Out of the past 12/24/07

25 years ago: Dec. 24, 1982

"Closed" is the word for the day, as most Cape Girardeau offices are shuttered; however, proscrastinating shoppers are still able to by last-minute gifts at almost every area store, and residents are able to pay tax bills, with the county collector's office remaining open.

Christmas has come a little early for flood victims and the needy in the area; gifts shipped here from Waukesha, Wis., were distributed Tuesday; and Wednesday night, The Missourian and Cape Jaycees Santas gave away more than 3,000 gifts collected in the annual Toybox campaign.

50 years ago: Dec. 24, 1957

While most of Cape Girardeau's churches observed Christmas in services Sunday, some will mark the Nativity tonight and Wednesday morning; midnight Masses will be celebrated at both St. Vincent's Catholic Church and St. Mary's Cathedral; Trinity Lutheran will also hold a midnight candle service, and Christ Episcopal Church will hold a Communion service.

Papers of incorporation for three business firms have been filed in Jackson since Saturday: Finney Drug Store, 709 Broadway, Cape Girardeau; Gines Corp., Highway 61, Cape Girardeau, and Walco Metals and Plastics, 107a S. High, Jackson.

75 years ago: Dec. 24, 1932

A severe rain and windstorm swept Cape Girardeau and vicinity last night, bringing the heaviest rainfall of the year, swelling streams to flood proportions, inundating streets and highways, and crippling communications and traffic; the rain here measured 2.68 inches.

Charles B. Looney, manager of the Jackson exchange of the Southeast Missouri Telephone Co., breaks his left arm and injures his back in a fall from a telephone pole at Jackson; he was repairing the Cape Girardeau cable northeast of the courthouse, when he fell.

100 years ago: Dec. 24, 1907

T.A. Allen, one of the oldest residents of the west end of Cape Girardeau County, died Sunday after having served as justice of the peace in that neighborhood for many years; Allen, about 80, is survived by his wife and a daughter.

The Presbyterian church at Jackson is being fitted with electric light fixtures; the light will be ready by the first of the year, it is said.

-- Sharon K. Sanders