This week, we’ll look through more of the happenings throughout the years in our Union, Mississippi.
• 1912 - The well-house was sold at auction to Sam Hays to be used as a tool shed.
• 1914 – A fire on July 16 in Old Town destroyed four historic buildings owned by Capt. Abe Hunter, T.C. Viverette, Isham Abney, and John C. Portis.
• 1916 – Union Circulating Library opened in Longino’s Drug Store at 205 Main St. on Sept. 30.
• 1921 – Dr. W.A. McMahen moved the Capt. A.B. Hunter home (a pre-Civil War house) to 702 Jackson Rd., the SE corner of Jackson Road and Long Street.
• 1927 – A Rin Tin Tin silent movie was shown in Asumu Theater.
• 1928 – The town band had a concert at City Hall.
• 1934 – The overhead bridge on South Decatur Street was built.
• 1937 – The GM & N Rebel began a run to Union.
• 1941 –On May 29, the City Park was lighted. It cost 50 cents to rent the pavilion.
• 1947 – Irene Bailey opened a hat and dress shop in her home at 414 Decatur Street.
• 1950 - Stop lights were erected at critical points in Union.
• 1951 –There was a wadingpool in City Park.
• 1953 - Televisions came to Union when the Meridian station went on the air in September.
• 1955 – Doctors began administering the Salk Polio vaccine to children.
• 1956 - Union Golf Course was established next to the airport. The land was leased from the town of Union.
• 1961 – In November, the library was moved from upstairs in the Masonic building to the back of City Hall at 402 Bank St.
• 1962 – A Federal Housing Project of low rent apartments opened on Chestnut St. and on James St.
• 1963 - The postal system first introduced zip codes in June.
• 1967 –In June, the Mississippi Power Co. remodeled and enlarged by taking in the former café in the north section of the building. It then occupied the entire first floor of the Masonic building and began selling appliances.
• 1973 – The U.H.S. new gymnasium was built.
• 1974 – The town received a grant to build a park on the bypass. It was named Laird Park and held four ball fields and tennis courts.
• 1977 – Union held its first Country Day on Aug. 13.
• 1981 – The railroad from Meridian to Union, which had carried passengers and mail, closed. It had first opened in 1912. The last passenger train was called the “Doodle Bug.” The tracks were already being removed.
• 1983 – The bank and City Hall began closing on Saturday.
• 1990 – Tom Weaver retired as city clerk, and Cheryl Chaney was hired.
• 1995 – The new Union Fire Station on South Bank Street opened in April.
• 1999 – A developer began work on Deerfield Estates subdivision west of Union. In May 2001, it was opened to sell lots.
• 2006 – A weather tower was installed on the bypass to put Union’s weather online.
• 2010 – Jim Ogletree opened the Opry House at 103 Bank Street in January.
• 2011 – The old Laird’s Hospital at 215 Peachtree St. went up for auction in July, but the building did not sell.
• 2012 - A Texas Ranger Cross was placed in the Union Cemetery at the grave of Albert Collins, who died in 1916. He was only the second Mississippian to receive this honor.
Please send any memories or pictures that you would like to share to teresablount26@yahoo.com or 601-774-5564 or 109 Woodhaven Dr., Union 39365.
