December 24 in San Antonio history…

1987
A 30-year-old man with a history of mental issues ignites a Christmas wreath hung on the doors of the Alamo, causing $3,000 in damage to the doors.  He is arrested on charges of arson and resisting arrest.

September 13 in San Antonio history…

1957
The northern lights, visible from San Antonio for the first time in many years, had lawmen frantically looking for “the big fire” early Friday morning.

1961
The San Antonio Light reports that Hurricane Carla has destroyed all but one of Galveston’s pleasure and fishing piers, including the Balinese. (The Balinese was rebuilt but finally destroyed by Hurricane Ike on September 12, 2008.)

1987
Pope John Paul II visits San Antonio and gives a Mass for an estimated 350,000 people in Westover Hills on the site of what is today Stevens High School.  He also visits Plaza Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, San Fernando Cathedral and Municipal Auditorium.

September 10 in San Antonio history…

1886
Geronimo, along with 26 other members of the Chiricahua Apache tribe, is brought to Ft. Sam Houston after his surrender in Mexico.  He will be held here for about six weeks before being sent to Ft. Pickens in Pensacola, Florida.

1921
With a known death list of 37 that may total more than 200 when all the missing are accounted for, and with a property loss of near $5 million, San Antonio was suffering the worst flood in its history.

1987
High winds destroy the twin towers and scaffolding set up for the Mass led by Pope John Paul II only two days before his arrival.  Despite over $100,000 in damages, Richard Hemberger, state coordinator for the papal visit, says the Mass will proceed as scheduled.

August 26 in San Antonio history…

1917
Anheuser-Busch promotes “Bevo,” a near-beer, for the troops.  “After drill or march, you’re sure to see a long line of hot and dusty-throated soldier boys making a bee-line for Bevo.”

1933
The bottling of beer at the Pearl Brewery has recommenced for the first time since 1920, under special permit from the government.  The beer will go on sale one minute after midnight on Sept. 15.

1987
The San Antonio Express reports that alcoholic beverages will be banned at the papal mass site next month.

August 24 in San Antonio history…

1891
The thermometer drops to a chilly 57 degrees – still a record low for August in San Antonio.

1987
A 13-member committee chooses the 47-acre site of the former Alamo Iron Works to be the future location of the proposed domed stadium.

2007
Mission Drive-In reopens for a last hurrah after extensive vandalism in the spring.

August 22 in San Antonio history…

1958
If new sources of water are not found for San Antonio in the next four years, the city is going to be up a creek and a dry one at that. This was the contention today of R. A. Thompson Jr., general manager of the water board, as he outlined San Antonio’s future water needs.

1980
San Antonio Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela fans 15 batters in a 3-0 win over Amarillo.  The 19-year-old lefty allowed just two hits in the second half of the season and struck out 162 batters in 174 innings.

1987
The Pope’s upcoming nine-day visit to the United States, including San Antonio on September 13, is expected to cost at least $28 million.  Texas bishops are raising $2.5 million for the San Antonio visit.

June 22 in San Antonio history…

1951
Rep. Carl Vinson, chairman of the House Armed Services committee, introduces a bill in Congress to authorize the establishment of an Air Force Academy, to be of equal academic status to West Point and Annapolis. Thomas K. Finletter, Secretary of the Air Force, says that the list of proposed sites has been narrowed to seven.  Of these, Randolph Air Force Base, already an important Air Force installation of long standing, appears to be the favorite.

1981
From today until Friday, San Antonio will be the center of attention on NBC’s “Wheel of Fortune” game show.  A couple of weeks ago, the show’s hosts, Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford spent time in the Alamo City filming the most beautiful attractions – the Alamo, the missions, the zoo, Fort Sam Houston and the market – to show the country.

1987
The Spurs use their No. 1 draft pick to select Naval Academy Midshipman David Robinson (right).

April 21 in San Antonio history…

1886
A letter in the Galveston Daily News today claims that the man responsible for naming San Jacinto Day was Charles P. Bickley, who died in 1880 in New Orleans.  He was an actor, author and journalist, being the former editor of the San Antonio Herald.

1936
The Plaza Hotel and Mexican Business Men’s Association sponsor a “Venetian Night” featuring a water carnival and a parade of 18 gondolas on the San Antonio River.  The success of this event leads to the development of the Riverwalk two years later.

Photo by Terry Jeanson

1987
The refurbished copper Indian is returned to his place atop the old Missouri Pacific depot downtown.  Castroville blacksmith Alan Lewis restored the Indian after it was found battered and bent in a nearby field when vandals removed it five years ago.

April 3 in San Antonio history…

1907
Two 15-year-old girls are fined $5 apiece in police court on charges of fast driving in a rented horse and buggy.  Though they denied drinking, they admitted to consuming several bottles of soda water.

1981
Henry Cisneros is elected mayor of San Antonio, becoming the first Mexican-American mayor in a major U.S. city.  His opponent was John Steen.

1987
The mercury reaches an all-time low for the date of 31 degrees, the latest freeze in San Antonio history.  (Still a record today.)

December 16 in San Antonio history…

1889
The city council decides to extend Crockett Street across the river to St. Mary’s Street.

1938
Robert H. H. Hugman is named the official architect of the River Beautification Project  W. H. Lilly is named engineer.

1987
KABB 29 goes on the air quietly as San Antonio’s second independent television station and the only one in a year since KRRT took on the new Fox network. In 1995, after spending over seven years as an independent, KABB picked up the Fox affiliation from KRRT, which became affiliated with UPN.  The official debut is December 20.