From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news.

Compiled by Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
100 Years Ago – Jan. 4, 1911
Aroostook Times
    January — With the first week in January nearly gone, we have had only two mornings of cold weather and no bad storms, making the winter so much shorter.
    Church supper — Don’t fail to attend the fish chowder supper at the Congregational Church on Wednesday evening. Two fishermen from the coast will be on hand to manufacture this delicious dish.
    Sale — Trimmed hats to be sold below cost at Miss Bragdon’s for the next ten days.
75 Years Ago – Jan. 2, 1936
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Unusual gift — Mrs. H.E. Tingley was the recipient of a very unusual Christmas gift on Christmas night and that was a telephone call to her brother in San Fransisco. This was their first conversation in 34 years. Needless to say this telephone call afforded much pleasure to Mrs. Tingley who has been confined to her home by illness for many years.
Houlton Pioneer Times 1936 File Photo
PRIZE WINNERS — The Agrico Potato Raising Contest winners were, Roy Anderson, left, first prize winner at Patten Academy and Sherwod Palmer, right. In center, Horace DeWitt (below), winner of first award at Sherman High School and (above) Charles Irish, winner of second prize. Right panel: Hazel Benn and Gordon Lilley, second and third prize winners at Merrill High School.
    New pastor — Rev. Arthur Newell Moore, of Cochituate, Mass. will take the pulpit at the Unitarian Church on Sunday morning. He is replacing Howard G. Matson.
    Special service — This coming Sunday, January 5, the first Sunday of the new year at the evening service, recognition will be made of the first service held in the present building of the Military Street United Baptist Church (formerly the Free Baptist Church) of Houlton on the first Sunday of the year 1903.
50 Years Ago – Jan. 5, 1961
Houlton Pioneer Times
    New baby — Mr. and Mrs. Peter Smith of Houlton have the honor and distinction of giving birth to the first baby in this area. The son was named Gary Alvin and marked the ninth child of the couple.
    Snowstorm — Houlton received 14 inches of new snow accompanied by 30 mile an hour gusts.
    Joins Peabody’s — The F.A. Peabody Company has announced that Robert E. Anderson of Littleton became associated with the agency on January 4. Anderson graduated from Ricker Classical Institute in 1955 and from the University of Maine in 1960.
    New shop — Darrell McKee of Bridge Street who operates McKee’s Appliance Repair Shop on Kendall Street has announced he is adding new tools and equipment to provide better and faster service for his customers.
25 Years Ago – Jan. 1, 1986
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Service medal — Frederick D. Manuel of Cranford, N.J., administrative assistant to the Chief of Staff, of the VA Medical Center in East Orange, N.J., recently received the Air Force Meritorious Service medal of the United States. Manuel is the son of Mrs. Harry Manuel of Houlton.
    Retires — Mildred McQuarrie of Cary recently retired after 42 years with the J.C. Penney Company.
    1,000 points — Houlton’s Diane Nagle reached the 1,000-point mark and joins Mary Harrigan and Carol Bubar as Houlton High girls who have topped the coveted 1,000-point barrier.
    Decorating awards — Bart Dunn of the Dunn Furniture Company presented a 12-inch black and white TV set to the first-place winner of the Chamber of Commerce House Decorating contest to Betty Suitter. Other winners were Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Roy of Franklin Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Gary London of 58 High Street and Russell Flewelling on the Lake Road in Monticello.