MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
Montgomery, Ala. – Alabama is bringing back the chain gang, a sight most Americans haven’t seen since the Paul Newman movie “Cool Hand Luke.” This spring, inmates will be put in leg irons and made to pick up litter along well-traveled roads. Alabama’s new prison commissioner, Ron Jones, has placed a $17,000 order for 300 sets of leg irons, so inmates can be put to work during the first 90 days of their sentences. Alabama will be the nation’s first state to reinstitute chain gangs, according to national corrections organizations.
50 years ago — 1970
Efforts to draft a proposed charter consolidating Memphis and Shelby County governments will begin Monday with the first meeting of a 10-member charter commission. The consolidation drive, in the political background for weeks, came into the open yesterday as inner city and county officials made public the names of commission members. City appointees include Mary Rose Mccormick, Lewis R. Donelson III, Odell Horton, Albert C. Rickey and H.A. Wehrum. County members are Leonard Dunavant, William W. Farris, Walter Bailey, Edward G. Humphreys
and Maynard Wingo.
75 years ago — 1945
The platform whereon those representing the management and owners of J. Goldsmith’s & Sons sat last night was elevated, but their exalted position meant nothing at all since the Peabody Ballroom just happens to be built that way. The real interest in the firm, which was celebrating its 75th birthday, spread last night to the farthest reaches of the ballroom. It was a party for all who made Goldsmith’s great, each “co-worker,” known as employees in other stores, was a distinguished guest, and each was treated as such.
100 years ago — 1920
Chicago – Two carloads of patent medicines, said to contain 55 percent alcohol, were seized today by federal authorities on warrants issued by United States District Attorney C.F. Olyne.
125 years ago — 1895
A company of good performers will appear tonight at the Memphis Lyceum Theater. The advance ticket sales have been very large for this show.