100 Years Ago-Feb. 25, 1914
Aroostook Times
Of local interest — W. J. Thibadeau, Hon. F. A. Peabody, T. V. Doherty, A. T. Putnam, Dennis Sheehan and S. L. White were among the prominent Houlton Democrats who went to Caribou to attend a banquet and meeting of Democrats of the County. F. A. Cates & Co. have been making some improvements in their store on Main street. Mr. and Mrs. S. R. Sharp who have lived in Smyrna Mills for some time have moved to Houlton where they will reside.
B & A engines, malicious tampering — The Bangor Commercial of recent had the following: “Notice — $1,000 Reward. Locomotives are being tampered with in Northern Maine Jct. Roundhouse.” The mechanical superintendent reports that in the past few weeks as many as 30 locomotives have been damaged by having their journals cut, which investigation showed to have been done by some malicious persons putting foreign substances in the grease cups and journal boxes.
75 Years Ago-Feb. 23, 1939
Houlton Pioneer Times
Ricker holds first Winter Carnival — The first annual Ricker Winter Carnival was a big success. Starting Tuesday evening with an intramural basketball game and social, it ended with a Sweater dance Wednesday evening. The storm prevented the hockey game but the races went on as planned. Each person buying a ticket for either evening was entitled to vote; and the tally showed Hannah Osborne of Danforth named as carnival queen.
Fishing for food and prizes — Readers are urged to “Join the Great Fishing Contest” at Riley’s Market. Beginning Ash Wednesday we shall give with every 50-cent purchase or more a numbered ticket. On Easter Saturday we shall have a tank of live fish, each with a number attached. The first fish caught wins the barrel of Wingold flour, the second takes 50 quarts Mooers’ Jersey milk, and the third fish wins the prize of a 20 lb. tub of Armour’s pure lard.
50 Years Ago-Feb. 20, 1964
Houlton Pioneer Times
Public television comes to The County — WMEM-TV (Channel 10) in Presque Isle begins operations Monday to become the second station of the Maine Educational Television Network to go on the air. All of the programs to be carried by the station during the immediate future will be the same as those being televised by WMEB-TV (Channel 12) at the University of Maine Orono campus. When facilities become available, programs designed to meet local needs will be carried.
In the military — Richard Fitzpatrick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Fitzpatrick, Houlton, was promoted to specialist four in January where he is serving with the 11th Engineer Group’s 451st Company in Germany. Pvt. Sylvio I. Raymond, Jr., whose parents live on Spring Street, Houlton, completed a five-week finances procedures course at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indiana. Army Specialist Four William B. Pelkey, son of Mr. and Mrs. Maxie R. Pelkey of Island Falls, was assigned to Company A, Headquarters Special Troops in Germany in mid-January.
25 Years Ago-Feb. 22, 1989
Houlton Pioneer Times
A Donkey Basketball challenge — The Houlton Rotary Club challenges the Houlton Lodge of Elks to a game of donkey basketball to take place Wednesday, March 1 at the high school gym. Sponsored by Dollars for Scholars, SAD 29 and SAD 70, this should be a fun evening. The Rotary Club has it all with Head Coach “Baldy” Inman, and an outstanding group of well-trained donkey riders; and even more important, our cheerleaders will knock your eyes out. So we hope one and all will come to see the Rotary Club beat the Elks Club. — Michael Clark, Donkey Coach
Log Drivers festival set for March — The Annual Log Drivers Family Fun Festival weekend March 3-5 is planned starting with a spaghetti and BBQ chicken supper at the Big Valley Sno-Club clubhouse (Island Falls), followed with a torchlight parade on May Mountain and a bonfire on the lake. Saturday, the Log Drivers cookout at Mud Pond will be served from noon to 2 p.m. and Sunday breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m. at the Rockabema Sno-Club in Patten. The weekend completes Sunday with oyster stew served from noon to 6 p.m. at the May Mountain Ski Lodge.
File photo 1939
FIRE DESTROYS HAMILTON BLOCK — Firefighters were kept busy when fire spread from the J.J. Newberry Store in Market Square and enveloped the entire Hamilton Block. Excessive smoke and heat prevented Chief William Dobbins’ crews from saving anything and almost the entire block was considered a complete loss, valued at $55,000. It was the most devastating blaze in the past 28 years. It was believed that a young man with a cigarette had inadvertently started the fire while standing near a rack of cotton dresses in the Newberry’s store.
