December 22 in San Antonio history…

1836
On December 22, 1836, the new Texas government form the county government of Bexar, with San Antonio as its County Seat.

1946
The Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo performs at the Municipal Auditorium.

1985
Ceremonies mark the return of the Hertzberg Clock to its rightful place at St. Mary’s and Houston streets after a three-year refurbishing and repainting project.

November 12 in San Antonio history…

1903
A group of self-described “pencil pushers” from the San Antonio Light take a ride in a Cadillac automobile to Terrell Wells.  The automobile and chauffeur is provided by Staacke Brothers.  The machine “glided along rough roads at fifteen miles an hour in perfect ease and comfort.”

1911 
Due to the “Great Blue Norther of 1911,” temperatures drop 35 degrees and are accompanied by a 40 mile-an-hour wind.  Attendance for the final day of the ten-day International Fair is estimated at only 2,000 people.  “I am much disappointed in the attendance,” says President Vories P. Brown.  “It was due largely to the weather.  We really had only one good day. As to the future of the fair, I am not prepared to say.  It is not a hopeful outlook.”
In fact, this would be the last of the International Fairs held since 1888.

1946
Unofficial word is received from Washington that the Arsenal is to be closed by June 30, 1947 and the contents moved to the arsenal in Texarkana.  A War Department spokesman states that Col. R. N. Bodine, commanding officer of the arsenal, would be the first to issue an official statement.

October 5 in San Antonio history…

1857
The mail from San Antonio arrives in San Diego in 26 and a half days via the Overland Mail Line owned by James Birch, breaking the previous record of 30 days.

1946
The first of a fleet of 50 air-conditioned buses was received today and will go into service on some of’ the heavier traffic routes this week, according to Laurence Wingerter, vice-president and general manager of the Transit company.

1954
Jazz impresario Norman Granz brings his “Jazz at the Philharmonic” tour to the Municipal Auditorium.  Performers include:  Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, The Oscar Peterson Trio (Oscar Peterson, Herb Ellis, Ray Brown), Buddy Rich, Louie Bellson, Flip Phillips, Buddy DeFranco, Illinois Jacquet, Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge and Bill Harris.

September 26 in San Antonio history…

1946
More than six inches of rain falls in twelve hours in San Antonio, causing major flooding.  Water reaches the fifty-foot level at Olmos Dam, only ten feet from the top.  Six people are killed and property damage is estimated at $8 million. ($100 million in 2019 dollars.)

1957
Pompeo Coppini, sculptor of the Alamo Cenotaph (“Spirit of Sacrifice”) and many Texas heroes, dies at his home at the age of 87.

1982
After 26 years broadcasting from their facility at the corner of Avenue E and 4th streets downtown, KENS Channel 5 begins broadcasting from their new studios at 5400 Fredericksburg Road.  It took six tractor-trailer trucks to move all the equipment.  The last broadcast at the old studio signs off at 2 a.m. and the new broadcast begins at 5 p.m.

September 1 in San Antonio history…

1945
Due to the continuing strike of the San Antonio Typographical Union, today’s edition of the Sunday San Antonio Light newspaper is only 20 pages, not counting the additional syndicated sections and comics.  The editors print an apology on the front page.

1946
The new River View amusement park holds its grand opening.

1980
Playland Park closes for the winter and signs are put up promising the usual St. Patrick’s Day reopening the following year.  Unfortunately, owner Jimmy Johnson decides not to reopen and a legendary San Antonio amusement park passes into history.

 

August 21 in San Antonio history…

1918
Monsignore Arthur Drossaerts, formerly rector of the Catholic church at Baton Rouge, La., but at present located in New Orleans in an official capacity, has been named as bishop of San Antonio to succeed Rt. Rev. John W. Shaw, former bishop, who was elevated to the archbishopric of New Orleans a few months ago.

1927
With approximately 100 artesian wells pumping hundreds of thousands of gallons of water daily, it is only a matter of time until the San Antonio River dries up, acting Mayor Phil Wright declared today.

1928
Notification of the acceptance by the Secretary of War of the site offered by San Antonio as the future home of the Air Corps Training Center, was received here today.  Land for the “West Point of the Air” was donated by the city.

1976
Southwest Airlines opens San Antonio International Airport’s first ground level jetway gate.

August 10 in San Antonio history…

1946
A number of San Antonio merchants are cooperating in a “back to church and Sunday School” campaign by using cuts prepared by the Council of Churches especially for use when the polio ban was lifted. Local radio stations also are participating in the campaign by making public interest announcements.

1957
Police were probing three bomb threats today which disrupted downtown businesses yesterday afternoon.  Telephoned bomb threats were made to Joske’s, the Prince Theater, and the St. Anthony Hotel. No bombs were found.

1982
Duval County rancher Clinton Manges and his lawyer, Pat Maloney, purchase the San Antonio Bulls franchise of the American Football Association.  They are looking to buy the San Antonio Spurs basketball team.  Team owner and CEO Angelo Drossos says the Spurs are “not for sale at any price” but later says he would entertain a “legitimate” offer with the understanding that the team would remain in San Antonio.

August 8 in San Antonio history…

1946
Weatherman J. H. Jarboe reported that last month’s average high temperature of 97.4 degrees was the hottest ever in San Antonio.  The previous record was 97.2 degrees in 1925.

1953
The new Palo Alto Drive-In Theater at 1742 Somerset Road holds its grand opening, featuring “Apache Drums,” “Canta Y No Llores” and “FBI Girl.”

1967
H. B. Zachry and Nick Catalani unveiled plans for their $7 million, 21-story, 500-room hotel on the river in the 200 block of S. Alamo. (This is now the Hilton Palacio del Rio)

July 19 in San Antonio history…

1885
San Antonio began keeping weather statistics in 1885.  On this day in that year, the temperature dropped to 65 and it’s still the record low temperature for the date.

1933
San Antonio and southwest Texas entered the sixth consecutive week without rain, with farmers facing heavy losses unless the drought breaks soon.

San Antonio News, p. 25

1954
“Peanuts,” by Charles M. Schultz, first appears in the San Antonio News newspaper comics section.

May 17 in San Antonio history…

1906
The skating rink at Electric Park was opened to the public and the sport instantly was established as a favorite among young people.

1946
In an emergency meeting of the Bexar County Medical society last night, the city health board was given a vote of confidence after some members had challenged the polio outbreak as being a “political epidemic.”  Meanwhile, three additional cases of the disease were reported, bringing the total to 19, excluding two suspected cases.

1948
Construction of an 18-foot Highway from Bandera through the Old Indian Pass to Kerrville, a project sought for a decade by Hill Country residents, will become a reality by the end of the summer.