“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News, the Every Evening and the Journal-Every Evening.
May 7, 1954, Wilmington Morning News
Bannister first runner to crack four-minute mile
Roger Bannister ended the athletic world’s quest for the four-minute mile yesterday with a monumental effort in which he was timed at 3:59.4.
Competing in his first race of the year and on his own track at Iffley Road, the shy former Oxonian burst through the legendary four-minute barrier as a meager crowd of 1,000, mostly Oxford students, watched the memorable performance….
Thus he thrust into the dustbin of sports history the world record mark of 4:01.4 established July 18, 1945 at Malmo, Sweden by the great Gunder Haegg of Sweden….
Recent Delaware track and field stars:Younger athletes show state’s track and field future is bright at Meet of Champions
May 8, 1945, Wilmington Morning News
Nazis quit; today V-E Day
The war in Europe is over. Complete and unconditional surrender papers were signed by Germany at 2:41 a.m. French time May 7 in the headquarters of Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, supreme commander of the Allies of the West, at Reims.
President Truman made arrangements to make a radio address at 9 a.m. today, presumably to proclaim the victory over Germany.
The crowning triumph came just five years, eight months and six days after Hitler invaded weak but proud Poland and struck the spark which set the world afire.
A Big Three agreement put off the formal announcement of V-E Day until it can be proclaimed simultaneously by the major Allies – Britain, Russia and the United States….
Four Delaware soldiers were liberated from German prison camps yesterday, according to reports received from Third Army Headquarters in Europe.
Lt. Earle R. Allen, of Bethel, a bombardier on a B-17 Flying Fortress, was reported missing in July 1944 and as a prisoner in October 1944….
Sgt. V.G. Comegys, of Wilmington, was reported missing April 13, 1944. He had written frequently to his parents, urging them never to give up hope if he were ever listed as missing….
Lt. Victor D. Ennis, of Wilmington, was reported missing in June 1944. He was co-pilot of a Flying Fortress based in England….
Lt. Robert J. McCormick, of Wilmington, pilot on a B-25, was captured after being shot down over Sardinia in May 1943….
May 9, 1960, Journal-Every Evening
Founder of Wilmington Flower Market visits first beneficiary
Mrs. J. Dudley Clark, founder of the Wilmington Flower Market, made a recent visit to St. Michael’s Day Nursery, the first beneficiary of the first Flower Market in 1921.
When she was asked what had given her the idea for the market, she said, “Bishop Coleman asked me to sell cakes and pies for the benefit of what was then called St. Michael’s Day Nursery and Hospital for Colored Babies. I didn’t think people really wanted our pies and cakes and for the amount of time and effort, we really weren’t making much money. So the idea popped into my head, ‘Why not give people what they want?’ All people want plants and flowers….At lunch with about a dozen friends one day, I told them what I thought we should do, and they all agreed to help….”
The first year of the Flower Market, they raised $1,500.
Mrs. Clark was surprised to learn that her original group has grown to a volunteer crew of more than 2,400 women, the number of beneficiaries has increased to 15, and that last year, $34,000 was raised….
The St. Michael’s Day Nursery has ceased to be a hospital but the nursery is such a vital service, caring for 40 pre-school children of working mothers….
This year’s Flower Market will be held Friday and Saturday at Rockford Park….
More from last year’s event:Sunny skies greet return of Wilmington Flower Market
May 10, 1974, The Morning News
Nixon impeachment hearings begin
The House Judiciary Committee yesterday entered the critical stage in its historic inquiry into whether President Nixon should be impeached.
The first impeachment hearing for a president since the Andrew Johnson case of 1868 began with a somber, 19-minute open session that was televised, then took up evidence behind closed doors….
Most of the…material in the first area of inquiry concerns any part Nixon may have played in the cover-up that followed the June 17, 1972 break-in and bugging of Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate complex….
May 13, 1932, Every Evening
Body of murdered Lindbergh baby found
The search for the kidnapped Lindbergh baby was at an end today – for the baby is dead.
But the search for the slayers was intensified a thousand fold, by order of President Hoover himself….
The little body was found by mere chance near the Lindbergh home near Hopewell, N.J., yesterday afternoon and though little more than a skeleton, was definitely identified as that of the missing child. There was a wound above the high forehead and the skull had been broken by the murderers who stole the child from his crib March 1.
Col. Charles Lindbergh and his wife, soon to become a mother for the second time, were secluded in their home today, their unfaltering hope brought to an end by the sad certainty of death….
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
