There have been quite a few changes in Temple since lifelong resident Steve Cook won the 1951 Baby Derby by being the first baby born that year.The major retail sector is no longer downtown at places like Sue Ellen clothing store on Main Street or Henson's Shoes on Central Avenue, but at shopping centers on South 31st Street and Loop 363.Scott and White Memorial Hospital was on Avenue G in 1951, instead of its present location on 31st Street.W.R. Poage was in his seventh of 20 terms as a congressman, 26 years before a federal building was named in his honor.In 1950, Texas had a population of 7,677,832, and was mostly rural. Today, it is 20,851,820, the second most populous state.On New Year's Eve in 1950, the Arcadia Theater in downtown Temple had a midnight showing of the 1950 movie "Harvey," one of Jimmy Stewart's five Oscar-nominated performances.But in the week that followed, Steve Cook was the biggest star in Temple.As described in the Temple Daily Telegram the first week of 1951:"Stephen Miller Cook, seven-pound, five-ounce son of Police Sgt. and Mrs. Talmadge Cook of 5 North Sixth street won the 1951 New Year's Baby Derby without competition when he crossed the finish line just seven minutes behind the New Year early Monday morning at Scott and White Hospital."As prizes for being Temple's first 1951 baby, young Stephen Miller will receive from Temple merchants such necessities and luxuries as diapers, a stroller, a silver cup, a month's supply of milk, a month's diaper service, and new shoes."To the mother, for her part in the annual race, will go such prizes as a bed jacket, a supply of piece goods, and a pair of shoes. The father, for his part, will receive a new pocket knife and shirt and tie."Sgt. Cook was proud of his new son's achievement last night. He said, 'We thought there was a good chance of winning when we heard the bells and whistles going off at midnight just as my wife was going into the delivery room.' by Anna Foster
For purists, it's the turn of the "real millennium." For everyone else, it's an excuse to party. Revelers around the country geared up for New Year's celebrations Sunday, even as city officials worked to clean up messes left by uncooperative winter weather. Snow was cleared from New York City's Times Square on Sunday in preparation for more than 500,000 people expected to gather for the New Year's celebration watched by millions around the world. It won't be as big as the bash attended by 2 million people last year, but Mayor Rudolph Giuliani predicted that snow from a storm that swept through the Northeast on Saturday will make it "even more beautiful." Former heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali will press the button to start the descent of the 1,070-pound Waterford crystal ball that lights up at midnight. More than 6,000 police officers will be on hand, and manholes will be welded shut and trash cans removed as a security precaution. Meanwhile, America's official timekeeper, the U.S. Naval Observatory, plans to mark the new millennium accurately with a celebration for 3,000 people at its Washington headquarters. Under the widely used Gregorian calendar, which started with the year 1, the third millennium doesn't begin until Jan. 1, 2001. "Real millennium" bashes are also planned in Las Vegas and Denver to make up for fizzled celebrations last year. At least 100,000 people are expected for a fireworks extravaganza in downtown Denver. And Las Vegas plans to explode $500,000 worth of fireworks over the Strip to a crowd of 500,000, double last year's turnout. by The Associated Press
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