September 22 in San Antonio history…

1921
The San Antonio Commissioners pass an ordinance “prohibiting any person, firm or corporation, excepting regularly licensed druggists and practicing, licensed physicians, to have in his or their possession, or to smoke, or in any manner use marihuana, Indian hemp, loco weed or Cannibis Indica.  Anyone found with any of the above named substances, in any form, except those indicated, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $10 dollars and not more than $200 dollars.”

1925
Local police were seeking the authority to destroy more than 100 marijuana bushes growing on N. Colorado Street.

1989
The Hertzberg elephant that has stood outside the San Antonio Library for almost 51years gained a companion today.  The original cast-concrete elephant was a Christmas gift to Harry Hertzberg from a fellow circus lover, jeweler Tom Scaperlanda in 1938.  The creator, Julian Sandoval, originally cast five elephants from the mold, one of which was bought by Joaquin Abrego for his wife.  Today, his family donated the little elephant, nicknamed “Pokey,” to the library.

 

September 11 in San Antonio history…

1921
Due to the catastrophic flooding, thousands of people bring wash tubs, lard cans, tea kettles, pitchers, earthen jars, pans, pots fruit jars and other receptacles to carry water from San Pedro Springs.  The water mains for the southern part of the city are restored later in the day but physicians still advise boiling water for a few days as a health precaution.

1953
Architects present their sketch of the new Student Union Building at San Antonio College.  The building is expected to be completed in 1954.

1980
The Express reports that $75,000 has been set aside for the “Patio of States,” a 70′ x 80′ map, to be built this year in front of the Convention Center at Alamo and Market streets.  Each state will be built of native stone from that state.

September 10 in San Antonio history…

1886
Geronimo, along with 26 other members of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, is brought to Ft. Sam Houston after his surrender in Mexico.  He will be held here for about six weeks before being sent to Ft. Pickens in Pensacola, Florida.

1921
With a known death list of 37 that may total more than 200 when all the missing are accounted for, and with a property loss of near $5 million, San Antonio was suffering the worst flood in its history.

1987
High winds destroy the twin towers and scaffolding set up for the Mass led by Pope John Paul II only two days before his arrival.  Despite over $100,000 in damages, Richard Hemberger, state coordinator for the papal visit, says the Mass will proceed as scheduled.

September 8 in San Antonio history…

1900
The San Antonio Light prints a special report from New Orleans that says: “There are rumors early this morning of great damages and loss of life in last night’s storm on some of the Gulf islands, particularly Grand Island. It will be a day or two before authentic news can be accessed from there. In New Orleans during the afternoon and night the wind reached a velocity of 48 miles an hour. In this city the damage is restricted to the destruction of the Metairie bridge and the blowing down of many telephone wires. A child was killed, being blown, together with the entire front balcony, from a house on Front street.”  (This was the massive hurricane that hit and destroyed Galveston on this day in 1900.)

1921
Rain begins to fall in San Antonio and will continue for three days leading to widespread flooding, killing 51 people and causing millions of dollars in damages. The flood was caused by some of the heaviest rainfall ever recorded in Texas. The immense amount of rain quickly overwhelms the the San Antonio River. Five to 10 feet of water submerged the city’s streets, delaying an evacuation.  The city was underwater for nearly a week following the flood, which was responsible for at least $5 million in damages. In the aftermath, San Antonio embarked on a 10-year overhaul of its flood system.

1962
There were 1,300 people in the new jail today but they were not prisoners – they were there for dedication ceremonies.  The prisoners from the old city and county jails will be moved in later this month. Bexar County Judge Charles Anderson presents a plaque dedicating the jail to recently retired Chief Jailer, Cliff Ramschissel.

July 6 in San Antonio history…

1861
The Texas Order of the Sons of Hermann is founded in San Antonio.

1921
Alexander Joske , President of Joske Brothers Co., has acquired from the Mercantile Building Co. for a cash consideration of $120,000, a lot fronting 45 feet on Commerce, 318 feet on N. Presa and 45 feet on Crockett streets.

2005
Construction begins on the $154.7 million Loop 410/Highway 281 interchange, the largest road construction project in the history of San Antonio.

March 5 in San Antonio history…

1921
The Carter-Mullaly property at East Houston, Bowie and Nacogdoches streets near the Alamo has been sold for $42,000 cash to T. F. Roberts of Wichita Falls.  For many years, the property was used by the Carter Mullaly Transfer Line and was the headquarters of the old-time stage lines that left from San Antonio.

1961
The San Antonio Symphony Society’s 17th Annual Grand Opera Festival ends today with the performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Aida.”

1966
At 8:05 a.m., firefighters finally extinguish the massive five-alarm blaze that consumed Produce Row. The blaze began at 11:30 p.m and raged for over eight hours.  At the same time, a four-alarm fire burned the Stemens Card Company on Fredericksburg Road.  These two fires required the service of every firefighter in the city.  “I’ve never seen as much fire in one night,” said Chief M. L. Rogers.

February 2 in San Antonio history…

1897
Col. Jim Bowie’s engagement ring, found in the old Veramendi Palace, and kept at Jim Rigby’s saloon, has been stolen, along with an old Spanish coin, kept beside it at the back of the bar.

1921
“The Rock of Ages,” a memorial to the San Antonio boys who gave their lives in the World War, will be erected near the star in Brackenridge Park. Ray Lambert, park commissioner, is responsible for the tribute.

1968
Hemisfair Arena holds its grand opening with a performance by the Harlem Globetrotters and Washington Generals. Joining the two teams were Bob Hayes, “The World’s Fastest Human,” and a lineup of variety acts that performed before the game and during intermission.

January 31 in San Antonio history…

1921
A unique feature of San Antonio’s newest drugstore, Sommers No. 1, at Losoya and Houston streets, is the narrow mezzanine that extends around the entire building and contains glass-front cases in which supplies are stored.

1949
The lowest temperature ever in San Antonio is recorded on this day.  The mercury plunges to a brutally cold 0 degrees Fahrenheit and the city shivers under a 4.7 inch snowfall.

1975
Hondo Crouch, the mayor and “Clown Prince of Luckenbach,” becomes mayor of the Paseo del Rio to kick off the third annual KKYX Great Country River Festival.

December 11 in San Antonio history…

1926
The Olmos Dam (right) is dedicated and opened to traffic.

1949
WOAI-TV Channel 4 is dedicated today. The station began broadcasting regular programming at 4:45 that afternoon and signed off at 9:00 pm. The feature program is the SMU-Notre Dame game from Dec. 3.  The program was condensed to 40 minutes by eliminating huddles and time between plays.

1995
HEB grocery store breaks ground on their first store outside the U.S., in Monterrey, Mexico.

September 22 in San Antonio history…

1875
The San Antonio Express receives the first exclusive new dispatches over the newly connected military telegraph line at Ft. Sam Houston. (Wednesday was actually the 22nd of Sept. in 1875.)

1921
The San Antonio Commissioners pass an ordinance “prohibiting any person, firm or corporation, excepting regularly licensed druggists and practicing, licensed physicians, to have in his or their possession, or to smoke, or in any manner use marihuana, Indian hemp, loco weed or Cannibis Indica.  Anyone found with any of the above named substances, in any form, except those indicated, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction, shall be fined not less than $10 dollars and not more than $200 dollars.”

1943
Mrs. Albert Maverick has donated three old cannons to the city that will return to the Alamo after an absence of 100 years.  The weapons were found many years ago when workmen were excavating land belonging to the Maverick family where the Gibbs Building currently stands.