Following are summaries of local news stories from the pages of the Intelligencer Journal and New Era. This column appears on page B1 of the printed newspaper each Monday. The items are researched and compiled by staff member Tim Buckwalter. Full versions are available on microfilm at the Lancaster County Library, 125 N. Duke St.

25 years ago

F&M EXPANSION: Franklin & Marshall College was negotiating to purchase the 1.75-acre Epler tract along the north side of Harrisburg Avenue for future expansion. The pie-shaped tract lay between the Posey Iron Works property on the east and the Way Oil Co. on the west. The college had previously purchased both of those properties. The tract now being eyed included a four-unit apartment building, the offices and maintenance garage of B.F. Kauffman Motor Express Inc., The Coop gift shop and Doutrich’s Garage. (Dec. 22, 1984)

CHRISTMAS: Eileen Barnhardt, 57, of Holtwood R2, was holding children on her lap and listening to their Christmas wishes at Willow Valley Square as she spent her 16th Christmas season as a Santa at local shopping malls. Meanwhile, an estimated 1,800 people filed through Lancaster Square to receive free turkeys and food baskets distributed at United Chem-Con Corp.’s third-annual giveaway for the needy. (Dec. 24, 1984) (Note: In this photo, she listens to 6-year-old Alyssa Funk, in 1997. Bernhardt died in 2008.)

CONTROLLED HUNT: Muddy Run Recreation Park’s overpopulated and controversial deer herd population began dwindling as a small army of 50 hunters began firing with muzzle-loader rifles as part of a controlled hunt. By early afternoon, 29 deer, mostly females, had been killed. (Dec. 26, 1984)

NAACP LEADER: The Rev. Ernest Ellsworth Christian, 75, the founder of the Lancaster chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, died at his home on Christmas Day after a long illness. He had moved to Lancaster in 1928 and became Lancaster branch president of the NAACP in 1944-45. He resigned the post to enter the Air Force in 1945. (Dec. 26, 1984)

50 years ago

RAILROADING SANTA: Santa Claus passed out presents to young passengers during a trip on the Strasburg Railroad. More than 750 people rode the line during five trips made in honor of the railroad’s first anniversary of passenger service. (Dec. 21, 1959)

FATAL FIRE: Graveside services were held for an 18-year-old East German woman who died in a Manheim house fire three days after arriving in Lancaster County to marry her childhood sweetheart. (Dec. 22, 1959)

GREETINGS: Lancaster city exchanged holiday greetings with its namesake in England. Mayor Thomas J. Monaghan extended Lancaster’s greetings to people of Lancaster, England, wishing them “a blessed Merry Christmas and a peaceful, joyous new year.” In return, the mayor of the English Lancaster sent Monaghan “sincere greetings and all good wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to the citizens of Lancaster, Pa.” (Dec. 24, 1959)

75 years ago

PAROLE: The Lancaster County Court announced a strict new policy on the granting of parole to prisoners. “Where the Act of Assembly fixes a minimum and maximum term, it is the intention of the Act that the offender serve his minimum term before any action is taken for parole,” Judge Benjamin C. Atlee said. (Dec. 21, 1934)

CITY MURAL: City officials were preparing to unveil a mural depicting the visit James Hamilton made to Hickory Town (the early name for Lancaster) in an effort to convince them to locate the county seat there. At the time, efforts were being made to establish a county seat either four miles north or four miles south of Hickory Town. Hamilton saw that if he could have the county seat located in Hickory Town, he could divide his land into building lots and enhance his value. He succeeded. The mural, painted by Vernon K. Newswanger, was installed on the wall of the City Council Chamber. The artwork was the gift of M.T. Garvin. (Dec. 27, 1934)

100 years ago

CHILLING TALE: Three men from Long Level became stuck in slush ice as they crossed the Susquehanna River by boat to collect their pay envelopes for their work as repair hands with the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. They had started for Washington Boro before daylight, and it took them almost until noon to make landfall. (Dec. 21, 1909)

TRAGIC FALL: A Paradise Township man was thrown from his buggy on West Main Street in Strasburg when a passing trolley car scared his horse. Because he had wrapped himself in blankets for the trip, the victim was unable to use his arms to break his fall. He landed squarely on his head and later died at St. Joseph’s Hospital. It was the family’s second Christmas-season tragedy in six years. On Christmas morning 1903, the victim’s brother had been shot and killed by an assailant. The murder remained unsolved. (Dec. 21, 1909)

DIRTY STREETS: The streets of Lancaster were described by the Daily Intelligencer as being in the “filthiest possible condition. “They are very dry and the dirt and dust is thick upon them,” the paper reported, adding later that “Duke Street for several squares is covered with dust, dried horse manure and other filth, which is kept flying around in clouds, covering people who are unfortunate enough to walk on that street. It penetrates houses and ruins clothing.” (Dec. 22, 1909)

CHRISTMAS STORM: A major snowstorm pounded the East Coast and dumped more than a foot of snow in Lancaster County. Snow began falling on Christmas morning. It quickly intensified and was blown into drifts by high winds. Some railroad and trolley cars were tied up for 24 hours, others for 36 hours or more. (Dec. 27, 1909)