MID-SOUTH MEMORIES
25 years ago — 1994 This city that loves trees is in mourning. Not only have thousands been iced out of existence in residential neighborhoods, some of the trees townspeople loved the most — those in parks, public gardens and recreation areas — are either gone or damaged beyond repair. In Frayser, on the grounds of the Ed Rice Community Center at 2907 N. Watkins, a 200-year-old black oak that won the urban tree contest in 1992 is about to become firewood after being toppled by last week’s winter storm. In Dixon Gardens, 30 of the 70 Canadian hemlocks planted by Hugo Dixon have been destroyed or damaged. In the Memphis Botanic Garden, the pine grove is now being called the “pine barren” because so many of the loblolly pines have been wrecked. 50 years ago — 1969 A luncheon honoring Memphis veterans of the Spanish-american War will be at the Embers restaurant today on the 71st anniversary of the sinking of the Maine. The veterans include Fred Bauer, Allen Phillips, John Rawlings, Arthur Huntley, Harry Camp and Charles Barnett. Mr. Bauer yesterday received a telegram from Governor Buford Ellington paying tribute to the Spanish-american War veterans and praising the formation of a Patriotism 1898 Committee. 75 years ago — 1944 WASHINGTON — Happy over the success of his trip which resulted in clearing away obstacles in the way of building a $7,000,000 highway bridge across the Mississippi, E.H. Crump, Memphis political leader, left for home yesterday afternoon. A definite decision on the site for the proposed four-lane bridge will be made next week. 100 years ago — 1919 Elias Lowenstein, pioneer Memphis merchant born in Germany in 1835, is dead. He and two brothers founded the firm of B. Lowenstein & Bros. in 1860. He was a charter member of the Bank of Commerce. 125 years ago — 1894 WASHINGTON — As might be expected of the fair sex, the delegates attending the sixth annual woman’s suffrage convention here were tardy arriving at the convention hall yesterday, delaying the opening remarks of Miss Susan B. Anthony quite a bit. The suffragists have a twostar flag now, Colorado having joined Wyoming in giving women the right to vote.