Out of the past 12/25/09

25 years ago: Dec. 25, 1984

Santa Claus came a bit early this year to Bonnie Ludwig; the Jackson woman was the grand prize winner in the Holiday Shopping Spree Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and several area merchants; Ludwig won $400.

Saint Francis Mental Health Center has announced it will expand services to Perry County; Larry Holdman of the Saint Francis Chemical Dependency Program will be at the Mental Health Clinic in Perryville, Mo., each Thursday to provide alcohol evaluations.

50 years ago: Dec. 25, 1959

Christmas is observed as almost a complete holiday in Cape Girardeau, with business and industry suspended; the weather is little like the traditional one of snow and cold; it is only fairly cool and overcast.

The College High Prep's 15th annual Christmas basketball tournament will open Saturday night at Houck Field House with 15 teams competing; in previous years, the tourney had 16 teams, but Morehouse, Mo., dropped out this year.

75 years ago: Dec. 25, 1934

A candlelight processional by Walther Leaguers opens the Matin service at Trinity Lutheran Church; offering the sermon is Trinity's pastor, the Rev. F.H. Melzer.

The predicted white Christmas fails to materialize; but the day is gloomy with mist and fog.

100 years ago: Dec. 25, 1909

The celebration of Christmas at St. Vincent's Catholic Church begins at the 5 a.m., when a solemn High Mass is sung; the regular choir sings Farmer's "Mass in B Flat," while a chorus of 30 voices, accompanied by cornet and violin, renders M.A. Gilsinn's "Venite Adoremus."

Judge Jesse Sheppard of Doniphan, Mo., appoints commissioners to assess the damages and benefits to the lands lying within the boundaries of the proposed Little River Drainage District: Cooper Cracraft of Cape Girardeau County, H.C. Schultz of Pemiscot County and J.F. Reed of Stoddard County.

-- Sharon K. Sanders