MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1993

They called it The Great Store, and when it opened in 1927 — the year Lindbergh flew the Atlantic — more than 47,000 people lined up to see where Sears, Roebuck and Co. would fulfill the wishes from America’s big wish book. Built on 12 acres at Watkins and North Parkway, the store was considered such an attraction that Mayor Rowlett Paine cut a ribbon, unlocked the front door and drove the first streetcar along a new line created largely to carry shoppers to what was to become the hub of early-day consumerism.

50 years ago — 1968

Sponsors of the city’s 150th birthday celebration yesterday won Memphis Park Commission approval to build a duplicate of Memphis’s first log cabin courthouse in Court Square. Howard Willey, president of Memphis Sesquicentennial Inc., wrote the commission his group intends to use the log cabin as an information center. The original cabin was built “before 1826” and remained in Memphis until 1931, Mr. Willey wrote, and served the city as a municipal court meeting house, school and First Baptist Church. Brandon Davis, executive director of the sesquicentennial group, pledged the Park Commission would not be asked to finance either construction or destruction of the cabin. It will remain up through the end of 1969.

75 years ago — 1943

Plans for the first concert of the Memphis Symphony society’s 1943-44 season, at Ellis Auditorium, Nov. 16, will be completed by the society’s Board of Directors tonight at the Memphis College of Music, 1822 Overton Park. Miss Eugenia Buxton, Memphis pianist, will be guest artist at the first concert.

100 years ago — 1918

Sixty-one Memphis high school graduates enrolled yesterday for military training at West Tennessee State Normal College, said Prof. S.E. Scates, in charge of enlistments.

125 years ago — 1893

ST. JOHN’S, Newfoundland — Lieutenant Peary’s steamer, Falcon, arrived in St. John’s today. She left the Peary exploring party at the head of Bowdon Bay, North Greenland, and they are all well and anxious to start for the North Pole.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Temple Israel’s rabbis, Dr. James A. Wax, left, and Dr. Harry W. Ettelson will conduct many of the services in the congregational’s big centennial year. Dr. Ettelson will retire in the spring with the title of rabbi emeritus. Dr. Wax will take his place. Here the spiritual leaders take an accustomed stand between the pulpit desk and the wall tabernacle on 6 Sep 1953.