Looking Backward
The north
10 years ago
Nov. 8, 1999:Interface Solutions Inc. is spending $3 million of its own money to install a wastewater treatment system and make other capital improvements, a move that keeps the 88-worker plant at Beaver Falls open for at least five years.
25 years ago
Nov. 8, 1984:The 16 schools in the Frontier League rejected Watertown's request for permanent membership, ousting it from next year's schedule. The principal issues appeared to be the size of Watertown, the largest of the Frontier League teams, and the impact of the Fort Drum expansion.
50 years ago
Nov. 8, 1959:The Most Rev. James J. Navagh, bishop of Ogdensburg, presided at special dedication ceremonies of the new addition of St. James parish, Carthage, which has a history dating back to 1885 and is one of the oldest Catholic institutions of its kind in the country.
75 years ago
Nov. 8, 1934:There was a large attendance at the regular meeting of Riverbank Grange, Lewis County. A letter was read from the National Grange secretary congratulating Riverbank upon becoming a model grange, as it has earned its fifth gold seal this year.
100 years ago
Nov. 8, 1909:As a result of an outbreak of diphtheria among patients and nurses at St. Joachim's hospital, that institution is under quarantine today. The doors are locked, and no one is allowed to enter or leave the building.
125 years ago
Nov. 8, 1884:The old Catholic Church building at Rossie was sold to Mr. Kelly for $150. George Backus purchased the site for $225.
The world
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Today is Sunday, Nov. 8,the 312th day of 2009. There are 53 days left in the year.
Today's Highlight in History:
On Nov. 8, 1909, the original Boston Opera House first opened with a performance of "La Gioconda" by Amilcare Ponchielli.
On this date:
In 1859, philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered a lecture in Boston in which he described abolitionist John Brown, condemned for his raid on Harpers Ferry, Va., as "the new saint awaiting his martyrdom."
In 1889, Montana became the 41st state.
In 1923, Adolf Hitler launched his first attempt at seizing power in Germany with a failed coup in Munich that came to be known as the "Beer-Hall Putsch."
In 1932, New York Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated incumbent Herbert Hoover for the presidency.
In 1942, Operation Torch, resulting in an Allied victory, began during World War II as U.S. and British forces landed in French North Africa.
In 1960, Massachusetts Sen. John F. Kennedy defeated Vice President Richard M. Nixon for the presidency.
In 1988, Vice President George H.W. Bush won the presidential election, defeating Massachusetts Gov. Michael S. Dukakis.
In 1994, midterm elections resulted in Republicans winning a majority in the Senate while at the same time gaining control of the House for the first time in 40 years.
Ten years ago:Israeli and Palestinian negotiators launched landmark talks, giving themselves an ambitious 100-day deadline to craft the broad outlines of a peace agreement.
Five years ago:Thousands of U.S. troops attacked the toughest strongholds of Sunni insurgents in Fallujah, Iraq, launching a long-awaited offensive aimed at ending guerrilla control of the city.
One year ago:An accident on a Russian nuclear submarine undergoing a test in the Sea of Japan asphyxiated 20 people on board.
Today's Birthdays:Actor Norman Lloyd is 95. Singer Patti Page is 82. CBS newsman Morley Safer is 78. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 60. TV personality Mary Hart is 59. Former Playboy Enterprises chairman and chief executive Christie Hefner is 57. Actress Alfre Woodard is 57. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 55. Author Kazuo Ishiguro is 55. Rock musician Porl Thompson (The Cure) is 52. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 48. Chef Gordon Ramsay is 43. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith is 42. Actress Parker Posey is 41. Rock musician Jimmy Chaney is 40. Actress Roxana Zal is 40. Singer Diana King is 39. Actress Gretchen Mol is 36. Actor Matthew Rhys is 35. Actress Tara Reid is 34. Actress Dania Ramirez is 30. Actress Azura Skye is 28. Actor Chris Rankin is 26. TV personality Jack Osbourne is 24. Actress Jessica Lowndes ("90210") is 21.
Thought for Today:"Religion is an attempt, a noble attempt, to suggest in human terms more-than-human realities." — Christopher Morley, American author-journalist (1890-1957).
