MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 Years Ago — 1995
WASHINGTON — As congressional hearings into the Waco tragedy continued Thursday, Attorney General Janet Reno defended her decision to use CS tear gas to end the 1993 siege. “I did the best that I could, trying to explore every avenue,” Reno said at her weekly press conference. “It is the most difficult decision that I have ever made and one that I live with regularly.” Reno will testify Monday before two House subcommittees holding joint hearings into the federal action against cult leader David Koresh and his Branch Davidian followers.
50 Years Ago — 1970
County Court members yesterday overruled pleas for a Downtown main campus for a new community college and set aside 100 acres at the Shelby County Penal Farm for the facility. The court placed a $1 million price tag on the land and challenged city officials to provide three satellite sites and furnish utilities to all sites. If city costs exceed $1 million, the county would split the costs. The college is to be built by state officials with the city and county providing sites.
75 Years Ago — 1945
WASHINGTON — Reports that a new Memphis post office has been named the Mckellar Branch Post Office is all “news” to Senator Mckellar (D-tenn.), he said Friday. The report was printed in a Capitol gossip column which has often in the past attacked the Tennessee senator. “That is the first that I have heard of such a post office,” the senator said. “I’ll have to go by and see it when I get back home.”
100 Years Ago — 1920
The Fransioli Hotel, located in Memphis at Second and Union, is now under the management of Adolph Tschumi, who has been with the hotel for 30 years.
125 Years Ago — 1895
At East End Park Friday night, the annual grand concert promenade and ball will be given by members of the Cotton Exchange for the city’s orphans. Taking part in the musical program will be the Guitar and Mandolin Club, Mrs. M.R. Hill, Mrs. C.P.J. Mooney and Miss Georgie Goodloe.