July 4th fatigue
25 years ago: 1990
It’s official: Cordova is part of Memphis.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has refused to rehear arguments blocking annexation of 7.5 square miles of the Cordova area. The decision caps a six-year legal battle.
Memphis city officials got the word Tuesday and started planning to begin providing police, fire and other city services to the area at 12:01 this morning.
Mayor Dick Hackett said the area will yield about $2 million less in tax revenues than the city will pay to provide services this fiscal year, which began Sunday.
That deficit will be offset by an expected $3 million surplus in the city’s operating budget from last fiscal year, the mayor said.
50 years ago: 1965
Commissioner Claude A. Armour stated flatly last week that he had no plans to retire soon.
His pronouncement came about two weeks after Police Chief J.C. Macdonald said he wouldn’t retire either, as long as Mr. Armour was commissioner and as long as Mr. Armour wanted him.
One reliable source close to the situation has said that Commissioner Armour intends to serve out the remainder of his term — to Jan. 1, 1968 — and then retire. Commissioner Armour won’t comment on that, but reasserts his theme: “Just say I have no present plans to retire, because I don’t.”
75 years ago: 1940
Flags will fly, bands will play and speakers will declare anew the independence of America as Memphis today celebrates 164 years of nationhood with a fervor born of the world crisis. Bells will ring across the city at 7 this morning and at 7 tonight.
100 years ago: 1915
Long hours of planning by the Safe and Sane Fourth of July Association will bear fruit today in the celebration of the Glorious Fourth at Overton Park. Edward H. Gerber, C.W. Merker, Thomas H. McKnight, W.H. Grames and Dr. E.E. Watkins are officers of the association. James Quinlan is general chairman of the Orphans’ Picnic to be held at St. Peter’s Orphanage.
125 years ago: 1890
This being Independence Day and a National Holiday, the post office will close at 10 this morning and the letter carriers will make but one delivery.