Headlines from 102 years of local news.
102 Years Ago – March 26, 1914
Annual meeting — The annual meeting of Aroostook Council, No. 16, was held in Masonic Hall, about 175 Masons being present from Caribou, Fort Fairfield, Houlton, Patten, Sherman Mills, Island Falls, Ashland, Washburn, Limestone, Van Buren and other points in the county. Deputy Grand Master James A. Richaw of Rockland was present and degrees were conferred upon 36 candidates.
Fire — The potato storehouse of Mr. Walter Frasier Sr. who lives in Fort Fairfield, near the Presque Isle line was burned Monday night, the fire originating as it is supposed, from a defective chimney. Besides the house, some 2,000 barrels of potatoes were burned and a considerable quantity of farm machinery.
75 Years Ago – March 27, 1941
City and State contributing $77,104 for construction of local airport — City Manager Mark Trafton outlined the work progress of the Presque Isle airport at the weekly meeting of the Lions Club at the Northeastland. He stated that with the work program well ahead of schedule the city and country WPA officials are now waiting for the “green light” from Washington to proceed with the extension project of the runways.
Alumni day featured gala program at Normal School — Saturday was a gala day for students and alumni of Aroostook State Normal. The full day’s program was a blend of professional and social activities including a varied chapel, a seminar providing opportunity for airing puzzling problem and a chance to visit classes.
50 Years Ago – March 31, 1966
Top 10 Chapters told by U. Fund — Floyd L. Harding, general chairman for the 1966 United Fund Drive, announced today these top 10 chapters: Agway Inc., Aroostook Wholesale, H.P. Hood & Son, Indian Head Plywood Corp., International Paper, Maine State Highway Dept., Northeast Publishing Co., Post Office Clerks and Carriers Craft, Seven Up Bottling Co., and Suburban Propane Gas Corp. Out of 88 chapters in the United Fund Chapter Plan, 70 are completed to date with a total of $23,851.67 and 18 left to be completed.
Rotarians donate — Ralph Brown, chairman of board of trustees at Gould Memorial Hospital, received $8,000 check from Robert Andrews, chairman of Rotary Club Auction of 1965, the annual effort behind the sizeable donation.
25 Years Ago – March 27, 1991
MH classrooms get TV — Under the terms of a three-year contract, high school students in SAD 42 will start their morning with a 12-minute satellite news broadcast, including two minutes of commercial advertising, in return, Whittle Communications promises to install and service approx. $50,000 worth of video equipment, including a satellite receiver dish and individual color classroom monitors, in the school at no cost to SAD 42.
Skyway Give and Go — A group of Skyway Middle School students recently won the regional Odyssey of the Mind competition with their solution to the “Give and Go” problem. Members of the Rockland-bound Rocket OM with coach, Debi Smith are David Saucier, James Sharpe, Prasanth Prasanna, Melissa Smith, Tyler Page, Stuart Eaton and Mark Blackmore.
