From Our Files
Headlines from 102 years of local news.
102 Years Ago – May 7, 1914
Farewell — A very large number of friends gathered at the B. and A. railroad station to bid farewell and Godspeed to Rev. and Mrs. A. D. Paul and family. Llewellyn Hone, president of the junior class, presented Miss Lila Paul with a beautiful ring, set with her birthstone, a pearl, as a token of friendship and affection from her classmates.
Play — The local talent play, “The Schoolmistress” produced in the Presque Isle Opera House under the auspices of the Pierian Club, attracted a large audience, and was one of the best amateur entertainments that have been given.
75 Years Ago – May 8, 1941
Airport — Hervey Law, regional supervisor of airports for the Civil Aeronautics Authorities, inspected the local airport and opened the northwest-southwest runway for general flying. The north-south runway had been closed for an application of tarvia.
Water Company — C. J. Marson, local manager of the Presque Isle Water Company, stated that arrangements had been completed for the company to borrow $90,000 to finance the erection of a modern water treatment plant, the enlargement and extension of certain of the pipelines of the Company, and the installation of additional meters.
50 Years Ago – May 12, 1966
Close to a million — A fire broke out upstairs in the Sears, Roebuck department store. It was spotted in time, and the fire department extinguished it quickly. Inventory in the huge storeroom totaled more than $1 million, said Assistant Store Manager Ed Szymanski. The fire did not affect shoppers.
Capping — Diane Graham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Graham, was one of the 49 student nurses in the capping ceremonies held at the Mercy Hospital in Portland. She was accompanied by her parents, brother Frank, sister Mary Alice and her grandmother, Florence Merriam.
25 Years Ago – May 8, 1991
Arbor Day planting — Local Rotarians joined efforts by Rotary International members to meet with President George Bush’s “tree planting initiative” by planting a Japanese silver birch seedling at Rotary Park, located at the north end of the bike path in Presque Isle. The April 26 event included Rotarians Mike Kelley; Norman Johnson; district governor, Dana Swett and his wife, Linda; club president James Bubar; Frank Hussey; and Brian Flewelling. The local program was one of thousands celebrated by Rotary clubs nationwide.
MEEP competition — For the second year in a row, members of Mabel Desmond’s fifth-grade class at Zippel Elementary School have captured first place in the Maine Energy Project (MEEP) competition. The class again compiled an energy scrapbook, earning top honors in their category and winning overall in the state competition. The group had the opportunity to attend the state award banquet in Augusta June 7 and to travel to Washington, D.C., to the National Energy Education Development awards program June 22-25. The Zippel energy group included, Jennifer Woodman, Christopher McCoy, Andrew Beaupre, Jarvis Kelley, John Bosley, Candy Sutherland, Eugene Cronin, Jeremy Fischer, Nicole Handren, Wendy Viel and Jason Straetz.
