MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 Years Ago — 1995
The mercury hit 100 in Memphis Saturday, the first time it’s been that hot in more than four years. It was the fourth straight day local temperatures reached 95 degrees or higher, and more sweltering is expected today, with highs predicted in the high 90s. In addition to forcing people indoors, the heat also hampered firefighters battling a blaze at the East Memphis home of golfer Dr. Cary Middlecoff. Memphis International Airport reached 100 degrees for the official high at 1:30 p.m., said meteorologist Jeff A. Logsdon. The heat index – a measure of air temperature and humidity – hit 112 at the airport. The heat index in Millington hit 123 at noon on Saturday while the mercury crept to 100 degrees.
50 Years Ago — 1970
County Court Squire William W. Farris yesterday came out strongly against the Consolidation Charter Commission’s plan to delay merging city and county school systems if consolidation of the two governments is approved. “I think it’s vital to consolidate the schools, declared Mr. Farris, one of the 10 commission members. He said school consolidation should be realized regardless of the fate of governmental consolidation. The school plan calls for county and city systems to remain separate for the first four years of consolidated government. It provides for a referendum after three years.
75 Years Ago — 1945
Rockford, Ill. – A specially equipped Army bomber sprayed more than 1,500 gallons of DDT solution over a selected area of Rockford Sunday in a scientific experiment to determine the insecticide’s value in controlling a spread of infantile paralysis. There have been 16 deaths and 140 illnesses from the disease in the Rockford area since July 1. A second series of flights was planned for Monday. Dr. John R. Paul, Yale University poliomyelitis authority who conducted the experiment, said no information would be made public on either of the two designated areas. “To announce that a specific territory had been sprayed with DDT might cause a stampede into the protected area,” he said. “Such action might confuse the experiment.”
100 Years Ago — 1920
City Attorney W.P. Armstrong is going to spend what remains of his summer vacation in intensive training for a legal bout with two heavyweight opponents, the Memphis Street Railway and the Gas and Electric Co. His vacation in Chicago with his wife and Walter Jr. was rudely interrupted by the call to a preliminary skirmish. It was settled when Judge Cochran ruled that the much-dreaded seven-cent fare shall go into effect tomorrow.