Years Ago

Today is Friday, Sept. 21, the 265th day of 2012. There are 101 days left in the year.

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On this date in:

1792: The French National Convention votes to abolish the monarchy.

1893: One of America’s first horseless carriages is taken for a short test drive in Springfield, Mass., by Frank Duryea, who had designed the vehicle with his brother, Charles.

1897: The New York Sun runs its famous editorial, written anonymously by Francis P. Church, which declares, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.”

1912: Magician Harry Houdini first publicly performs his so-called “Chinese Water Torture Cell” trick at the Circus Busch in Berlin, escaping after being immersed upside-down in a vertical water tank, his ankles secured in a set of stocks which made up the tank lid, which was locked into place.

Legendary cartoon animator Chuck Jones is born in Spokane, Wash.

1937: “The Hobbit,” by J.R.R. Tolkien, is first published by George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. of London.

1938: A hurricane strikes parts of New York and New England, causing widespread damage and claiming some 700 lives.

1948: Milton Berle makes his debut as permanent host of “The Texaco Star Theater” on NBC-TV.

1962: “The Jack Paar Program,” a weekly, prime-time show that followed Paar’s stint on “The Tonight Show,” begins a three-year run.

1970: “NFL Monday Night Football” makes its debut on ABC-TV as the Cleveland Browns defeat the visiting New York Jets, 31-21.

1982: Amin Gemayel, brother of Lebanon’s assassinated president-elect, Bashir Gemayel, is himself elected president.

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1987: About 300 of the 500 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees cross teacher picket lines at Youngstown City Schools after reaching a three-year contract.

Lizette Olsen, clinical social worker at the Mahoning Women’s Center, says about 2,000 women have abortions per year at the center, and 80 percent already have children.

A 1954 Chrysler Imperial owned by John Sharp of Elyria wins best in show at the Live Wire Motoring Club’s annual car show at Packard Electric’s Plant 11.

1972: A new addition to the Knights of Columbus Council 620 home at 1947 E. Market St., Warren, is dedicated.

Three brothers scheduled to go on trial in Beaver County Court and two other men, all from Weirton, W. Va., are charged in the Sept. 11 bombing of the courthouse in Beaver Falls.

Police Chief Donald G. Baker notifies Youngstown Security Patrol Inc., an Ivanhoe Avenue security company that provides guards and night watchmen to area stores, that its employees will be arrested if the firm does not obtain licenses under state and city laws.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins lowering Lake Milton on the orders of the Youngstown Park and Recreation Commission to relieve pressure on the dam, which is deteriorating.

1962: Thieves loot a Stambaugh-Thompson Co. gun salesman’s car of $1,200 worth of shotguns, rifles pistols and ammunition while the car is parked outside the Fireside Bar.

A 10-day unauthorized strike is over, and steel is being made at Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.’s Campbell Works.

Kathleen DeLost, 18, of Lowelville is killed when her station wagon slides out of control and smashes into a truck loaded with limestone.

1937: Seven women and five men are seated on the jury that will hear the case of destroying railroad property against John “Shorty” Steuben, a CIO organizer during the steel strike.

Daryl Farmer, a U.S. Naval aviator at Long Island, is spending his vacation with his parents in Fairfield Township.