November 9 in San Antonio history…

1948
The Centeno family opens their first supermarket at 1802 W. Commerce St.

1963
Bexar County voters registered 18,372 to 15,664 in favor of a statewide amendment to repeal Texas’s 61-year-old poll tax.  Unfortunately, the rest of the state was much less progressive and the poll tax remains in place.

2015
The new Hotel Emma, located in the brewhouse of the former Pearl Brewery, holds its grand opening.

September 5 in San Antonio history…

1948
St. Gerard’s High School, at 1619 Iowa Street, is dedicated.

1993
George Strait chooses the Alamodome to host his First Annual George Strait Country Music Festival. It features superstar performers Brooks & Dunn, Lee Roy Parnell, Suzy Bogguss, McBride & the Ride, Delbert McClinton, Bobbie Cryner and, of course, George Strait.

2000
The mercury reaches 111 degrees – the hottest day in San Antonio history.

August 30 in San Antonio history…

1948
Radio station KONO changes frequency from 1400 MHZ to 860 MHz.  It’s still there.

1968
The San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos play a preseason exhibition game in Alamo Stadium. The Chargers win, 6-3.

1983
A 9-by-12 inch lithograph entitled “Marcelle Lender – en Buste” by famed artist Toulouse-Latrec is stolen from the McNay Art Museum.  The painting was done in 1896 and is valued at about $25,000.  The thieves placed a typewritten note in the display stating “Temporarily Removed from Exhibit.”

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.

April 20 in San Antonio history…

1891
President Benjamin Harrison visits San Antonio during the inaugural Fiesta San Jacinto. He is the first President to visit the Alamo City.

1948
A Night in Old San Antonio will be presented by the Conservation Society [for the first time] this evening at La Villita and along Villita St. The public is invited. At 6 p. m. a street market will be opened with booths and strolling musicians. Supper will be served at chili stands and chuck wagons at 6:30. At the same hour there will be an exhibition of Spanish dancing.

1986
Former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver, Drew Pearson, turns in his resignation as weekend sportscaster on KENS-TV.  “He felt he couldn’t devote the time necessary to become a top-flight sports anchor,” Gary DeLaune explained after substituting for Pearson on the 5 p.m. news.

 

 

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. Some names recommended after a two-hour meeting included : 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.]

1980
Jeannette Alvarado, the 1980 national Easter Seals poster child, is released from intensive care with a superficial wound to her neck after she was struck by a bullet just after midnight New Year’s day while watching a firework display with her grandmother at 256 N. San Gabriel Street.

1985
San Antonio begins cleaning up after yesterday’s snowfall that surprised even the weather forecasters.  Today’s high of 40 will finish off the melting snow but tonight’s low will be an icy 18 degrees.

January 2 in San Antonio history…

1903
The Traction Company has placed vestibule (closed) cars on its lines to the Hot Wells. The new style cars were appreciated by the employees Wednesday evening, one of the year’s most disagreeable nights.

1954
Teen-age vandals set fire to the 55-foot municipal Christmas tree on Alamo Plaza. Only the steel frame and a charred utility pole remain (right).

1985
After a morning of sleet and freezing rain, a winter storm dumps 2.4 inches of snow on the Alamo City, surprising weather forecasters.  This is the first snow since January 13, 1982 and the most since February 22, 1966.

September 5 in San Antonio history…

1948
St. Gerard’s High School  (right) is dedicated.

1921
Harold Joske, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Joske, drowns in the Guadalupe River north of New Braunfels.  Joske was only 32 years old and vice president and general manager of Joske’s department store.

2000
The mercury reaches 111 degrees – the hottest day in San Antonio history.

August 30 in San Antonio history…

1948
Radio station KONO changes frequency from 1400 MHZ to 860 MHz.  It’s still there.

1968
The San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos play an AFL preseason exhibition game in Alamo Stadium. The Chargers won, 6-3.

1983
A 9-by-12 inch lithograph entitled “Marcelle Lender – en Buste” by famed artist Toulouse-Latrec is stolen from the McNay Art Museum.  The painting was done in 1896 and is valued at about $25,000.  The thieves placed a typewritten note in the display stating “Temporarily Removed from Exhibit.”

August 3 in San Antonio history…

 

1948
Radio station KONO changes frequency from 1400 MHZ to 860 MHz.  It’s still there.

1965
WOAI-TV’s “Early Evening Report” expands from a 30-minute show to 60 minutes from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.  The popular news show features James Metcalf, Bob Perkins, Harold Baker and Martha Buchanan, the first female anchor of a San Antonio news program.

2003
Legendary sportswriter and TV sportscaster Dan Cook writes his final column for the San Antonio Express-News.  The column is entitled: 1952 – The Fat Lady Has Sung – 2003: “No regrets and no complaints after 51 years.” (right)