ON THIS DAY IN 1889, the Eagle reprinted the following item from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: "Let the Annexationists multiply. They are the only statesmen who have a clear vision. All attempts to build up Canadian trade here or there, outside the United States, must be futile. Canada cannot compete with England or the United States in any market except her own and that is very limited. The policy of this country should be to keep our markets for our own people and let the Canadians take care of themselves. They will soon see that the best way to take care of themselves is to join the Union of States."

ON THIS DAY IN 1893, the Eagle reported, "LAKEWOOD, N.J. ― President-elect Cleveland left here for New York on the 10:50 train this morning to keep an appointment at his office, in the Mills building. It is said that he had arranged to meet some of the Democratic leaders for a conference regarding his cabinet. Mrs. Cleveland and baby Ruth went out for a sleigh ride at midday in Mr. Freeman's Russian sleigh. The sleighing among the pines is the best ever known in Lakewood."

ON THIS DAY IN 1919, the Eagle reported, "ALBANY ― In his annual report to the Legislature, Conservation Commissioner George D. Pratt has this to say on the subject of 'Fire Protection on Long Island': 'So successful has the Commission's method of detecting fires proved in the Adirondacks and Catskills, that it has been extended during the year to Long Island. Fish and game clubs and land owners cooperated in providing funds for the purchase and erection of two observation towers. These will protect the central and eastern portions of Long Island, which have suffered severely from forest fires in past years.' 'The establishment of a fire protective system on Long Island,' says the report, 'marks the beginning of expansion of the scope of our work to include all the important forest areas of the State. This work should be continued on Long Island, and attention should also be given to the problems presented in the forested areas of Orange County. There is an excellent opportunity there for the development of a cooperative fire protective arrangement with the State of New Jersey and the U.S. Forest Service under the Weeks Law.'"

ON THIS DAY IN 1935, the Eagle reported, "Improved conditions in the steel industry have resulted in the restoration of salary cuts to certain employees of the United States Steel Corporation, it was disclosed today. The cuts were made last September through the elimination of Saturday work and those employees affected will again work beginning today."

ON THIS DAY IN 1939, Eagle columnist Ernest K. Lindley said, "The little island of Guam, far out in the western Pacific, more than 5,000 miles from the continental United States and only 1,500 miles east of Manila, is the most controversial point in the whole national defense program now before Congress. The Navy wants Guam developed promptly as a major air and submarine base, with a garrison strong enough to withstand anything short of a major effort by an enemy force. It hints that Congress might do well to go a step further and authorize the creation at Guam of a major advanced fleet base."

ON THIS DAY IN 1940, the Eagle reported, "Involvement of the Scandinavian countries in the European war before the end of 1940 was forecast last night by the Rev. Alfred Grant Walton, pastor of the Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church, at a forum in Bedford Branch Y.M.C.A., 1121 Bedford Ave. Asserting that 'it is almost inevitable' that the war would spread to Norway, Sweden and Denmark, he pointed out that the United States 'has a vital interest in what happens in Scandinavia.' 'If Denmark should fall under the control of the Communists,' he said, 'that would leave Greenland and Iceland helpless. Greenland belongs to Denmark and Iceland is closely tied with her. Communism's threat to the United States would then be of a definitely military character.'"

ON THIS DAY IN 1945, the Eagle reported, "LONDON (U.P.) ― Prime Minister Churchill told Commons today that the Allies will fight on until Germany surrenders unconditionally, even if such a policy stiffens Nazi resistance and prolongs the war. Churchill reaffirmed the Allies' insistence on unconditional surrender in answer to persistent questions from labor members at the reopening of Parliament after the Christmas recess. But by coincidence his reply came less than 24 hours after Senator Burton K. Wheeler (D., Mont.) charged in the U.S. Senate that unconditional surrender was a 'brutal, asinine slogan' which was costing thousands of American lives, splitting Allied unity and threatening a third world war."

ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, "WASHINGTON (U.P.) ― Some Southern Democratic Senators may fight confirmation of Charles E. Wilson as Defense Secretary because of his big industrial stock holdings, it was learned today. The Southerners, led by Senator Harry F. Byrd (D., Va.), were still weighing the decision as the Armed Services Committee prepared to vote on approving the former General Motors president for the key Cabinet job. Republicans were confident Wilson would be confirmed. But any substantial opposition to his appointment could prevent his being sworn in on Inauguration Day with other members of President-elect Eisenhower's Cabinet. Here is the issue ― whether Federal law or propriety bars a man from serving as Defense Secretary when he has substantial interests in a corporation which is one of the nation's largest defense contractors."

ON THIS DAY IN 1953, the Eagle reported, "WASHINGTON (U.P.) ― A lot of Democrats will be partying inauguration night, but not for the same jubilant reason as the Republicans. Capital society writers call the parties of outgoing administrations 'gin and tears parties.'"

NOTABLE PEOPLE BORN ON THIS DAY include Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Kennedy, who was born in 1928; political commentator Norman Podhoretz, who was born in 1930; opera singer Marilyn Horne, who was born in 1934; Auto Racing Hall of Famer A.J. Foyt, who was born in 1935; Country Music Hall of Famer Ronnie Milsap, who was born in 1943; radio host Laura Schlessinger, who was born in Brooklyn in 1947; "Escape from New York" director John Carpenter, who was born in 1948; "Fame" star Debbie Allen, who was born in 1950; "Smooth Operator" singer Sade, who was born in 1959; En Vogue co-founder Maxine Jones, who was born in 1962; International Boxing Hall of Famer Roy Jones Jr., who was born in 1969; model and fashion designer Kate Moss, who was born in 1974; Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda, who was born in 1980; and "DeGrassi: The Next Generation" star Jake Epstein, who was born in 1987.

Special thanks to "Chase's Calendar of Events" and Brooklyn Public Library.

Quotable:

"What scares me is what scares you. We're all afraid of the same things. That's why horror is such a powerful genre."

— filmmaker John Carpenter, who was born on this day in 1948