115 Years Ago-Aug 25, 1897
• Henry Soucia is one of the coming bicyclists of the section. One day recently he wheeled from Wallagrass to Caribou, 54 miles over a rough road, in four hours and ten minutes.
• Mrs. A. A. Garden and Mrs. E. H. Rackliff are visiting relatives in Easton.
100 Years Ago-Aug 21, 1913
• All the rage — Auto trips are the rage. Last week Geo. Osborne and Bert Trafton went on an extended trip through the Provence. This week Frank Durepo starts for Bangor accompanied by his wife and Mr. and Mrs. Aubrey Frost.
• Fox farming — Perley Merrithew and John Wood have returned from a trip to St. John, N. B. and Prince Edward Island, at the latter place visiting the great fox ranches where foxes are raised as a business. Some of the silver gray animals are quoted at $16,000 a pair.
75 Years Ago-Aug 25, 1938
• Jail as homeless helter — The Municipal Lodging House on Water Street has opened for the fall season with Officer Linwood Collins acting as landlord. He does take time to jot down the name and address of the “tourists.” This system of allowing transients to have shelter at the jail is certainly much better than to refuse them refuge and have them endangering property by seeking shelter in barns, etc.
• Big potato, big prize — For the second year, the annual “big potato sweepstakes” conducted by Mickey McGrath will open September 1st and continue through November 1st. Rules require only that all potatoes entered be left for display at the McGrath store, with a $5.00 prize awarded for the largest potato by weight. Potatoes at three dollars a barrel are considered a good price, but when $5.00 a potato is paid — that’s Utopia!
50 Years Ago-Aug 22, 1963
• Do the twist — The USO director in Caribou, Bernard Carvahlo, says his club is enthusiastic about chances for a large crowd at the dance and “twist” night it has planned for the General Carter State Armory on Saturday night. Carvahlo confirms the appearance Jim Winters, popular television master of ceremonies for the “Studio City Bandstand” program and “the Jesters” of the same show. He believes the dance will be popular with civilian and service personnel alike.
• New Washburn principal — Carleton L. Barnes has been appointed principal at Washburn High School, it has been announced by superintendent William Foster. Barnes, a former resident of Mars Hill and a graduate of Aroostook Classical Institute is a graduate of the University of Maine with a B. S. degree in education and has done some work towards his master’s degree.
25 Years Ago-Aug 24, 1988
• Sidewalk skateboarding — Caribou youngsters who skateboard will be restricted from the downtown business district following a unanimous vote of the council Monday night. About 20 boys, ranging in age from 11 to 16, brought their skateboards to the council chambers and listened as councilors decided whether to ban skateboarding from all city sidewalks.
• Cohen to tour Valley — Sen. Bill Cohen, R-Maine, Maine’s senior senator, will make his traditional tour of the St. John Valley on Aug. 30 and 31. This will be Cohen’s seventeenth consecutive St. John Valley tour, a tradition he began during his first congressional campaign in 1972. On Wednesday evening, Cohen will be guest speaker at the Maine Loring Association’s monthly meeting at Loring Air Force Base.
