10 years ago

From the Journal Tribune: “With the recent presentation by Town Manager Barry Tibbetts detailing ways the town can put Park Street school to use, it begins to look less likely the site will become a location of affordable housing. However, preliminary plans from an outside organization for new affordable housing units elsewhere in town have been recently announced.”

50 years ago

From the Biddeford-Saco Journal: “In a move to increase highway saftey, Gov. Reed says he will ask the special section of legislature for $14,175 to start a voluntary driver improvement program in Maine.”

100 years ago

From the Biddeford Daily Journal: “Mrs. Anna J. Crediford, propiestress of the Kennebunk Enterprise, complained to the police Thursday evening that she had been the victim of pickpocket at the five and ten cents store on Main Street, and relieved of her purse, containing a small sum of money and a check for $20 or more.” — Krysteana Scribner

Today in History

Today is Saturday, Dec. 26, the 360th day of 2015. There are five days left in the year. The seven-day African- American holiday Kwanzaa begins today. This is Boxing Day.

On this date:

In 1865, James H. Nason of Franklin, Massachusetts, received a patent for “an improved coffee percolator.” In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African- American boxer to win the world heavyweight championship as he defeated Canadian Tommy Burns in Sydney, Australia. In 1944, during the World War II Battle of the Bulge, the embattled U.S. 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne, Belgium, was relieved by units of the 4th Armored Division. Tennessee Williams’ play “The Glass Menagerie” was first performed at the Civic Theatre in Chicago. In 1966, Kwanzaa was first celebrated. In 1972, the 33rd president of the United States, Harry S. Truman, died in Kansas City, Missouri, at age 88. In 1975, the Soviet Union inaugurated the world’s first supersonic transport service with a flight of its Tupolev- 144 airliner from Moscow to Alma-Ata (AHL’-muh AH’- tah). In 1980, Iranian television footage was broadcast in the United States, showing a dozen of the American hostages sending messages to their families.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Dec. 26, 1799, former President George Washington was eulogized by Col. Henry Lee as “first in war, first in peace and first in the hearts of his countrymen.”

Ten years ago Survivors wept and prayed beside mass graves and at beachside memorials in Indonesia, marking one year since earthquake-churned walls of water crashed ashore in a dozen nations, sweeping away hundreds of thousands of lives. “Monday Night Football” ended an unprecedented 36-year run on ABC-TV with a lackluster game, a 31-21 New England Patriots victory over the New York Jets. (The series switched to ESPN the following season.)

Five years ago A powerful East Coast blizzard stranded thousands of travelers and dumped more than a foot of snow in some areas. Salvador Jorge Blanco, 84, a former president of the Dominican Republic, died in Santo Domingo. Soul singersongwriter Teena Marie, 54, died in Pasadena, California.

One year ago Mourners gathered to mark the 10th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami. Russia identified NATO as the nation’s No. 1 military threat under a new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin. James B. Edwards, South Carolina’s first Republican governor since Reconstruction and later energy secretary for two years in the Reagan administration, died at age 87.

— By The Associated Press