MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
As the act of dissolution was completed and the 128year-old congregation disbanded Sunday, sunlight streamed through an open Bible in the stained glass behind the altar. On the Bible were four letters framed by the afternoon sun: V.D.M.A. — Latin for “The Word of God Endures Forever.” Springdale United Methodist Church, organized in 1867 on an acre of what was then the Memphis frontier, held its final worship service as a congregation Sunday. But the doors are not closing. The Midtown buildings that housed one of the city's oldest congregations now stand at the edge of a new Methodist frontier — the changing inner-city. The structures on North Trezevant near Rhodes College will become the base of operations for Common Cup, a cooperative inner-city ministry sponsored by three other churches. 50 years ago — 1970
When singer Jimmy Driftwood invited the college crowd down to Mountain View, Ark., for a folk bash in 1963, he “promised” them they could sleep in the barn. To his surprise, they did. And the college group has been coming back every year, along with a diversity of other people who make the Arkansas Folk Festival a phenomenon of the times. This year the barn floor was bedrollto-bedroll and the air was heavy with festivity.
75 years ago — 1945
Washington – A hope that the government will not go out of its way to bring home foreign sweethearts was expressed in the House of Representatives Monday by Rep. Ellis, R-W.VA. “When the boys get home and think it over they may regret their choice,” he said.
100 years ago — 1920
Washington — One of President Wilson's sheep slipped into the White House executive offices yesterday to make a call on hundreds of clerks.
125 years ago — 1895
Colonel H.M. Neely addressed the City Council Thursday on the famous and long-pending smoke and soot ordinance. He said he has been suffering a long time from the smoke nuisance himself, and he thought it was time he learned whether he was ever to get relief. At this juncture, Barron Collier sent in a box of cigars, and to this brand of smoke Colonel Neely, as well as other members, took very kindly. It was then decided to hold a special session “soon” to discuss a suitable solution.