100 Years Ago-Mar. 4, 1914
Aroostook Times
Island Falls business news — Walker-Emerson Company has been organized at Island Falls for the purpose of doing a general mercantile and manufacturing business, with $10,000 capital stock, of which nothing is paid in. The officers are: President, Delmont Emerson and Treasurer, B. C. Walker. Certificate filed Feb. 23, 1914.
Sales opportunity — The advertisement reads: “Free! Free! Free! A Fine Baseball Outfit to any Boy in Aroostook.” We will send any boy in Aroostook County a fine Baseball Outfit, providing he will sell at least 24 of our waxing and ironing pads at 10 cents each. Sell them to friends and neighbors in a few hours and receive the excellent premium Free. Send for particulars to-day. — H. C. Jones & Co., 53 Elm St. Bangor, Maine.”
75 Years Ago-Mar. 2, 1939
Houlton Pioneer Times
J. J. Newberry fire destroys block — Fire, thought to have been started by a lighted cigarette in the J. J. Newberry store, caused damage reaching $55,000 as flames almost completely destroyed the Hamilton Block on Main street. A clerk reported seeing a young man, who appeared to have a cigarette hidden in his hand, standing near a rack of cotton dresses. The cigarette, it is thought, ignited the dresses, and from there fed by cellophane, paper and readily combustible materials, spread rapidly into the windows and back into the store. Employees barely had time to make their escape and one girl suffered singed hair as she ran for safety and the cashier grabbed two bags of money and fled out the back door.
At the Temple Theatre — Darryl F. Zanuck’s “Jesse James” in Technicolor with Tyrone Power, Henry Fonda, Nancy Kelly and Randolph Scott; “Nancy Drew Reporter” starring Bonita Granville; “Charlie Chan in Honolulu” featuring Sidney Toler; Gene Autry’s “Western Jamboree;” and “Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn” starring Mickey Rooney.
50 Years Ago-Feb. 27, 1964
Houlton Pioneer Times
Civil Defense hospital prototype visits Houlton — State Civil Defense Director Leslie H. Stanley has announced plans have been made for a prototype, training unit of the 200-bed Civil Defense Emergency Hospital to go on tour in Maine. The unit will be in Houlton on Friday, March 13.
Desmond-Merrill wedding — Miss Katherine Desmond, daughter of Mrs. Gertrude Desmond and the late Pearle Desmond of Island Falls, was united in marriage to Robert P. Merrill, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Merrill of Patten on February 8. The couple will reside in Patten.
25 Years Ago-Mar. 1, 1989
Houlton Pioneer Times
Guptill earns dairy recognition — Robert Guptill, a Patten dairy farmer, has been selected as the outstanding conservation farmer for 1988 by the Southern Aroostook Conservation District. The Guptills, who are fourth generation farmers, are a bit of an institution on the Happy Corners Road. According to Guptill, there were once 10 active dairy farms on his road; this year there are only two left. His farm has 65 milk cows, 20 bred heifers, and an additional 45-50 head of young stock.
File photo 1989
VALENTINE CARNATIONS — Members of the Fashion Merchandising class at Houlton High School were all smiles and ready to deliver the annual Valentine carnation flowers ordered by students and teachers at the high school. Class members included, from left, Kristy Wilson, Julie Duff, Erin Kilpatrick, Kim Blood, Stacey Codrey, Amy Hubert and Myrna Jewell. Instructor was Vera Hutchinson.
Houlton to celebrate County’s 150th birthday — The Houlton Chamber of Commerce is planning a parade and ball for Saturday, May 6, in observance of the county’s 150th birthday. The theme for the parade is “Aroostook’s Sesquicenten-nial.” In the evening, the chamber will host the Governor’s Ball at the Houlton Elks Lodge featuring the Bellamy Jazz Band from Portland.
