. Ekins of the New York World-Telegram beats out Dorothy Kilgallen of the New York Journal and Leo Kieran of The New York Times in a round-the-world race on commercial flights that lasted 181/2 days.

1765: The Stamp Act Congress, meeting in New York, draws up a declaration of rights and liberties.

1781: British troops under Gen. Lord Cornwallis surrender at Yorktown, Va., as the American Revolution nears its end.

1812: French forces under Napoleon Bonaparte begin their retreat from Moscow.

1951: President Harry S. Truman signs an act formally ending the state of war with Germany.

1960: The United States begins a limited embargo against Cuba covering all commodities except medical supplies and certain food products.

1977: The supersonic Concorde makes its first landing in New York City.

1987: The stock market crashes as the Dow Jones Industrial Average plunges 508 points, or 22.6 percent in value.

1994: Twenty-two people are killed as a terrorist bomb shatters a bus in the heart of Tel Aviv’s shopping district.

VINDICATOR FILES

1986: While the military presence is expanding at Youngstown Municipal Airport, some officials believe the area could be an ideal home to new industry, but millions of dollars would have to be invested.

Boston Marathon winner Rob DeCastella of Canberra, Australia, and Tanzanian Zachary Bair, who won in Youngstown’s Peace Race three of four times, dominate the races. DeCastella won the 10k and Bair the 25k.

Campbell Councilman Steve Sofocleous is exploring a program to convert city street lights from a community to a private responsibility.

1971: Vice Adm. Jerome King, back from duty as senior Naval commander in Vietnam, will return to his hometown for Navy Day and a round of speeches, including one at his alma mater, Rayen School.

The Seventh District Court of appeals upholds the conviction and 20-to-40-year sentence of a 24 year old Youngstown man arrested on possession of marijuana and heroin for sale.

Mount Union College prepares for construction of a two-story red brick administration building that will be named in memory of Youngstown industrialist and philanthropist Leon A. Beeghly and his wife.

1961: William Bacon, 79, of Beard Road, New Springfield, is killed when a tractor he was operating on the farm of his son overturned and burst into flames.

Following a mammoth Red Cross-Civil Defense exercise in Youngstown, officials say the city is well prepared to handle a disaster.

Warren Mayor Walter Pestrak sends a telegram to the House and Home Finance Agency expressing the city’s willingness to be a test case for all-out urban renewal.

1936: The bodies of 18 men and a women, all in life preservers, are being removed from Lake Erie after a gale sank the Canadian sand ship Sand Merchant. Seven men survived.

John Finnegan, 70, dies when his head hits the pavement during a fight outside a Boardman Street tavern over an unpaid-for nickel glass of beer.

Production resumes at the Moyer Manufacturing Co. after a sit-down strike by 200 employees at the trouser plant.