From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

Compiled by Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
100 Years Ago-Jan. 17, 1912
Aroostook Times
    Smyrna — Mr. Howard Bates left Thursday with Mr. Shaw’s team for Milo, where he is employed for the winter with the American Thread Co.
    A compliment — The fact that one of Woodstock’s leading papers came out recently urging her citizens against coming to Houlton to do their trading, speaks volumes for the up-to-date stores which one finds in this hustling town.
    Houlton — About a year ago a number of prominent business men, realizing the need of an organization to further the interests of the town conceived the idea of forming a Chamber of Commerce for this purpose. The first meeting was held in Mansur Hall. The group is led by William A. Martin, assisted by Leonard Pierce.
75 Years Ago-Jan. 21, 1937
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Hammond — A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Elden Crawford at the Madigan Hospital.
    Houlton — Miss Ruth Ingraham, who is employed in the F.A. Peabody Insurance Co. office plans to leave in a few weeks for Portland where she will enter a business college for advanced work. Oscar Grant, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thad Grant, left Tuesday for Boston where he will study music during the remainder of the year. He will stay at the home of his uncle, Emmons Robinson.
Houlton Pioneer Times 1937 File Photo
ISLAND FALLS — The summer home of former Governor Carl E. Milliken has been donated to the town for the Emma V. Milliken Memorial Hospital. The building is located on the main highway, has three floors and a total of 15 rooms.
    Hodgdon — T.W. MacDonald and Robinson Hunter, tapped six maple trees on Mr. MacDonald’s lawn. On the following day they gathered the sap, boiled it and had what Mr. MacDonald says was “the best maple syrup I ever tasted.”
50 Years Ago- Jan. 18, 1962
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Fire — The Aroostook Wholesale Co. sustained a $150,000 fire. The warehouse is located on Bangor Street. Only the lack of wind prevented a conflagration of gigantic proportion. Only a few feet away were 200 bottled gas tanks, loaded; four storage tanks, holding 262,000 gallons of gasoline and fuel oil for Paul A. McGillicuddy Co. Also in the path of the fire was the James Peabody Co., the Farm Implement Co. and numerous residences.
    Missionaries — A former Houlton resident, Mrs. Shirley Titcomb Mader is currently serving in a Methodist Mission in Liberia with her husband, John. Mader is requesting white shirts be sent to her to be used as hospital garments. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alton Titcomb.
25 Years Ago-Jan. 21, 1987
Houlton Pioneer Times
    100-point mark — Both the Houlton and Hodgdon boys again topped the 100-point mark during the week. The Shires hit for 107 points against Ft. Kent and the Hawks rolled in 106 points against Bangor Baptist. Mike Fitzpatrick and Terry Cummings have been high scorers for Houlton while Matt Oliver and Tony Quint lead the Hawks.
    Houlton — The Retail Trade Board will be led by Fred London for the next year.
    Prizes awarded — Dunn Furniture Co. gave away three 10-speed bicycles during its giant New Year’s Day Sale. Receiving awards were Janice Hall, Lynn Wilson and Mildred McQuarrie.