MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1994 Los Angeles – A limousine driver and a guest at O.J. Simpson’s estate told a tale of thumps in the night and a shadowy figure hurrying into the mansion as prosecutors Tuesday sought to establish that Simpson had as much as 75 minutes to commit murder. Limo driver Allan Park testified he arrived early at Simpson’s mansion for a 10:45 p.m. pickup the night of the murders and no one answered the intercom until after he saw a person slip into the house close to 11 p.m. “He told me he overslept, that he just got out of the shower and he’d be down in a minute,” Park said of the voice over the intercom that he believed to be Simpson’s. And Brian “Kato” Kaelin, who lives in a guest house on the estate, said he and Simpson returned from a Mcdonald’s dinner about 9:45 p.m. and he didn’t see him again until he went out to investigate thumps he heard at 10:40 p.m. and saw Simpson a short time later getting into the limousine. 50 years ago — 1969 The Memphis Light, Gas & Water Division headquarters building is taking shape at the corner of Beale and Main, as much an improvement in appearance as the Civic Center is for North Main. Bids are scheduled Oct. 1 for an $11 million Post Office on the Union Station site on Calhoun, another sharp change for the South Main area. Now we see the Internal Revenue Service Center is planned in the near future, a huge building in which 4,000 persons can work with directives calling for a location in South Memphis or South Shelby County. 75 years ago — 1944 Within sight of their $33,704,000 goal, Shelby County bond workers made plans yesterday to assure a successful conclusion for the Fifth War Loan Drive. They have $6,708,525 to go before the official closing at midnight Saturday. 100 years ago — 1919 Alexander Pantages of Seattle, Wash., and J.F. Hoist of Memphis have closed a $1.2 million deal to bring an ultramodern theater to Memphis. The building will be erected on Main between Union and Monroe on the site now occupied by the old Van Vleet Building. 125 years ago — 1894 There was a barbecue and political speaking yesterday at the Bethell Place on Pigeon Roost Road. Tony Cassaretto, master of ceremonies, set a fine feast before the crowd and those attending listened to Shelby County orators.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL Nita Jean Power, 12, of Tunica, Mississippi, gave her pet fox, Buster, a fond hug on July 6, 1951, before she left him at his new home, the Overton Park Zoo. It was Buster's eating habits that got him in trouble. The pet fox developed a natural fox-like taste for chicken. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Power, decided Buster would be better off at the zoo. Buster had been found in a hollow tree about three months ago by a friend, who gave it to Nita Jean. She didn't lose all her pets, as she still had a cat and a turtle.