December 31 in San Antonio history…

1913
Officers at Ft. Sam Houston will observe custom by calling on their commanding officers on New Year’s Day.

1927
Dance with whomever you may, eat with whomever you will but drink alone.  Law enforcement and prohibition forces warn that tonight will be a “dry” celebration in San Antonio.

1993
The Cal Golden Bears defeat the Iowa Hawkeyes, 37-3, in the first Builder’s Square Alamo Bowl. (right)

Happy New Year from the Texana/Genealogy Department and the San Antonio Public Library!

December 30 in San Antonio history…

1897
The county commissioners said today they will advertise for bids to make the jail crook-proof.  The floors will be plated with steel.

1913
Brig. Gen. Bliss ordered Miss Katherine Stinson to refrain from dangerous stunt flying while practicing at Ft. Sam Houston.

1943
Uniform bus fares will become effective Feb. 1 in San Antonio.  After the war, zone fares will again be in effect.

December 29 in San Antonio history…

1845
Texas is admitted to the Union as the 28th state.

1917
A local shortage of sugar has forced a limit of five pounds per consumer by San Antonio retailers.

1923
Mayor John Tobin and Park Commissioner Ray Lambert announced proposed plans for the beautification of San Pedro Creek from Travis to N. Flores.

2011
 The Baylor Bears with Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Robert Griffin III (right) defeat the Washington Huskies in the 19th annual Alamo Bowl by a score of 67 to 56, setting all sorts of records in the process:

•  Baylor set school bowl records for points in a quarter, half and a game.
• The 43 combined third-quarter points set a Valero Alamo Bowl record.
•  Baylor’s 67 points are the most scored by a team in FBS bowl history (previous was 66 by Nebraska in 2000 Alamo Bowl).
• Baylor and Washington established a FBS bowl record for most combined points (123) in a regulation bowl game (previous was 2001 GMAC Bowl; Marshall and East Carolina were tied 51-51 before heading into overtime).
• Baylor and Washington established a FBS bowl record for most combined yards of total offense with 1,397, shattering the previous mark of 1,211 total yards set in the 2005 Insight Bowl.
• Baylor established a FBS bowl record for most yards of total offense with 777, shattering the previous mark of 718 total yards set by Arizona State in the 1972 Fiesta Bowl.

December 28 in San Antonio history…

1903
The Clower Co. was one of the first firms in San Antonio to offer merchandise on the installment plan.

1947
Brackenridge High School brought San Antonio its first state football championship with a 22-13 win over Highland Park High school in Alamo Stadium.

1953
Manager Winton was studying the possibility of establishing a pedal boat concession on the river.

December 27 in San Antonio history…

1897
Bad roads prohibited wagons from bringing Christmas turkeys to San Antonio.  This resulted in many families having to do without the traditional Christmas bird.

1903
Santa Claus made a return visit to San Antonio to pass out presents to children at the annual Christmas event sponsored by the Turn Verein.

1943
Fresh to strong winds from the north will push the mercury down to 30 in San Antonio, the weather bureau warned.

December 26 in San Antonio history…

1887
The express companies are doing a rush “gift” trade.  Postal workers are trying to carry out the huge volume of work created by the holiday season.

1917
The City Council yesterday passed an ordinance creating six positions for city policewomen.  They will earn $70 a month and be permitted to carry sidearms.

1927
Today, the day after Christmas, has been set aside as a holiday in San Antonio – a day to be devoted to the making of New Year’s resolutions.  City offices, all banks and most businesses will be closed.

December 25 in San Antonio history…

1887
Christmas was never better enjoyed in San Antonio than it was today.

1913
In keeping with custom, the San Antonio Light was not published on Christmas Day.

1953
Heaping plates of a Christmas dinner that featured roast turkey, English peas and cake were served to 85 patrons of the city jail.

2006
A huge mountain of mulch in Helotes catches fire and burns for over two months.

A Merry Christmas to you from the Texana/Genealogy Department and the San Antonio Public Library system!

December 24 in San Antonio history…

1886
Nearly all the bawdy houses in the city will give Christmas dinners to their “guests” and two have issued printed invitations, sending them to nearly every young man in the city.

1923
Miss Katherine Stinson has arrived in San Antonio and will spend the winter advancing her study of aviation at Ft. Sam Houston.

1996
The Marshall Field’s store in North Star Mall closes, to be replaced by Macy’s.

December 23 in San Antonio history…

1894
The Hot Wells Hotel is consumed by fire.  (It will burn three more times over the next 90 years.)

1923
The Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza sponsored by the Rotary Club stands 42 feet high. It was constructed under the supervision of Julius H. Holmgreen.

1953
Suffering from the wheezes, sneezes and general all-around breezes?  If so, forget it becuase you’re probably just another victim of San Antonio’s newest epidemic: “Christmas tree hay fever.”

December 22 in San Antonio history…

1907
Alamo Plaza is a veritable mountain of Christmas trees today.  The fact that hundreds were sold yesterday does not seem to have made any difference in the piles of evergreens that have been brought to the city.

1963
Snow mixed with sleet fell on San Antonio Saturday night and the weather bureau predicted that the snow flurries would continue the next morning.

1967
The final pre-cast and furnished room (of 496) is flown into place on the 20th floor of the Palacio Del Rio Hotel.  Placement of the last room was scheduled for January 5, but H. B. Zachry’s crews became so adept at hoising the 35-ton concrete rooms the “last flight” was moved up. (photo right)