MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
Five members of the old Shelby Farms Advisory Board are among eight nominees announced Wednesday by county Mayor Jim Rout for a new board that will operate the farms for park and recreational use. The new board, established by a County Commission ordinance that went into effect Sept. 1, will have the power to appoint an executive director and will operate under a budget approved by the commission. The board will have jurisdiction over 2,900 of the 4,500 acres that have been considered farms property.
50 years ago — 1970
Pasadena, Calif. – Whenever a major earthquake shakes some part of the world, Charles Francis Richter experiences a slight shudder. The man who invented the earthquake scale that bears his name has just turned 70 and is officially retired, but he still worries about the tremors he calls his “babies.” Richter still has an office at the seismological laboratory at California Institute of Technology where he has worked since 1927. He has a seismograph — about the size of a washing machine — on the hearth of his fireplace and refers to earthquakes affectionately as “big fellows” and “little ones.” He spends most of his time today writing, acting as a consultant to other seismologists and studying geological faults.
75 years ago — 1945
Washington – The late President Roosevelt will be honored by issuance of four memorial stamps bearing his likeness, Postmaster General Frank Wright announced yesterday. A purple 3-cent stamp, designed with the President’s portrait and a representation of the White House, will go on sale here June 27. Other stamps in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 cents will be on sale later. 100 years ago — 1920
El Paso – A reward of 100,000 pesos for the death or capture of Francisco Villa has been offered by the government of the state of Chihuahua; 2,000 troops left Chihuahua City this morning under orders to hunt down the bandit chieftain.
125 years ago — 1895
Chicago – The Rock Island train was held up again last night, this time near Dover, Oklahoma Territory, by five masked men who jumped aboard from their horses. They shot the baggage man and proceeded through the coaches robbing the passengers of their jewelry, guns and money. The bandits then jumped from the train and disappeared in the night.