Merrie Monteagudo

One hundred years ago — with the flag flying at half-mast to honor the passing of President Harding —Admiral Robert E. Coontz took over command of the United States battle fleet in a ceremony on the cruiser USS Seattle in San Diego. From the Evening Tribune, Saturday, Aug. 4, 1923: Coontz Takes Over Battle Fleet […]

On Aug. 1, 1890 San Francisco financiers John D. and Adolph Spreckels purchased the San Diego Union newspaper from Col. John R. Berry and Andrew Pollock. Their ownership was not immediately made public. Instead, Thomas Gardiner, one of the founders of the Sacramento Union and the Los Angeles Times, was appointed manager. From The San […]

On this day in 1989, the notorious oil tanker Exxon Valdez entered an Diego Bay without incident and docked at NASSCO for a $25 million repair job. The Valdez, built here and launched in 1986, had run aground in Prince William Sound off Alaska, in March of 1989 spilling thousands of barrels of oil. From […]

Last weekend Warner Bros.’ movie “Barbie” was a hit at the box office, raking in $155 million domestically. In 1991, Ruth Handler, creator of the Barbie doll and Mattel co-founder, visited San Diego and spoke to the Union’s Lisa Petrillo about the iconic doll and her own dynamic life and business career. From The San […]

On July 25, 1938, Archie Price, who had been on and off state relief rolls since 1933, ended his life in Balboa Park. He had previously informed the editor of a local newspaper that he would kill himself when his savings were depleted, because he was “too young to receive an old-age pension and too […]

On August 6, 1945, during World War II, the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the city of Hiroshima, resulting in an estimated 140,000 deaths. At the time of the bombing, Hiroshima was home to almost 300,000 civilians as well as 43,000 soldiers. RAIN OF RUIN FACE BY JAPANESE AS SUPER ATOMIC BOMB LOOSED […]

Fifty-four years ago Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon on July 20, 1969. An estimated 650 million people watched on television, as Armstrong climbed down a ladder and proclaimed “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Shortly afterward, Edwin Aldrin joined him […]

On July 18, 1984, an unemployed security guard armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol opened fire inside a crowded McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, killing 21 people before being shot dead by police. From the Tribune, Thursday, July 19, 1984: Those grazed by death here recall ordeal By Bill Callahan and Frank Saldana, Tribune […]

On July 18, 1984, an unemployed security guard armed with a rifle, shotgun and pistol opened fire inside a crowded McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro, killing 21 people before being shot dead by police.From the Tribune, Thursday,…