December 17 in San Antonio history…

1926
The Texas Theater holds its formal grand opening.  The theater will be opened to the public on December 18.

1929
Workmen begin conversion of the Princess Theater on Houston Street into Blum’s Department Store.  It was later purchased in 1931 by Frost Brothers.  The building still stands at 217 E. Houston Street.

1980
The newly reconstructed Olmos Dam is dedicated after completion of a $10 renovation.

November 4 in San Antonio history…

1902
The Texas Propositional Poll Tax Amendment, also known as Proposition 1, which establishes a poll tax as a prerequisite for voting, is approved by voters.

1926
The Texas Historical and Landmarks Assn. and the Sons and Daughters of the Heroes of Texas submitted a petition to the city urging preservation of the Spanish Governor’s Palace at West Commerce and Military Plaza.

1967
Mr. and Mrs. Bertell Zachry, son and daughter-in-law of H.B. Zachry,  became the first guests of the Hilton Palacio de Rio, after they rode Room 522 from the ground as it was hoisted into place by a crane. (right)

September 3 in San Antonio history…

1926
Municipal Auditorium is dedicated as a memorial to the city’s WWI dead.

1954
Every telephone number in San Antonio will be changed at midnight tonight as special crews switch 127,000 lines to the new metropolitan numbering plan that requires dialing two letters and five digits (right).

2011
The UTSA Roadrunners play their first football game in front of 56,743 fans in the Alamodome.  They win, 31-3, over Northeastern (OK) State.

June 9 in San Antonio history…

1923
Laurel Heights Pharmacy, at the corner of Main Avenue and Mistletoe, holds its grand opening.

1926
Mayor Tobin outlines plans to convert the downtown river into a veritable fairyland, rivaling in beauty the canals of Venice.  A half-mile of the river from Travis to Commerce streets will be festooned with multi-colored lights and electric fountains in the center of the river at short intervals.

1933
The Reptile Garden at the Witte Museum opens to the public at 7:30 p.m. with local children handling the non-poisonous snakes as they are released into the garden.  (It will close in 1975.)

June 4 in San Antonio history…

1836
Juan Seguin accepts the surrender of Mexican forces in San Antonio from General Martin Perfecto de Cos.

advertisement, San Antonio Light newspaper

1926
The Aztec Theatre opened promising “a totally new form of entertainment.”

1953
In a closed-door meeting today, the City Council and City Manager Reynolds Andricks eliminate all but two members of the library board.  Reports indicate that M. M. Harris, chairman of the library board for 33 years, was given the axe because of a letter he wrote to the city manager that was critical of the new city administration.

November 4 in San Antonio history…

1886
San Antonio is connected to Floresville by telegraph wire.  The first message is transmitted the next day.

1899
The University of Texas plays their annual football game against the  Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas right here in San Antonio at the International Fairgrounds.  A&M disputes a fumble in the second half and refuses to take the field, forfeiting the game to Texas, 6-0.

1926
The Texas Historical and Landmarks Assn. and the Sons and Daughters of the Heroes of Texas submitted a petition to the city urging preservation of the Spanish Governor’s Palace, at Commerce and Military Plaza.

October 8 in San Antonio history…

1926
The Witte Museum is opened to the public.

1929
“It’s the greatest thing since sliced bread!”
Richter’s Bakery begins advertising sliced Butter Krust bread along with the traditionally unsliced loaves.

1953
General Jonathan Wainwright, who died in San Antonio on September 2, is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  Wainwright was the highest ranking member of the U.S. military held as a prisoner of war during World War II.

August 25 in San Antonio history..

1926
Installation of the flood gates in the Olmos creek dam north of the city was begun today, assuring San Antonio permanent protection from floods.

1939
A Communist rally at Municipal Auditorium turns into a riot when a crowd of 5,000 stone-throwing citizens converges on the building.

1979
The San Antonio Light reports that the Polish American Priests Association sent a letter two days ago inviting Pope John Paul II to visit Panna Maria, about 55 miles south of San Antonio, to celebrate its 125th anniversary as the first Polish community in Texas.  “Why wouldn’t he accept?” asked Msgr. Erwin Juraschek president of the association.  “After all… he’s Polish.”

August 10 in San Antonio history..

1866
The Treue der Union (“Loyalty to the Union”) monument in Comfort, Texas is dedicated to commemorate the pro-Union soldiers killed at the Battle of the Nueces on August 10, 1862.  The monument remains as the only German-language monument to the Union in the South where the remains of those killed in battle are buried, and where an 1866 thirty-six star American flag flies at half-staff.

1926
New York Giants outfielder Ross Youngs plays his final major league game, going 0-3 versus the Cubs.  He will succumb to Bright’s disease in San Antonio in October 1927.  He is buried in Mission Burial Park South.

1946
A critical ice shortage is in store for San Antonio as the city swelters under one of its worst heat waves in years. An unprecedented demand is given as the chief reason for the shortage.

 

June 9 in San Antonio history…

1926
Mayor Tobin outlined plans to convert the downtown river into a veritable fairyland, rivaling in beauty the canals of Venice.  A half-mile of the river from Travis to Commerce streets will be festooned with multi-colored lights and electric fountains in the center of the river at short intervals.

1950
The South Loop 13 Drive-In Theater, the fifth in the city, opens with “The Outlaw”.

1967
John Langerhans pitches only the fourth no-hitter in UIL Class-AAA history as the South San Bobcats defeat Forest Park of Beaumont, 3-0, to cap a perfect 33-0 season with a state title.  This marks the seventh state title in ten years for South San under head coach Cliff Gustafson, who leaves July 1 to become head coach of the University of Texas Longhorns.