There are parallels as well as contrasts in this look back at December 5, 1968 - forty years ago. The election was over and life in the Merrimack Valley settled into a pre-Christmas, pre-winter pace of normal activity while the world at-large remained unsettled.

The front page of the Lowell Sun notes: “John Volpe to resign in January to accept a DOT post” - The Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts was nominated by Richard Nixon to be the Secretary of Transportation - he was confirmed.

George O’Meara was tapped for a $13,500 job as “liason officer” to represent the Greater Lowell Planning Commission in D.C.  Well-known as the “go-to” Kennedy guy in Greater Lowell, O’Meara had previously served on the Lowell City Council and the Lowell Redevelopment Authority.

A UPI chart was the front page focus as it listed Vietnam War statistics - 29,865 U.S. Military death toll in Vietnam - 13,868 in 1968 and 228 in the last week of November. While on another front - the UN warned Israel and Jordan to stop violating the Middle East ceasefire.

Vice-President-Elect Spiro Agnew - elected Gov of Maryland in 1966 - played a few rounds golf while awaiting the start of the Annual Republican Governor’s Conference in Palm Springs California.

The Lowell Chamber of Commerce was poised to elect new members to its Board of Directors. The six nominees were: Joseph P. Donahue, Jr.,  John C. Eagan, Julien LaCourse, Frank X. McCaffrey, Ronald E. Picard and F.L. Putnam, Jr. Those already serving on the BOD included - Walter F. Connor, Timothy Meehan, Costas Kokinos, Brendan Leahey, Gerald Wallace, Donald Caswell, Bernard Nangle and William Sullivan. (Can you identify the profession or business connection of the aforementioned gentlemen?)

A Lowell serviceman Spec. 4-C Marc Trudel on duty in Vietnam requested help from his father in ”the spirit of Christmas” to bring the spirit of “Tet” to 150 girls in two orphanages in Vietnam. With help from the Doll project run by UNB employees and and many others - dolls, toys, clothes, hair ribbons, non-perishable food, crayons, etc. were gathered for the Red Cross for a special delivery.

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception was to be celebrated by the Immaculate Conception Parish with a Folk Mass followed by an egg nog party in the school hall for parents, teachers and students. PTA members assisting with the events included - Mrs. Felix Sweeney, Mrs. Warren Pettengill, Mrs. Richard K. Donahue, Mrs. Anthony Archinski, Mrs. Joseph Maguire, Mrs. Robert Callery and many others. Across the city, the Sacred Heart Band Boosters were planning a Bean Supper.

The town of Chelmsford and the Chelmsford Water District was ordered by the Board of Health to flouridate the water supply not later than June of 1969.

Declaring 1968 “the year of the raise,” columnist Kendall Wallace predicted a $650 increase for firefighters on top of the $750 collective bargaining increase. This along with the “huge $1400 increase” granted to police caused a headache for City Manager Charles Gallagher who needed to find the money for raises he opposed. His raise opposition was supported by Councilors Richard Howe and John Cox.

The Pioneer Market offered chuck roast for $.55 lb., a 3lb can of Crisco for 79 cents and 3lbs. of onions for 29 cents. Giant Foods advertised chicken lobsters at 88 cents per lb. on Friday and Saturday only.

Check out the merchants on Middlesex Street: Norman’s Mens & Boys offered “Real Sharp” Corduroy Jackets in beige and bronze at $19.95 and blue, brown and natural Edwardian sports coats at $22.95. Parrot Hatters - whose hats “speak for themselves” - had crush-proof hats for $5.95 to $7.95 and rain and snow-proof felt hats at $11.95. The Factory Shoe Outlet promoted Men’s Desert Boots - lined or unlined - at $6.45 to $9.95. (All three businesses are now “out-of-business” with the close of the shoe outlet this past summer.)

Conant’s on E. Merrimack Street offered to “send & deliver” an array of SS Pierce Christmas gift packages.  King’s Self-Service Department Store’s bargains included a 7′ artifical Christmas tree for $8.99, a single electric window candle for 33 cents, Ideal’s Thumbelina doll for $4.44, a Marx 54 pc. electric train set for $9.94, Men’s 4-buckle overshoes for $1.88 and a whistling tea kettle for $2.99. Santa was in his 2nd floor hide-away at The Bon Marche - visitors welcome. Or check out the Rock Bottom Bargain Basement for light-weight Totes in a plaid pouch for $6.99.

Readers were urged to “Start Your Christmas Club for 1969″ now at the First Bank & Trust or at First Federal Savings but for others - get a “Christmas Shopping Loan” at the Lowell Institution for Savings - one hour service and on your signature only.

A story headlined “Hospital costs sky rocket with reason” noted that at Lowell General Hospital in 1959 hospital rooms ranged from $15- $29 per day and in 1968 they began at $38 and ended at $52 with predictions of $100 per room just around the corner.

Rev. Andrew M. Greeley, PhD of the University of Chicago and eminent sociologist, author and lecturer was scheduled to speak at the newly dedicated Christian Formation Center as apart of the Christian Life Series - his topic: “The Future of the Institutional Church.”  (Fr. Greeley is currently in rehab in Chicago after surviving a life-threatening accident while leaving a taxi cab - he was wearing an Obama cap.)

Congressman F. Bradford Morse presented George Wood, George Pilato and John Mowatt and the Edith Nourse Rogers Chapter #25 of the D.A.V.  an American flag.

In sports - The Lowell Chiefs defeated the Framingham Pics before a home crowd of 1200 at the Merrimack Valley Forum. Lowell State basketballers led by the spectacular shooting of Billy Quirk beat Keene State - 113- 101. Also scoring - Jim McGuirk, Bill Burns, Dave Ryan, Gary Hunt, Jack Callahan and Ray Flaherty. Lowell High’s wrestling team under coach George Bossi included: Jim Hantzis, Dave Fawcett, Gary Potvin, Bobby Lekites, Larry Topjian and Dave Jalbert. The tri-captains of the LHS football team - Tom McDowell, Dennis Zannoni and Alex Wilson were honored at the Booster Club meeting.

Friendly Jack offered hi-test gas for 25.9 cents per gal. - no limits - as well as snow tires, skid chains and anti-freeze. By the way he needed to hire “two more part-time men to prevent a jam in his driveway.”

TV programs on that night’s schedule: Hawaii Five-O, Ironsides, Bewitched, That Girl, Dragnet, Twilight Zone and for late night - Joey Bishop and Johnny Carson. Playing at The Strand Theater - “Night of the Living Dead” - at Showcase Cinema - “Funny Girl” / “West Side Story” / “Lady in Cement” - and coming soon - Steve McQueen in “Bullit.”

And finally - The Lowell police list of streets (or parts of streets) set aside for coasting during day-light hours this winter includes: Epping Street, Otis Street, St. James Street, Stromquist Avenue, Thornton Avenue, Hazel Street, Putnam Avenue, Beacon Street, London Street and Lyons Street.