YEARS AGO

Today is Friday, Sept. 5, the 248th day of 2014. There are 117 days left in the year.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

On this date in:

1774: The first Continental Congress assembles in Philadelphia.

1793: The Reign of Terror begins during the French Revolution as the National Convention institutes harsh measures to repress counter-revolutionary activities.

1836: Sam Houston is elected president of the Republic of Texas.

1864: Voters in Louisiana approve a new state constitution abolishing slavery.

1913: Fire devastates Hot Springs, Ark., destroying some 60 blocks.

1914: The First Battle of the Marne, resulting in a French-British victory over Germany, begins during World War I.

VINDICATOR FILES

1989: Lafarge Corp. of Reston, Va., is buying Standard Slag Co. of Youngstown and six affiliated companies for an undisclosed amount. Standard Slag Holding Co., also of Youngstown, will concentrate on its electronics, transportation and other businesses, according to its president, R. Thornton Beeghly.

Robert Pegues, former superintendent of Youngstown and Warren schools, receives his doctorate in educational administration from Kent State University after writing a dissertation on the role of school superintendents in federal desegregation trials in four Ohio school districts.

Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Robert Nader orders a limit to the number of pickets at school entrances during the teachers strike at the Warren City School District.

1974: Three-hundred enraged Youngstown School District parents threaten to boycott buses and send their children’s free WRTA passes to Gov. John Gilligan after the school board approves a contract with the WRTA to provide transportation for public and parochial school students for two years.

The Hannah E. Mullins School of Practical Nursing in Salem graduates its 31st class.

Fire destroys the American Legion Post 776 in New Castle, Pa. Fire Chief Reynold DiLullo said 55 city firemen and others from Union Township fought the stubborn $150,000 fire for five hours.

1964: The Youngstown Civil Service Commission reaches an agreement with Youngstown University to administer police promotional examinations.

The Ohio Council for Education, made up of a number of educational organizations, proposes an increase in the state sales tax from 3 percent to 4 percent.

1939: Four Youngstown district people who were on the British ship Athenia when it was torpedoed off Scotland are among the 900 survivors. They are Mrs. John P. Sutherland of Youngstown, Mrs. Arthur Fisher of Girard and Dr. and Mrs. R.T. Holzbach of Salem.

Sen. Robert A. Taft, Ohio Republican, says he favors a special session of Congress to repeal the mandatory embargo on the sale of arms and implements of war in the present neutrality law. He says arms should be sold “to any nation that can buy them,” which would not violate neutrality. The U.S. should not become involved in another world war, he says.

A crowd of more than 20,000 turn out for Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co.’s 26th annual field day at Idora Park.