December 23rd in New York City History: 
Sante Claus the children's friend gets magical reindeer;
WTC 1 tops;
Fan Abuse;
New York City, America's early capitol, in 1784;
Great athletes, industrialist and philanthropist born.

1784:  The Continental Congress decides to move the Confederation Capitol to New York City from Trenton, NJ.  New York City will remain the capitol through the Confederation and into 1790.


1821: Sante Claus, the Childrens' Friend, published by Gilley inspired his neighbor Clement Clarke Moore's 1822 poem, or did Clement Clark Moore write this illustrated children's book companion poem (quoted below), that influenced A Visit from St. Nich?

“Old Santeclaus with much delight
His reindeer drives this frosty night.
O’er chimney tops, and tracks of snow,
To bring his yearly gifts to you…..
Each Christmas eve he joys to come
Where love and peace have made their home”

This illustration was America's first lithograph.
Santa was very important propaganda, and not just for kids.


1823:  The poem "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (by Clement C. Moore?) was first published, in the Troy (N.Y.) Sentinel. 

It became a national hit, establishing Christmas Eve as a quiet gift-giving time, as well as establishing Santa/St Nicholas as fat and jolly, looking like an elf (actually being an elf that can fit down chimneys), having a (New York style) sled, and eight magic reindeer. 

You probably wouldn't be surprised that this is covered on my Santa's NYC Birthday tour.


1867:  Sarah Breedlove Walker, NYC hair products millionaire and philanthropist who was probably the first black woman to be a millionaire, was born.  She died in 1919.   



She was not the first black New Yorker to become a very wealthy philanthropist from hair care; that's Pierre Toussaint's story.  That was on my Saints of NYC tour.




1942:  Jerry Koosman, the longtime Met's pitcher who won the 1969 World Series, born.

16 Oct 1969, New York, New York, USA --- Jerry Koosman of the Mets pitching during the final game of the World Series, 10/16, against the Baltimore Orioles at Shea Stadium. The Mets won and took the series four games to one.


1946:  Actress Susan Lucci born.



1947:  Bill Rogers, four time NYC Marathon winner, born.
He won the first NYC Marathons that were citywide across the
five-boroughs from 1976-79, which brought a great deal of pride and development for NYC.     

I remember those days.  Some Marathon insiders were worried that the runners might get mugged, but the city's "outer-borough" residents were so happy to be included in the event, that marathoners love NYC's marathon for the spirit of the locals who cheer them like no other, and supply them with water.





1970:  WTC 1, the north tower (the one that had the broadcasting antenna and the restaurant), tops out with the customary American flag,

making it the tallest building in the world.

(In 2012, the new WTC 1 became the tallest building in NYC.  The observation deck is at the level of the original one.)

When WTC 1 is destroyed 31 years later, it will still be among the top half dozen tallest in the world, but still the most massive.  Tower 2 will top out in early 1971.


1979:  NY Rangers fans reach over the boards and start grabbing Boston Bruins' hockey equipment and attacking the players.

Team members leap into the lower seats beating on the rabid fans.

One Bruin attacked an audience member with the spectator's own shoe.  This player later became a coach and later a general manager for the Rangers' rival, the Islanders.   

Nowadays, there is "Fan Abuse" regulations in which fans are not supposed to shout profanities at the teams.



1995:  The Snow Bowl.  NY Giants fans assail the San Diego Chargers with snow and ice balls, halting the play, nearly forfeiting the game, hospitalizing three security guards, knocking out the Chargers' equipment manager.  175 were ejected and 14 were arrested. 

The Giants had a lousy game at the end of a lousy season, and there was a lot of drinking.  A $1000 bounty was put on the head of the pictured snowballer. Take a good look:

? Donald Trump ?!  No, Jeffrey Lange.  He lost his job in computing as a result, but he now works in events management. 
Ironic?