MID-SOUTH MEMORIES

25 years ago — 1997

DES MOINES, Iowa – The mother of the first septuplets born alive in the United States was able to hold one of her babies Friday shortly after doctors decided the boy was doing so well that he could breathe on his own, without the help of machines. Friday the other three boys and three girls, delivered by cesarean section about nine weeks early, remained in serious condition on ventilators in the neonatal intensive care unit of Blank Children’s Hospital.

50 years ago — 1972

City councilmen yesterday gave a favorable reception to plans to expand Memphis Memorial Stadium and cover it with a dome, but no formal action was taken. “Let’s move with haste. We’re six years behind right now,” Councilman Robert Love said after a presentation of renovation plans. The

proposal to add 22,000 seats to the present capacity of 50,187 or possibly add a dome and 16,000 seats was outlined by John E. “Buddy” Leake Jr. and Tim Treadwell III.

75 years ago — 1947

Arkansas highway officials are working hard to improve the highway between West Memphis and Forrest City, and they are doing an excellent job, for which all of us in the Mid-south are grateful. As we understand it, the section between West Memphis and Blackfish is to be blacktop, and the portion completed is a fine driving surface. One suggestion we do have in mind, however, is that the blacktop should have lines of luminous paint applied as rapidly as any considerable part of that kind of road is completed.

100 years ago — 1922

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. – William H. Vanderbilt on his 21st birthday next Friday

will come into possession of the fortune left him by his father, Alfred G. Vanderbilt, who lost his life in the sinking of the Lusitania. Reginald C. Vanderbilt, brother of Alfred, has held the property as trustee. Oakland, country estate here, which has been unoccupied since Alfred Vanderbilt’s death, is being renovated and will be reopened Thursday evening, when William Vanderbilt will entertain relatives and friends.

125 years ago — 1897

L.E. Anthony, a messenger boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company, was arrested at 5:30 yesterday afternoon for riding a bicycle without a light. Anthony says that he had just been to South Memphis and did not think that it would turn dark before his return, and therefore neglected his light. He was released, Capt. O’haver being his surety, and will be tried in the police court this morning.

THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL FILES Nov. 22, 1989: Inspired by President George H.W. Bush’s call for volunteerism, The Commercial Appeal editor Lionel Linder and the newspaper launched a series called “A Thousand Points of Light” profiling local volunteers. In recognition of The CA’S initiative, Bush traveled to Memphis to honor the volunteers and the newspaper. Here, Bush waves goodbye to the crowd gathered on the lawn of The Commercial Appeal.