July 12 in San Antonio history…

1907
The new state law in effect today requires San Antonio automobile owners to report to the county clerk, register their names and obtain a number for their machine.  County Clerk Newton says this law affects all vehicles – gas, electric and even motorcycles.

1966
Architects unveiled before the HemisFair executive committee completed designs and scale-model photographs of the proposed Institute of Texan Cultures.

1991
The team of Johnson, Dempsey & Associates, Legorreta Architects and Davis Sprinkle are chosen in a design competition for the new 180,000 Central Library to be constructed on the site of the Sears building on Romana Plaza.

June 20 in San Antonio history…

1930
Randolph Field is dedicated in front of 20,000 San Antonians and visitors.  Brig. Gen. Frank P. Lahm, commander of the Air Corps Training Center, called it “the best site I have ever seen for a flying field.”  Texas Governor Dan Moody was forced to scramble from his car when it caught fire leaving the event but the auto was quickly extinguished by nearby firemen.

1954
San Antonio chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today voted unanimously to instruct its legal redress committee to take immediate steps to have the city’s segregated swimming pool ordinance declared unconstitutional.

1966
Sister Angela Clare Moran replaces Sister Mary Vincent as administrator of Santa Rosa Hospital.

June 2 in San Antonio history…

1963
The Westfall branch library opens.

1966
The proposal of the Aerial Transportation Company to install and operate a skyride in Hemisfair and the downtown area is approved by the City Council.  Approval of the council was necessary since the ride, following the six-month fair, will become the property of the city. The contract gives the Aerial Transportation Company, comprised of Randy Clay, Austin Hemphill and B.J. “Red” McCombs, a 15-year concession on the ride following the fair.  During that period, the company will pay the city 28 percent of the gross revenues.

1981
The San Antonio Express reports that new Mayor Henry Cisneros will meet with President Ronald Reagan tomorrow in Washington D. C. and Jose Lopez Portillo, President of Mexico, the next day.

May 11 in San Antonio history…

1960
In Corporation Court today, Eugene “Mike” Nolte, Republican party leader, is found not guilty of slapping Rev. Earl J. Gordon during a May 3 protest in front of Joske’s segregated Camelia Room restaurant.   Nolte stated that he slapped Gordon while breaking through the protest line which was preventing him from entering the dining room.  Rev. Gordon, who had been charged with disturbing the peace, was also found not guilty.

1966
“Tower of the Americas”, the name suggested by Rosa Gonzalez of Corpus Christi, is chosen as the official name of the 622-foot tall HemisFair tower. Ms. Gonzalez won a three-day expenses-paid stay at the Menger Hotel for herself and her immediate family, a $100 savings bond and a season pass to HemisFair. The names chosen as runners-up were: Hemispire, Hemistower, Astroshaft, Astrospire, Astrotower, Stratospire, Spire of the Americas and Tower of Peace.

1979
Contributions to the Express-News sniper fund, to benefit needy victims of the Battle of Flowers shooting, have reached $12,675.  The fund is co-sponsored by KONO/KITY radio and KENS 5 TV.

April 30 in San Antonio history…

1884
The City Brewery (Pearl) holds its grand opening.

1960
A number of African-Americans boycott Joske’s to protest the segregation of the store’s restaurants, the Chuck Wagon and Camelia Room.

1966
The contract to build a 650-foot tower at the HemisFair site was awarded today to D.J. Rheiner Construction Company.  Architectural details for the unnamed tower will be released within 60 days.

March 24 in San Antonio history…

1966
The groundbreaking is held for the South Texas Medical School and Bexar County Teaching Hospital (later renamed The University of Texas Health Science Center and University Hospital.)

1988
The long-awaited union between classical station KPAC and National Public Radio affiliate KSTX was formally voted on and approved today by the boards of the two stations.  “With any luck, this plan will be approved by the Federal Communications Commission and KSTX will be operating by the end of the year,” said Joe Gwathmey, who will be general manager of the two stations.

2004
The Judson School District board votes to name the district’s second high school for 1979 Judson High graduate Lt. Col. Karen Wagner, who died in the Sept. 11, 2001 attack on the Pentagon.

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 16 in San Antonio history…

1861
U.S. Government property is surrendered by General Twiggs at San Antonio to the Secession Convention Commissioners. If this had not been a peaceful transfer, it would be known as the event that started the Civil War – right here in San Antonio.

1966
Final plans and specifications for the city’s proposed $1.7 million new main library were approved unanimously during a special meeting of the Library Board.  Advertisement for bids is expected to go out Monday.

2021
As many as 372,000 San Antonio households are without power as the state electrical grid buckles under the demand during the winter storm.  To make matters worse, Texas Senator Ted Cruz flies to Cancún for a warm vacation.

January 13 in San Antonio history…

1987
Alice Cooper cuts the ribbon opening the new Sound Warehouse store at 6951 San Pedro Avenue.

November 23 in San Antonio history…

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.”

1957
For the first time in at least six years, snow fell on San Antonio today for several hours, leaving the city under a beautiful blanket of white.

1966
The Wonder Theater opens at Wonderland Shopping City showing “Not With My Wife You Don’t.”