May 4 in San Antonio history…

 
1901
President McKinley came to San Antonio and delivered a speech in front of the Alamo – the first President to do so.

1991
Nelson Wolff wins the mayoral election over Lila Cockrell and Maria Berriozabal.

1993
Metal detectors are installed in the Bexar County Courthouse.

February 17 in San Antonio history…

1909
E. H. Harriman, the railroad king, arrived in San Antonio today and set up camp near Hot Wells.

1950
The first San Antonio Rodeo and Livestock Exposition is kicked off – in the brand new Bexar County Coliseum (later known as the Joe & Harry Freeman Coliseum.)

1991
The Finck Cigar Company building, built in 1882,  is illegally demolished at 7:45 on a Sunday morning.  A construction company crew discovered at the debris-covered site of the designated city landmark was cited for allegedly violating the city code by not having a demolition permit.  Just weeks after the demolition, State Sen. Frank Tejeda filed a bill requiring responsible parties to rebuild historic buildings that are damaged or destroyed, or pay an amount equal to the estimated replacement cost to be used for preservation projects. But since the bill was not retroactive, it could not be used to make anyone pay the estimated $200,000 it would have cost to replace the Finck Building. In the end, the joint venture paid a $25,000 fine to the city for the demolition.

January 3 in San Antonio history…

1940
Alamo Field was selected today as the first choice of the committee appointed to recommend a name for the new school stadium.  Chili Bowl, the favorite name of the majority of citizens who signified a preference by writing in to the school board was not included on the list.
The list of names recommended after a two-hour meeting included in order of preference [alphabetical order?] by the committee: Alamo Field, Alta Vista Stadium, Bexar Bowl, Blue Bonnet Field, Cactus Field, Fiesta Bowl, Huisache Bowl, Laurel Field, Mission Stadium, San Antonio Stadium and Hollers Field, the latter in honor of Dr. James P. Hollers, president of the school board, whose efforts brought about the stadium’s construction.
It was also suggested that if such a name as Alamo Field be selected, that the sections be named after Texas heroes instead of being numbered.
[The stadium would be officially named, and is still, Alamo Stadium.  The sections are numbered. - Ed.]

1982
The Broadway Theater closes.

1991
John Peterson was named vice president of football operations for San Antonio’s World League of American Football franchise, which also announced its Riders nickname and brown and gold colors.

June 26 in San Antonio history…

1933
The 1,500 city employees who have been living on credit or savings for a month because of an empty city treasury, were told about $90,000 would distributed by July 1.

1963
Postmaster Dan Quill said the “master” number of the new ZIP code designations for San Antonio is 782.

1991
Southwestern Bell officials announced that South Texas would soon have two area codes.  San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley would remain 512 and Austin, Corpus Christi and Kingsville would receive a new but as yet undetermined designation.  The change is slated to take place in late 1992 or early 1993.
[Despite what the article stated, San Antonio's area code changed to 210 on Nov. 1, 1992]

June 25 in San Antonio history…

1893
An Alamo line street car collided with a train at the Aransas Pass crossing near Riverside Park.  The car was wrecked and one man was reported seriously injured.

1953
The annual ordinance granting the Fiesta San Antonio Association the use of city streets and plaza during Fiesta Week was passed by the City Council.

1991
After spending $3.1 million to buy the Vista Verde office building, Bexar Commissioners voted Monday to spend almost $4 million to refurbish the structure to meet the county’s needs.  Commissioners also approved $9.96 million for the development of a forensic science center to replace the current medical examiner’s office.

>January 3 in San Antonio history…

>1938
Conditions at the Bexar County Home for the Aged, criticized by the November grand jury, will remain unchanged. J.W. Donnell, in charge of the home, said the jury’s report was “all bunk and hooey.”

1958
Work on the Fredericksburg Road underpass on the Babcock Road to Fredericksburg section of Loop 13 is expected to be completed sometime in March, according to W. C. Raby, state highway engineer. Raby said approximately $500,000 worth of equipment is being used.

1982
The Broadway Theater closes.

1991
John Peterson was named vice president of football operations for San Antonio’s World League of American Football franchise, which also announced its Riders nickname and brown and gold colors.

Fiesta Programs, Then and Now

Here is just a sampling of the material in the Texana/Genealogy Dept.’s Fiesta archival collection. Take a glimpse at the evolution of the Fiesta program over the years and share your favorite memories from Fiesta.