Compiled By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
115 Years Ago: May 20, 1897
• Peter Sodergren has had a hardwood floor added to his store and with new paint and paper, now has one of the neatest, as well as the largest and best arranged general stores in this section.
• Mr. and Mrs. George I. Trickey, who with Mr. and Mrs. H.E. Jones have been spending several days at Cummings Camps at Square Lake, arrived home today. Mr. and Mrs. Jones are at their summer home, Rocky Point cabin, Madawaska Lake, and will return to Caribou Saturday.
• A new platform has been placed on the hay scales in front of F.L. Oak’s shoe store this week.
100 Years Ago: May 16, 1912
• Mr. Fred Jacobson of New Sweden and Miss Edith Pearson were united in marriage May 9 at the Lutheran personage, by Rev. A.A. Dahlberg. Mr. Jacobson has bought a farm where he has fitted up a very attractive home for his young bride.
• W.B. Ward of Limestone expects to plant 145 acres to potatoes this year, he having control of four farms. This will probably be as large an acreage as will be under the direction of one man.
• Twenty-five years ago there were 23 shingle machines between Caribou and Goodwin’s Mills; today there is but one — that of H.D. Collins.
• Potatoes are $2.50 per barrel today.
• Miss Flora Billington returned Tuesday from Bangor where she has completed a course at the Beal School of Shorthand.
75 Years Ago: May 20, 1937
• A Westinghouse all electric cooking demonstration will be held at the high school auditorium on Tuesday. Miss Kay Chamberlain, Westinghouse home economist, will use during her demonstration, the new all electric Westinghouse kitchen.
• Next Tuesday, the Class of 1938 will present the Junior Prom in the high school gymnasium. The Junior Prom is a comparatively recent innovation at Caribou High School. The first one was held in 1930, but ever since then every class in its junior year has presented a brilliant affair in the gymnasium.
• Miss Marie Knowlton has accepted a position as stenographer at the Social Welfare Office.
• In New Sweden, the grocery truck owned by Chester Ringdahl, is on the road again this season with David Espling as driver.
• Mr. and Mrs. Conroy of Caribou, who live on the Brown Road, announce the marriage of their daughter, Leola B. to Carl Ouellette, on May 1. The young couple was married at the Baptist Church in Caribou, with Rev. John R. MacGorman performing the ceremony. The bride’s sister, Dorothy and Morris Monson stood up with them.
50 Years Ago: May 17, 1962
• Business in Caribou took another step forward this week with the opening of Chapman’s’ Market on Sweden Street. Under the ownership of Basil Chapman Sr. and Basil Chapman Jr., the new enterprise boasts 43 years of experience in the retail meat business. The new store will be affiliated with the Nationwide chain and will carry a complete line of Nationwide and Pleezing brand foods together with all the other name brands on the market today. Chapman’s Market will also be giving United Stamps with every purchase. Thousands of free trading stamps also will be given away during the opening.
• Richard Haines of Caribou placed second in the district FFA Speaking Contest held at the Aroostook Central Institute library in Mars Hill.
• In observance of Armed Forces Day this year it was announced that headquarters battery of the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion, Maine National Guard, will be holding an open house. The event will feature static displays of all the equipment and weapons that the unit has at its disposal.
• Over 200 twirlers from communities throughout Maine will be competing at the second annual Northern Maine Baton Twirling championship contests at the Teague Park School gymnasium.
• The 1962 tax rate was set at 26 mills this week by the Board of Assessors, hitting the predicted figure of some months back almost on the nose. The announcement from the board, under the chairmanship of Don Hemphill, reported the town valuation at $42, 896,130. Last year the tax rate was set at 28 mills.
