November 30 in San Antonio history…

1879
The First Presbyterian Church on Houston Street is dedicated.

1923
Former Ziegfeld Girl, Martha Mansfield (right), as Agatha Warren, is burned severely while filming the movie The Warrens of Virginia in Brackenridge Park. She is rushed to Physicians and Surgeons Hospital where she dies.  It is determined that a match, carelessly tossed by a cast member, ignited her costume.

1942
Determined to prevent a fire in San Antonio like the deadly fire that killed 477 people at the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston two days earlier, Mayor C.K. Quin, Fire Commissioner P. J. Anderson and Fire Chief C. A. Hart met to discuss inspection of local night spots and the abolition of revolving doors in those establishments.
The daughter of Ft. Sam Houston commander, C. K. Nulsen, was killed in the Cocoanut Grove inferno.

November 29 in San Antonio history…

1891
The first game of soccer is played in San Antonio at San Pedro Park.

1958
After a three-month experiment, radio station KAKI changes its call letters back to KTSA.

1963
Linus Baer and the Lee Volunteers outlast Warren McVea and the Brackenridge Eagles, 55-48, in what would later be voted the greatest football game ever played in San Antonio.

November 28 in San Antonio history…

1730
Sixteen immigrant families from the Canary Islands arrive in San Antonio.

1892
There will be a meeting of the Scientific Society tomorrow evening. Dr. Watts will speak on “Sewerage and Why San Antonio Should Have It.” He also plans to say something about rats and vermin.

1949
The first city expressway is opened from Fredericksburg Road to Culebra (0.712 miles).

1972
The 13,000 sq. ft. Handy Andy store #29 in the Colonies North Shopping Center holds its grand opening.  (This store would later be San Antonio’s first Whole Foods grocery store and is now Big Lots.)

Helping our veterans by educating Military City USA

The San Antonio Public Library is offering a new series of monthly workshops benefiting veterans in the region who may be experiencing difficulties acclimating to either civilian life or simply returning from high-stress war zones around the globe. The first program will take place on Saturday, December 1 at the Central Library Auditorium from 2:00 – 3:00pm.

Battle Mind versus Civilian Mind: Understanding Military Culture

presented by Dr. Kelly G. Arnemann, PhD
Staff Psychologist, PRRC / STVHCS

A highly experienced and trusted professional in the mental health field, Dr. Arnemann will provide an easy to understand presentation on what is sometimes called “Battle Mind”, or the insight into why a Veteran comes home acting, thinking and dramatically affected by the harshness of War and combat. He will address what many attendees have called a “profound understanding of the Veteran that everyone wants to know”.

Dr. Arnemann is currently serving as a Staff Psychologist in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Recovery Program (PRRC) for Veterans diagnosed with chronic serious mental illness.

Admission to the program is free. Additional information is available by calling (830) 583-7228 or info@sacv.org

This program is sponsored by the San Antonio Public Library and San Antonio Coalition for Veterans

November 27 in San Antonio history…

1975
The city first begins displaying Christmas lights along the Riverwalk.

1980
The first Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner is held in San Antonio

November 26 in San Antonio history…

1925
The city health officer today urged that San Antonians desist from kissing until the current epidemic of colds go away. He admitted his proposal is impractical.

1928
Carey Avenue is renamed to Hildebrand Avenue.

1941
The first pedestrian crossing lanes in San Antonio have been painted at the intersection of Alamo and Houston streets.

November 25 in San Antonio history…

1857
The San Antonio Fire Company is established on this date, A. A. Lockwood, chief.

1877
John James dies at the age of 56.  He became Bexar County chief surveyor and surveyed and established the city’s boundaries in 1846. He participated in the Battle of Salado in 1842. In 1844 he surveyed and laid out the city of Castroville. In 1853, he and Charles de Montel established the city of Bandera and set up a horse-powered lumber mill there. He also established the first lumberyard in San Antonio and introduced Merino sheep in the Bandera area. In 1854, he and 35 others headed to California with more than 1,000 head of cattle. James also surveyed Fort Davis, Boerne, D’Hanis, and Quihi. He is said to have surveyed more land in Texas than any other individual surveyor. James was also the father-in-law of well known architect Alfred Giles.

1953
Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson cited 2,100 Jefferson High School students as “trustees of freedom” in a San Antonio speech keyed to Thanksgiving. He said he was thankful for the youth of the land.

November 24 in San Antonio history…

1877
The San Antonio Water Works are incorporated.

1963
Virtually all public offices in San Antonio will be closed tomorrow out of respect for the funeral services for President Kennedy.

2009
Chris Marrou retires after 36 years as anchor of KENS Channel 5.

November 23 in San Antonio history…

1887
San Antonio Power & Light begins operation.

1936
Legendary bluesman Robert Johnson records eight songs during the first of three recording sessions in San Antonio. The songs include “Sweet Home Chicago”, “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” and “Terraplane Blues.”

1966

The Wonder Theater opens at Wonderland Shopping City showing “Not With My Wife You Don’t.”

November 22 in San Antonio history…

1867
The city passes the first ordinance against carrying concealed deadly weapons.

1989
Restauranteur Phil Romano sells his Macaroni Grill in Leon Springs to Chili’s Inc. for 152,000 shares of stock worth $5 million.

2002
Little Hipp’s Gimmedraw Parlor closes after 42 years of serving up funky atmosphere, oversized burgers and tater tots.