gwmain October 16: On this date in 1984, the Tweed Courthouse, a monument to civic corruption named for William “Boss” Tweed, whose gang stole hundreds of millions of dollars from New York, was designated a New York City landmark.
October 15: Thomas Hastings, who set “Rock of Ages” to music, was born on this date in 1784.
October 14: Maestro Leonard Bernstein died on this date in 1990.
October 13: On this date in 2012, “The Angel of Music” was dedicated at the grave of international musical superstar Louis Moreau Gottschalk (who died in 1869).
October 12: Elmer Sperry, whose 400 patents included gyroscope navigational devices for airplanes and ships, was born on this date in 1860.
October 11: Henry Bristow, who served with the famed 7th New York State National Guard during the Civil War, and went on to be elected a Congressman, died on this date in 1906.
October 10: Thomas Crawford, sculptor of the statue of Freedom atop the United States Capitol, died on this date in 1857 at the age of 43.
October 9: Bird Sim Coler, first comptroller of Greater New York, and the 4th borough president of Brooklyn, was born on this date in 1867 and died in 1941.
October 8: On this date in 1996, President of Ireland Mary Robinson rededicated the restored gravestone of Irish republican Matilda Tone.
October 7: John Reisenweber was born on this date in 1851; he would become a famed restauranteur, inventing the modern cabaret with such stars as Gracie Fields and Sophie Tucker, introducing the dance floor for patrons, and creating the cover charge to pay for the entertainment.