This Day in South Bend

On this day in 1968, the Tribune began a series of articles on the reasons and problems of annexation as the Mayor Allen raised it as a way for the city to keep growing.

On this day in 1915, five thousand people visited Springbrook Park to dance in the new pavilion, ride the new merry-go-round, jockey on live ponies, and scream on its new roller coaster The Big Dip.

On this day in 1933, Samuel Spiro & Co., merchandisers of quality clothing for men and boys, announced the opening of their new storefront on Michigan Street in downtown South Bend.

On this day in 1914, the Oliver family estate leased its famous downtown South Bend hotel to two Chicago men for a reported sum of $400,000.

On this day in 1902, a local druggist told the unfortunate tale of a local man's health problems to sell kidney pills.

On this day in 2003, the bells of St. Stephen welcomed Hungarian and Hispanic parishioners for the last time after nearly a century on South Bend's Westside.

On this day in 1931, federal investigators raided the headquarters of the secretive North Side club on suspicion that the 21-member club was brewing and selling alcohol.

On this day in 1878, news broke that two of the finest billiards players in the country would soon play an exhibition at the opera house in South Bend.

Today, we turn to May 20, 1950 for news that a country snake had gone missing in downtown South Bend and was later found in the entrance of a jewelry store.

On this day in 1890, two downtown businessmen expressed opposition to the installation of electric railway poles in front of their shops by chopping the poles down.

On this day in 1908, Samuel J. Unger announced the closure of his downtown South Bend pawn shop, an enterprise that helped the city become metropolitan. 

On this day in 1971, the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary's College announced a plan to unify as one co-ed institution by the coming Fall. The plan failed.

On this day in 1895, a group of prominent women, including Mrs. Mary Stull Studebaker and Ms. Olive Tarbell Birdsell, met in a home on Colfax Avenue to form the Progress Club.

On this day in 1885, a group of Presbyterian ladies hosted a "mum social" at the home of Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Badet, wherein guests who wanted to speak had to pay for it in cash.

On this day in 1981, the South Bend Tribune broke the discouraging news that Storyland Zoo, a once-popular park attraction on the city's Southside, would soon shut its doors.

Today, we turn to May 11, 1912, for a brief fight between fellow workmen at the South Bend Brewing Association over the planting of a corn field between their homes.

Today, we turn to May 8, 1990, for a local man's warm memories of growing up in South Bend's Little Italy neighborhood.

Today, we turn to Saturday May 7, 1887, for news that South Bend Toy had acquired a large plot of land on the city's Southeast side with plans to build an immense factory.

Today, we turn to May 6, 1881, for James Oliver’s purchase of the Chess Mansion, a massive, stone house built by one of South Bend’s early settlers.