Out of the past 12/26/09

25 years ago: Dec. 26, 1984

Local merchants experienced increased sales over last year's Christmas shopping season, with area residents taken advantage of stores being open on Sunday; shoppers are out in force again today, returning items and spending money on the traditional after-Christmas bargains.

The number one seeded Charleston (Mo.) Bluejays easily defeat their first-round foe, the Oak Ridge Blue Jays, in opening play of the University High Christmas Tournament, 77-25.

50 years ago: Dec. 26, 1959

Christmas, which was celebrated in Cape Girardeau with a complete suspension of business and industry, continues today in many instances, as factories and some offices remain closed.

The Cape Girardeau City Council will receive bids Monday afternoon for a system of taxiway lights to be installed as part of the improvement nearing completion at the municipal airport; runway lights for the field were installed earlier.

75 years ago: Dec. 26, 1934

It is learned that Don Faurot will be given a "free hand" in choosing his assistants, making it almost a certainty that the new head football coach of Missouri University will pick Coach Abe Stuber of Cape State College.

The cold wave, forecast for Cape Girardeau on Christmas Day, strikes today, sending the temperature skidding to 23 degrees.

100 years ago: Dec. 26, 1909

Mrs. Wilhelmena Frenzel, wife of George Frenzel, aged nearly 70, dies at her home on Good Hope Street; she was a native of Hanover, Germany, but has been a resident of this city for many years; she leaves eight children, a sister, 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In the morning, as the Oak Ridge accommodation train comes into Cape Girardeau, it strikes a trolley car on the Belt line at the crossing in the west end on Independence Street, knocking the street car clear off the tracks; fortunately, there is only one passenger aboard the street car; he and the motorman are able to save their lives by leaping from the trolley.

-- Sharon K. Sanders