On this day, February 28, in 1940, a college basketball game was televised for the first time. The game took place at Madison Square Garden between Fordham University, and the University of Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 50-37
 On February 27, in 1860, future President Abraham Lincoln spoke at Cooper Union's Great Hall. Lincoln was not yet the Republican candidate for President of the United States. His speech, showed his position on the spread of slavery, specifically indicating that he did not want it to spread to the western territories. The speech was said to have propelled Lincoln to be the Republican candidate, and eventually to US President. On February 26, in 1917, the first jazz record was recorded by the Original Dixieland Jass Band (later changed from "Jass" to "Jazz"). The recording took place in NYC for the Victor Talking Machine Company. Livery Stable Blues became the first jazz single Dixie Jass Band One Step was the other track recorded, and ostensibly the "B-side." The records were originally marketed as novelty records. On this day, February 25th, 1888, John Foster Dulles was born in Washington, DC. Dulles, who was part of a influential family. His grandfather, John W. Foster, and his uncle, Robert Lansing, served as Secretary of State, and his brother, Allen W. Dulles was directer of the CIA. Dulles was educated in Watertown NY before attending Princeton University, and George Washington University Law School. After graduating from law school he joined NYC law firm, Sullivan & Cromwell. In July 1949, he was appointed US Senator from NY by Governor Thomas E. Dewey. In November of 1949, he did not win the seat and served as Senator for less than 1 year. When Dwight D. Eisenhower won the presidency in 1953, Dulles was appointed Secretary of State. On April 15, 1959 Dulles resigned due to quickly declining health. On May 24, 1959, Dulles died at Walter Reed Hospital from colon cancer, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Washington Dulles International Airport, is named for Dulles. The airport is in Dulles, VA, a municipality which largely derives its name from the airport. On this day, February 24, 1963 Herbert Asbury died in New York City. Asbury was employed by a variety of NYC Newspapers, and is most significantly remembered for his book, The Gangs of New York, published in 1928. The book was adapted by Martin Scorsese for the 2002 historical film. The movie was nominated for "Best Original Screenplay" rather than as an adaptation of a previous work, because the movie deviated so significantly from the book. On this day, February 23, 1960, demolition began on Ebbets Field, the former home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. After the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1957, the future of the stadium was sealed. The Dodgers have now played in Los Angeles longer than they played at Ebbets Field. On this day, February 22, 1878 Frank Winfield Woolworth opened his first "Woolworth's Great Five Cent Store" in Utica NY. The store was a quick failure, and by May of that year it closed. In June of 1879, he opened a second store using the same signage in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
By 1912, there were 596 "Woolworth" stores. This vast empire, allowed F. W. Woolworth to build his Cathedral of Commerce at 233 Broadway. On this day, February 21st, in 1947 Edwin Land demonstrated the first Instant Camera, the Polaroid Land Camera to a meeting of the Optical Society of America in NYC.
The original consumer version was released the next year and sold out the day they went on sale after a demonstration of the product. Polaroid cameras (as the Land camera came to be known) became less relevant with the advent of Consumer digital photography. Polaroid now offers a digital camera with a printer built in to create prints instantly. On this day, February 20, 1874, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened its doors for the first time. The original location was 681 Fifth Avenue. The Museum was started in 1870 by a group of businessmen, financiers, artists, and thinkers of the day. The New York State Legislature granted an Act of Incorporation on April 13, 1870. On February 19, 1674, the Treaty of Westminster was signed by the Netherlands, and England, ending the 3rd Anglo-Dutch War.
This finalised the positions of the Dutch and the English with regard to their holdings in the Americas. England would keep New Netherland (including but not limited to New Amsterdam, now New York City) and the Dutch would keep Suriname, and have Caribbean Islands: Tobago, Saba, St Eustatius, and Tortola, returned to them. The Dutch would also pay 2 Million Guilders to England. |
On this day in Old New York
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