“Pages of history” features excerpts from The News Journal archives including the Wilmington Morning News, the Every Evening, the Evening Journal and the Journal-Every Evening.
Aug. 22, 1959, Wilmington Morning News
Hawaii proclaimed state; Old Glory given 50th star
The enchanting islands of Hawaii became the 50th state Aug. 21 and another star was emblazoned on Old Glory.
The seven stripes of red and six of white remain unchanged as they have for more than a century. But the new 50-star field will have nine rows, five with six stars each and four with five stars each, in place of the present seven staggered rows of seven each adopted when Alaska was welcomed into the Union last January….
A 10-minute bit of history, with President Eisenhower presiding at the White House, ushered Hawaii into the Union and fixed the design of the new national emblem….
Aug. 25, 1875, Every Evening
A 20-mile swim across English Channel
Capt. Matthew Webb has succeeded in accomplishing the wonderful feat of swimming from Dover to Calais.
He was in the water 21 hours and 3 minutes, was almost exhausted from the long and continuous strain upon his system, and when taken from the water was not able to stand.
He, however, shortly recovered and walked ashore without assistance. He was enthusiastically cheered by the large crowd present to witness his landing on the French shore.
Catch up on history:Civil rights tested, first woman for Supreme Court: News Journal archives, week of July 2
Aug. 26, 1922, The Evening Journal
Government could seize mines, railroads if strikes not settled
Plans for federal operation of the anthracite coal mines and railroads that fail to function have been completed by President Harding and his advisors, as the anthracite and railroad strikes appeared hopelessly deadlocked.
Unexpected opposition to the Cummins bill which would control profiteering in fuel, forced a delay in reporting the measure out of the Senate interstate commerce committee today….
Senator Pomerane, Ohio, led the objection to immediate reporting of the bill until more time had been given to study the far-reaching powers it grants the Interstate Commerce Commission in establishing priorities and embargoes and distribution of coal….
Householders in Wilmington and Delaware who have not already laid in their winter fuel supplies will have to burn soft coal in their heaters and ranges during the next six months.
Such is the consensus of opinion as expressed at the joint meeting in Rehoboth yesterday of the Delaware Coal Club and the State Coal Commission. The situation as regards Delaware was thrashed over fully, following the address of Leon Walker of this city, chairman of the commission, and it was generally agreed that efforts to obtain anthracite or hard coal would be of little or no avail.
Even should the hard coal miners return to work at once and the railroad strike also be settled, figures presented to the meeting showed that it would be impossible to get out anything like a sufficient supply to provide for the wants of Delaware….
As the soft coal strike has been largely settled, a sufficient supply of that kind of coal is confidently expected….
Aug. 26, 1939, Journal-Every Evening
Available talent indicates Wilmington High’s year in football
With nary a scholastic grid tog donned as yet, nevertheless it looks like Wilmington High School’s “year” in football….
The Cherry and White eleven has seen some dismal campaigning the past two years but a glance at the available material at the Delaware Avenue institution, Pierre S. DuPont High, Brown Vocational and Alexis I. DuPont High, shows the Red Devils much better off than their rivals of this locale.
J. Harmer Donalson, coach of football at Wilmington High, will have 10 Red Devils of last year’s squad back, the majority of whom had considerable varsity experience last year. In addition to the holdovers, his squad will be bulwarked by the addition of Al Tribuani, Joe Dellose and Bill McGonegal, who transferred from Salesianum High School last year….
Recent football news:Ready for kickoff: 6 new things about the 2023 Delaware high school football season
Aug. 26, 1944, Wilmington Morning News
Nazi commander in Paris surrenders
The Paris radio announced late last night that the French capital had been liberated and that the German commander had signed a document ordering his troops to cease fire immediately.
The announcement followed entry of American and French troops into the capital during the day. There was no immediate confirmation….
The latest word at headquarters was that American and French troops had joined Fighting French patriots on Ile de la Cite in the heart of the capital after bitter fighting with German and French collaborationist militiamen….
A broadcast by the Paris radio said that the German commander had signed the following document, presented by Brig.-Gen. Jacques LeClerc, commander of the French Second Armored Division and leader of the French force which entered the capital during the day:
“The German commander gives orders to the forces under his command to cease fire immediately. Arms are stacked….”
Reach reporter Ben Mace at rmace@gannett.com.
