October 11 in San Antonio history…

1937
San Antonio’s new federal building and post office opens on Alamo Plaza.  Ralph Cameron, a San Antonian, was architect and A. W Kutsch and Sons of Detroit were general contractors. The contract price was $1,768.510.93 but with extras which included features of the building cut out of the original plans and replaced, total cost of the building when entirely completed will aggregate approximately $2,225,000.

1986
Southwest High School quarterback Ty Detmer breaks Tommy Kramer’s city record of 54 career touchdown passes in a 47-0 drubbing of Memorial High School.  Detmer also broke the record of five touchdown passes in a game with seven, most yards passing with 435 (breaking his previous record of 430), and setting the state record for career passing yardage with 6,245, breaking Gary Kubiak’s record of 6,190.

2007
San Antonio City Council votes to purchase the Mission Drive-In property for $3.2 million and redevelop the site for a multi-use complex which includes a public library.

October 9 in San Antonio history…

1955
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus performs under the big top in San Antonio for the last time.  All future performances will be in existing coliseums and stadiums.

1962
Hanger 14, a wooden aircraft hangar constructed at Brooks Field in 1917, catches fire and burns to the ground.  Six fire units, three from Brooks and three from San Antonio, fought the blaze on the structure.  There were several explosions when high-pressure oxygen tanks and blank 20-mm ejection seat shells were set off by the fire.

1986
The 5,400-square-foot mural by Roland Rodriguez, painted on the façade of the Hemisfair Arena, entitled “Victory and Triumph,” is dedicated.  Unfortunately, the mural is destroyed when the Arena is razed in 1995.

September 18 in San Antonio history…

1940
The old cornerstone of the Texas Hotel, built as St. Mary’s Hall in 1866, is removed as the building is razed.

1986
Joint public TV stations KLRN-TV of San Antonio and KLRU-TV of Austin vote to split up and work toward operating independently.  Starting in October, each station will begin keeping its own books.

1994
Alamo Heights Methodist Church conducts the first Sunday services in its new location at 825 E. Basse Road after moving from its longtime location at 5101 Broadway.

September 16 in San Antonio history…

1986
The Roeglein Company, an 81-year old San Antonio meat company, files for bankruptcy, citing debts of $7.2 million and assets of $15 million.

2004
The City Council unanimously approves the purchase of the former headquarters of the San Antonio Water System, including the historic Yturri House, for $7.73 million.  The city will raise the money from bonds backed by the Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue.

2005
San Antonio’s newest shopping center, The Shops at La Cantera, at 1604 and La Cantera Drive, opens today.

August 19 in San Antonio history…

1907
The San Antonio Light states, “despite the fact that no official weather forecast can be had because of local involvement in the telegraph strike, we have it on good authority that there will be no snowstorm within the next 24 hours.”

1935
Mayor C. K. Quin today ordered a series of mural paintings taken from the walls of the foyer of the Municipal Auditorium, after their presence was protested by the American Legion Central Council of Bexar County. The paintings by Xavier Gonzales, were criticized for containing hidden Communist symbols.

1986
The temperature reaches 108 degrees, a record that will stand as the hottest in San Antonio history until September of 2000.

May 29 in San Antonio history…

1857
Officer Frederick Fieldstrup becomes the first recorded San Antonio Police Officer in San Antonio to die in the line of duty. He is killed on the corner of Market Street and Alamo Street in a shoot-out with Bill Hart, a notorious gambler, and two of his companions. Hart and his two companions were also killed along with Fieldstrup.

1979
U.S. District Judge John H. Wood Jr. of San Antonio is assassinated while getting into his car at his home in San Antonio. Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, is later convicted of the crime and sentenced to two life terms.

1986
Dressed as a magician, Mayor Henry Cisneros waves a magic wand to trigger an explosion to start the groundbreaking for the $53 million redevelopment of Hemisfair Plaza.  The small explosion shakes windows and causes panic in the nearby John H. Wood, Jr. Federal Courthouse due to recent worldwide terrorist attack activity.

April 27 in San Antonio history…

1974
A 22-year old streaker jumps on a float in the Fiesta Flambeau parade.  He is arrested on a disorderly conduct charge, pleads guilty and assessed a $200 fine in Municipal Court.  He was not released, however. He was held in custody as he was wanted by Armed Forces Police for being AWOL from the Air Force since last December.

Al Guzman/SAN ANTONIO LIGHT FILE PHOTO

1979
During the Battle of Flowers parade, Ira Attebury sprays the crowd with shotgun and semiautomatic rifle fire from a parked motorhome (right). Two die, 55 are wounded. Attebury commits suicide as SWAT teams close in.

1986
The first heart transplant in San Antonio was performed by a team of surgeons from Medical Center Hospital and the UT Health Science Center.

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.

 

 

April 10 in San Antonio history…

1931
The new African-American newspaper, the San Antonio Register, owned by Valmo C. Bellinger, publishes its first issue.

1964
The U.S. Bureau of Public Roads approves the route of the controversial North Freeway (now 281) through the Incarnate Word property.

1986
The San Antonio Express reports that a demolition permit is being sought to raze the art deco-style Laurel Theater at 2310 San Pedro Avenue in the Monte Vista Historical District. City staff said the owner, Barshop Enterprises, wants to clear the land and has no other site plans. The request will go to the Historic Review Board.

March 31 in San Antonio history…

1930
The New York Yankees, with sluggers Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, play the San Antonio Indians in an exhibition game at League Park.  The Yanks won, 14-1.  After the game, “Ruth was the principal speaker and drawing card at a rally of Knothole Gang members, their parents and friends in the Municipal Auditorium. Probably 2,000 youngsters heard Ruth advise clean living, obedience of parents, plenty of sleep and attention to schoolwork,” beamed the San Antonio Light.  The Yanks head for Austin the next morning to play the University of Texas.

1955
Rev. S.H. James, leader of the local chapter of the NAACP, leads picketers (right) in front of the Texas Theater protesting their policy of segregation. The theater set aside the mezzanine and balcony for black patrons to see the movie “Carmen Jones,” with an all-black cast. The theater had not previously admitted African-American patrons.

1986
Today is the last day to shop at the downtown Sears store located at 642 Soledad.  The store has been unprofitable since 1979 and is closing for good after 40 years.  The store employs 175 people, 107 of whom are part-time employees.