Boys of summer
25 years ago — 1993
Lakeland officials filed suit in Shelby County Chancery Court Monday asking a judge to stop the City of Memphis from annexing the Stonebridge subdivision. The suit, which had been expected, charges that Memphis’s attempts to annex the 4.7-square-mile subdivision violates a 1988 agreement between the two cities that laid out what areas could be annexed. The suit, filed on behalf of Lakeland officials by Somerville attorney Edward B. Johnson, also charges Memphis’s annexation effort is “not necessary for the welfare” of Memphis or the Stonebridge residents, who the suit contends are opposed to the annexation.
50 years ago — 1968
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to star in what was billed as a “dress rehearsal” for his April 22 “Poor People’s Crusade” on Washington. By his own nonviolent standards, the rehearsal was a flop. Next week, he says, he’ll come back for another try. “We are going to have a massive nonviolent demonstration in Memphis,” he said at a press conference yesterday before flying back to Atlanta and his Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) headquarters.
75 years ago — 1943
With the British Eighth Army in North Africa — In his biggest gamble of the war Gen. Bernard Montgomery has outfoxed the Desert Fox, Marshal Erwin Rommel. Strong elements of British troops outflanked the Germans’ Mareth Line through a wild, sandy fringe of the Sahara Desert, across country which seemed impossible for an army to move over. Montgomery’s maneuver forced Rommel to divide his army into two parts. Under cover of night Montgomery sent a flanking column of tanks and infantry around to the rear of the Nazis, forcing Rommel and part of his troops to leave the Mareth Line. Thrown into retreat Rommel has run to the coast. There Allied warships have moved in and are bombarding the shore.
100 years ago — 1918
All Memphis will unite today in the celebration of Thrift Day. A profusion of novel entertainments will be provided for the thousands of citizens who will throng the downtown section where workers will try to sell at least $50,000 worth of thrift stamps. One hundred and fifty booths will line Main Street to sell the stamps. At 2 p.m. at Court Square, 100 beautiful ladies will present a Panorama of Patriotism. A squadron of airplanes from Park Field flying school at Millington will hover over Main Street. Three hundred members of the Herbert Hoover Helpers Club will march from the courthouse to Hotel Chisca.
125 years ago — 1893
NASHVILLE — Unless very unusual steps are taken Memphis coffers may be empty for two years. A bill to authorize the local Legislative Council to levy taxes passed both the House and the Senate, but in both bodies there was a motion to reconsider the bill. Since the General Assembly recesses in two days, the bill could lie dormant for two years.