On this day, Aug. 16
1800 The city’s second newspaper, Tree of Liberty, was published by John Israel, with Hugh Henry Brackenridge as chief backer and chief editorial writer.
1861 President Abraham Lincoln issued Proclamation 86, which prohibited the states of the Union from engaging in commercial trade with states that were in rebellion — i.e., the Confederacy.
1920 Ray Chapman of the Cleveland Indians was struck in the head by a pitch thrown by Carl Mays of the New York Yankees. Chapman died the following morning.
1956 A program to expend $81 million for additions to the National Tube Division of United States Steel in McKeesport was announced.
1977 Elvis Presley died at his Graceland estate in Memphis, Tenn., at age 42.
2000 Turner Dairy of Penn Hills discontinued home delivery. It was the last local dairy to do so.
Some items are from Stefan Lorant’s “Pittsburgh: The Story of an American City” (digital.library.pitt.edu/chronology). — Compiled by Rick Nowlin Today’s birthdays: Actor Ann Blyth, 92. Actor Gary Clarke, 87. Actor Julie Newmar, 87. Actor-singer Ketty Lester, 86. Actor John Standing, 86. College Football Hall of Famer and NFL player Bill Glass, 85. Actor Anita Gillette, 84. Country singer Billy Joe Shaver, 81. Movie director Bruce Beresford, 80. Actor Bob Balaban, 75. Ballerina Suzanne Farrell, 75. Actor Lesley Ann Warren, 74. Rock singer-musician Joey Spampinato, 72. Actor Marshall Manesh, 70. Actor Reginald VelJohnson, 68. Former TV host Kathie Lee Gifford, 67. Rhythm-and-blues singer J.T. Taylor, 67. Movie director James Cameron, 66. Actor Jeff Perry, 65. Rock musician Tim Farriss (INXS), 63. Actor Laura Innes, 63. Singer Madonna, 62. Actor Angela Bassett, 62. Actor Timothy Hutton, 60. Actor Steve Carell, 58. Former tennis player Jimmy Arias, 56. Actor-singer Donovan Leitch, 53. Actor Andy Milder, 52. Actor Seth Peterson, 50. Country singer Emily Robison (The Chicks), 48. Actor George Stults, 45. Singer Vanessa Carlton, 40. Actor Cam Gigandet, 38. Actor Agnes Bruckner, 35. Singer-musician Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes), 35. Actor Cristin Milioti, 35. Actor Shawn Pyfrom, 34. Country singer Ashton Shepherd, 34. Actor Okieriete Onaodowan, 33. Country singer Dan Smyers (Dan & Shay), 33. NHL goalie Carey Price, 33. Actor Kevin G. Schmidt, 32. Actor Rumer Willis, 32. Actor Parker Young, 32. Rapper Young Thug, 29. Actor Cameron Monaghan, 27. Singer-pianist Greyson Chance, 23.
Thought for today: “The most persistent threat to freedom, to the rights of Americans, is fear.”
— George Meany (born this date in 1894, died in 1980)