May 3, 1959: Lake Cherokee had risen five feet by late morning from the previous day’s level after a deluge of more than 8 inches of rain. Damage to flooded homes, washed-out bridges, ruined boathouses, swamped boats and other property was estimated at more than $2 million.
May 2, 1961: Postmen on six routes in Longview took on a new look in “a snappy, new three-wheel postal route carrier.” The vehicles were expected to speed delivery on routes with large gaps between delivery points. Eventually, all foot routes were to b…
May 1, 1947: Longview Packing Co. Inc. opened its ultra-modern plant, an enterprise seen as a major step toward the city becoming the livestock marketing center of the region. The plant a mile south of the city just off the Kilgore Highway was to emplo…
April 30, 1950: The Knox Lee Power Plant of Southwestern Gas and Electric Co. was officially placed into service with dedication ceremonies witnessed by 1,000 people at Lake Cherokee. As the first unit was cut into Southwestern’s power grid, constructi…
April 29, 1957: Gregg County was one of eight counties designated disaster areas by the Small Business Administration as the worst Sabine River flood in history bore down on Longview and area cities. By next week, the crest was expected to cut roads so…
April 28, 1976: An estimated 15,000 East Texans turned out at Gregg County Airport to see President Gerald R. Ford. He’d arrived on Air Force One late the night before and took a motorcade to Tyler for a morning event before returning for a Longview ra…
April 27, 1995: The East Texas Chicken Ranch, a Texas 31 steakhouse featuring nude dancers, offered to shut down if the county would not seek court costs and fees in a lawsuit it filed against the county. The Chicken Ranch opened in 1994 to attract tra…
April 26, 1972: After 24 years of service as principal of Longview High School, T.G. Field submitted his resignation, to be effective July 1. His contract had recently been extended through 1974. The board accepted his resignation and his request to be…
April 25, 1947: A huge midnight screen and stage show to raise funds for relief of Texas City after a deadly industrial blast was held at the Arlyne Theater. 20th Century Fox provided a pre-release print of “Carnival in Costa Rica” and local talent too…
April 24, 2000: A plan was announced for businessman W.C. “Bill” Lear to donate up to 100 acres of land to the city for baseball and soccer fields. Lear said he had been approached the previous month by mayoral candidate Earl Roberts about acquiring an…