Grand opening

25 years ago: 1991

Children’s Museum founders boldly predicted at opening ceremonies last year that 100,000 people would visit in the next 12 months. They were flushed with excitement, and they were wrong. Twice that many have come. So far, roughly 200,000 have passed through the private, nonprofit museum, surpassing all projections and making it one of the most successful public partnerships in city history. The museum gets no money from the city but leases the former National Guard Armory at Central and Hollywood for $1 per year. Upwards of 2,350 families have purchased $45 memberships — more than double the museum’s goal of 1,000.

50 years ago: 1966

JACKSON, Miss. — A word to the wise should be sufficient. It comes direct and not via the grapevine or “second-hand.” Here’s the word: “On July 1 every county in the state of Mississippi will be a dry county.” That is what Gov. Paul Johnson said May 21 when he signed the county option liquor legalization bill which goes in effect July 1. And that is what he still says “goes without any compromise whatsoever. I can do no less,” he said. That means there will be a dry period for at least three weeks in counties and cities where liquor has been openly sold without the least interference from law enforcement officers at either the local or state level, the 1908 prohibition law notwithstanding. It will take at least three weeks after July 1 for counties desiring to hold local elections to vote from under the prohibition law to legalize liquor within their municipalities.

75 years ago: 1941

SUFFERN, N.Y. — Uncle Dan Beard, America’s first citizen of the open fields and the blue skies, died yesterday in his home a few miles from the pulsing streets of New York where he helped to found the Boy Scouts of America 31 years ago.

100 years ago: 1916

The summer term of the West Tennessee Normal School will open tomorrow for a period of six weeks. All previous records for attendance will be broken this year. The advance guard, 150 strong, arrived yesterday.

125 years ago: 1891

Mrs. Walter Bywaters and Miss Hattie C. Hart are staying at Gaston’s. They are en route to healing fountains to be found in Southern mountains.

BARNEY SELLERS/THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Col. Roane Waring (second left), president of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon on June 3, 1953, to officially open the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. district office and warehouse at 2070 South Third Street. Participating in the formal...