September 13 in San Antonio history...

1957
The northern lights, visible from San Antonio for the first time in many years, had lawmen frantically looking for “the big fire” early Friday morning.

1961
The San Antonio Light reports that Hurricane Carla has destroyed all but one of Galveston’s pleasure and fishing piers, including the Balinese.

1987
Pope John Paul II visits San Antonio and gives a Mass for an estimated 350,000 people in Westover Hills on the site of what is today Stevens High School.  He also visits Plaza Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, San Fernando Cathedral and Municipal Auditorium. (photo courtesy of the San Antonio Express-News)

 September 12 in San Antonio history...

1884
The Lone Star Brewery is opened for business.

1912
The project to widen Commerce Street is begun. During the four year widening project on Commerce Street many buildings were either totally demolished or lost several yards of their original structure. The new five story Alamo National Bank building, was physically raised and moved back while work continued uninterrupted within it. With the movement of the bank building the entire project came to almost $1.5 Million. This is the equivalent to around $21 Million in today’s money. The city took pride in the transformation being undertaken to keep San Antonio as the number one city in Texas.

1970
The first McDonald’s restaurant opens in San Antonio at 1330 S. Laredo St. (right).

 September 11 in San Antonio history...

1842
General Woll and his Mexican army invades San Antonio. He was to capture San Antonio, then reconnoiter the Guadalupe River down to Gonzales-all within one month – but was repulsed by Texan troops in the battle of Salado Creek on the eighteenth, evacuated San Antonio two days later, and returned to Coahuila.

1967
“The Carol Burnett Show,” featuring former San Antonian Carol Burnett, debuts at 9:00 p.m. on KENS Channel 5.  The show features guest stars Jim Nabors and Vicki Lawrence.

2001
San Antonians, shocked by the terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C., unite to pray, donate blood and help out in this time of crisis.

 September 10 in San Antonio history...

1921
With a known death list of 37 that may total more than 200 when all the missing are accounted for, and with a property loss of near $5 million, San Antonio was suffering the worst flood in its history.

1962
An Air Force Captain is hospitalized in serious condition from severe smoke inhalation after a fire broke out during a space simulation yesterday at Brooks AFB.  The two pilots were “flying” at 27,000 feet with pure oxygen when fire broke out from behind the control panel.  The simulated astronauts fought the fire with an extinguisher during the 2½ minutes it takes to lower the simulator’s pressure enough to open the door.

1987
High winds destroy the twin towers and scaffolding (right) two days before the arrival in San Antonio of Pope John Paul II.  Despite over $100,000 in damages, Richard Hemberger, state coordinator for the papal visit, says the Mass will proceed as scheduled.

 September 9 in San Antonio history...

1907
A driver was fined $10 for driving faster than 6 m.p.h. within the one mile circle on Flores.

1916
After being officially known as “Camp Cecil A. Lyon” for a single week, the encampment of state troops on the Fort Sam Houston reservation is again “Camp Wilson” and will retain that name as long as it exists.

1927
With the concrete walls of Olmos Dam towering high above the basin below and flood prevention work on the San Antonio River nearing completion, the sixth anniversary of the 1921 floods finds this city safe from further deluges.