MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1997

John Gray & Son Market, faced with a demand to bring the landmark Midtown grocery store into compliance with modern city health codes, has closed. The grocery store, which had operated at 1864 Madison since 1928, was shuttered at 8 p.m. Saturday, said Michael T. Williams, store owner. ''We really appreciate the support we got in Midtown. We hate it had to end that way,'' said Williams, 35. ''It didn't make sense for a 1915 building to be brought up to today's standards.'' Williams said the decision to close John Gray & Son Market was made after the Memphisshelby

County Health Department ordered the store to upgrade its leased facility earlier this year.

50 years ago — 1972

WASHINGTON – The Senate Finance Committee voted Friday to kill President Nixon's welfare reform program and adopted a plan that would require 1.2 million welfare recipients to take jobs or lose all federal benefits.

75 years ago — 1947

LITTLE ROCK – A divorce cannot be obtained under Arkansas' 90-day divorce law unless the petitioner is a "bona fide" resident of Arkansas and shows an intent to retain a "bona fide" residence

in the state, the Arkansas Supreme Court held Monday in a sweeping decision upsetting a 1932 holding by the high tribunal.

100 years ago — 1922

The new auditorium-market house will not contain the city offices. The plans as they now exist, making no provision for the city hall, were approved yesterday by the city and auditorium commissions.

125 years ago — 1897

BATESVILLE, Ark. – A fire started by burglars attempting to blow a safe destroyed seven stores and three residences in Newark, near Batesville.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES April 23, 2016: Jimmy Williams helps his 1-year-old grandson, Xaden Balleza, keep a cool head during the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life at Tiger Lane. Several teams representing Memphis-area businesses gathered to raise money for cancer research, support programs and grants.