MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1993

Philanthropist Paul Piper, who rescued the Briarcrest Christian Schools from financial difficulties, has reached a tentative agreement to buy the Germantown Baptist Church site on Germantown Road. Piper and church officials confirmed the potential sale Tuesday, saying the two sides just need to sign the necessary papers to complete the deal. Piper said he wants to put “something like a Christian school” on the 8-acre site, but didn’t give any more details.

50 years ago — 1968

The annual George Klein Christmas Charity Hop at the Fairgrounds Youth Center Dec. 13 is expected to draw the fourth annual “standing room only” crowd. Mr. Klein, Memphis television and radio personality, said the show will raise funds for The Commercial Appeal-American Legion Mile-O-Dimes Christmas Basket Fund and the Goodfellows. Several of Memphis’ top rock and roll and rhythm and blues groups will play for the dance-show, including the Rapids, Flash and the Board of Directors, the Jacks, the Hombres, the Rapscallions, the King Lears, Sherry Grooms and the WHBQuties, an all-girl dance group.

75 years ago — 1943

Memphis crap shooters and poker players made a $50 donation to The Commercial Appeal-American Legion Christmas Basket Fund yesterday. The money, seized by police in gambling raids, was donated by Police Commissioner Joe Boyle.

100 years ago — 1918

PARIS — A proposal has been made to erect a monument at the mouth of the Gironde River to commemorate help given in the war by the Americans. Inspiration for the idea came from the words of United States General Pershing during his visit to Picpus Cemetery — “Lafayette, we are here.”

125 years ago — 1893

The Knoxville Tribune is needling us again. Yesterday they said: “The revivalist Sam Jones is in Memphis again fighting sin with might and main. Memphis affords Sam a fine field for his talents, and he visits it oftener than any other Tennessee city.” The Tribune is mistaken. Mr. Jones comes here because he finds appreciation. He is inspiring us to preach the gospel. Soon missionaries from Memphis will go forth to convert the heathen of Knoxville.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Boys and girls all over Memphis and the Mid-South are busy in November 1952, filling Junior Red Cross gift boxes which soon will be sent to needy students in distant lands. Active in the gift box campaign at Treadwell are these four, who spent their afternoons packing the boxes with articles they'd bought. Busy at work are. from left, Loretta Lewter, 12, of 769 Freeman; Alna Bonds, 11, of 3697 Vernon; Lewis Gross, 13, of 1053 Gordon; and Margaret Barrow, 13 of 3458 Bowen.