100 Years Ago-Sept. 2, 1914
Aroostook Times
Aroostook visitor pleasantly surprised — An extract from a letter received by a resident of Houlton: Aroostook County was a great revelation to me, for as you know, this was my first visit there. It seemed to me almost like a different country from the rest of Maine…As we rode along over that rolling country, enormous fields of potatoes and grain were a source of surprise and pleasure. The presence of a large number of automobiles indicated the general prosperity and the great change in recent years in methods of locomotion.
75 Years Ago-Aug. 31, 1939
Houlton Pioneer Times
First potatoes of the season — The first carload of new potatoes out of Aroostook County this season was shipped on Aug. 22, from Littleton Station by Arnold P. Ross. The car of cobblers was a 200 barrel bulk shipment consigned to Ace-High Potato Co. in Charleston, Mass. The potatoes were purchased from Harold Britton, Monticello; Fred Lowrey and Forrest Towers of Houlton at a price of $1.35 per barrel.
New teaching staff for fall — Teachers scheduled to teach in the Ludlow schools this fall are Miss Luella Dickinson, Caribou; Hubert Ross, Milbridge and Mrs. Esther Braun, Enfield. Louis Bourgoin of Frenchville was elected sub-master and boys’ athletic coach at Bridgewater Classical Academy.
50 Years Ago-Aug. 27, 1964
Houlton Pioneer Times
O’Donnell Express founder dies — George Chris O’Donnell, 69, founder of O’Donnell’s Express and a longtime resident of Houlton, died Aug. 19 at a Foxboro, Mass. nursing home. The motor transportation company that bears his name was the pioneer line serving Aroostook County and out-of-state points. He owned a string of racehorses, many of them holders of half-mile track records with Mr. O’Donnell in the sulky. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn Bowen O’Donnell, and 14 children.
At the movies — Playing in theaters this week: James Garner and Lee Remick in “The Wheeler Dealers,” Elvis Presley and Ann Margaret in “Viva Las Vegas,” and Walt Disney’s “Son of Flubber” featuring Fred McMurray and Nancy Olson.
25 Years Ago-Aug. 30, 1989
Houlton Pioneer Times
Cable upgrades in Patten, Island Falls — Town officials in Patten and Island Falls have approved a proposal to upgrade area cable television, an increase in the system’s offerings from 12 to 23. New services will include: Music Television (MTV), The Weather Channel, Video-Hits One (HV-1), Lifetime Cable Value Network (CVN), CNN Headline News, Discovery, Nickelodeon, WDIV-TV Detroit (NBC), Cinemax, Disney, and Channel 8 Presque Isle (CBS) substituted for WABI-TV Channel 5 Bangor.
File photo 1989
TAKE HONORS — The St. Mary’s School Band placed third in the band competition in the sesquicentennial parade in Presque Isle and received $200. Accepting the trophy and check are, from left, Peter Carr, band director; Laura Sloat, librarian; Liz Fitzpatrick, librarian; Laura Fitzpatrick, secretary; Milton Cone, Houlton Fire Chief; and Deanna Ouellette, president.
Adult flag football — Adult flag football is being organized by the Houlton Parks and Recreation Department. Games will be played Tuesday and Thursday nights in Community Park, in the case of rain, at the Millar Arena.
