Out of the past 12/21/11

25 years ago: Dec. 21, 1986

The traditional Church of England Festival of Lessons and Carols is the order of worship at Christ Episcopal Church in the morning; the service consists of nine readings from the Bible, beginning with Old Testament prophecies and continuing chronologically through the Christmas gospel; each reading is followed by an appropriate hymn or carol.

Mass is celebrated in the morning at Old St. Vincent's Catholic Church, the first Mass there since renovations of the historic church began in October 1985.

50 years ago: Dec. 21, 1961

Earnest money has been paid and the final transaction involving sale of the extensive Charles F. McMullin property north of Sikeston, Mo., will be completed in a few days; the property is part of the estate of McMullin's widow, and consists of 2,882 acres of fertile land; the purchaser hasn't been named.

Seven new special auxiliary police officers will soon be sworn in and assigned duty with the Cape Girardeau Police Department: Malcolm Shack, James Austin, Edward Risha, Floyd LaGrand, Jerry Sample, Vernon G. Lawrence and Jerry McConnell.

75 years ago: Dec. 21, 1936

General repairs are being made to the front entrance to the Cape Girardeau Public Library; two new doors replace old ones, and several window sills that had decayed are being replaced.

The big barber pole carried away from the Star barber shop in the 700 block of Broadway last week is recovered by Oscar Childs and Charlie Becker of the shop; Louis Bona, State College student and athlete, reported to police yesterday that the pole had been found in Houck Field Stadium.

100 years ago: Dec. 21, 1911

A trolley car loaded with departing Normal School students and teachers, runs out of control down Broadway hill; the car gathers terrific momentum until it reaches the sharp curve at Main Street; it then plunges along toward the river, the flanges plowing through the wood block paving, until it runs up against a telephone pole in the middle of the block; no one is injured.

Robert Harrison, who is attending a military school at Alton, Ill., is home to spend the holiday with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Harrison.

-- Sharon K. Sanders