MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1995
The welcome sign to town still reflects the Cordova of her memories, a country crossroads known for ”Farms, Flowers, Fellowship.” Growth here was an agricultural factor, not a demographic one. ”It was quiet out here for a long time,” said Margaret Schwam, a lifetime member of Cordova Presbyterian Church, organized just after the Civil War. ”When I was a kid, we did well to have 25 members in the church and most of them was Schwams.” The Cordova of her memories is nothing like Cordova at the moment. The population has surged from a few hundred in the late 1970s to more than 8,000 today. Subdivisions are sprouting faster than sunflowers in these fields. But as Cordova’s farms and flowers give way to suburban sprawl, fellowship is flourishing. Cordova has nearly 20 churches, about one for every 400 residents. That’s the same ratio as Memphis. Already this year, four congregations have opened new structures. At least two more will be opening next year.
50 years ago — 1970
Perhaps tonight Memphis State can pull all the tricks out of its brand-new basketball bag. The Tigers entertain South Dakota in the Mid-south Coliseum and Coach Gene Bartow “feels sure” he’ll be able to field his No. 1 unit for the first time in this young season. Junior center Don Holcomb is scheduled to see his first action after being sidelined for a week with a sore knee. With Holcomb in the starting lineup, the forwards will be sophomore Ronnie Robinson and junior Fred Horton. The guards will be senior James Douglas and sophomore Larry Finch. Bartow hopes to get a longer look at Finch, the quarterback in the Tigers’ fastbreaking offense.
75 years ago — 1945
A couple of Memphis bait casters, Charlie Balestrino and Pop Shook, disappeared a couple of weeks ago for a bit of lure flinging and came home with 25 head of plain and fancy bass. One of them was a 71⁄ 2- pounder taken by Charlie, which makes both that particular fish and the place of its origin a matter of much importance. Most everything up to and including a front seat in Heaven has been offered the lucky fishermen in return for information leading to their source. But their lips are buttoned.
100 years ago — 1920
In common with other officials in this “neck o’ the woods,” United States Commissioner George H. Poole announced yesterday that hereafter the grip of the law, so far as his official acts were concerned, will tighten upon the arm of law violators. So saying, the commissioner served notice that in the future, where the facts of the case warrant it, alleged criminals will be required to furnish bigger and better bonds than they have in the past. He says that he will first make the bond as heavy as possible and then insist that the man signing as surety give evidence that he is really worth the amount.