From Our Files
Headlines from 102 years of local news.
102 Years Ago – August 20, 1914
Biggest and best team — The biggest and best team in the world was one of the features of the exhibition in the horse department at the Northern Maine Fair. This celebrated team, which took first prize at the International Horse Show in Chicago the past season, was positively engaged for the Fair and was one of its chief drawing cards. This great team weighed 4,000 lbs.
125 Tickets sold — At the Bangor & Aroostook railroad station, 125 tickets were sold for the various camp meetings, including a Dover-Foxcroft excursion. Many went to Riverside and Littleton by auto. It was said that Aroostook furnished 1,000 people.
75 Years Ago – August 21, 1941
Author — Mrs. Isabelle Merriam, Blake Street, Presque Isle, was one of the authors whose poems were included in “The Book of Modern Poetry,” the America Forever Edition, an 800-page volume published in 1941. More than 12,000 writers from every part of the United States and Canada competed for a place in this important volume; only a small percentage of these were found to write poetry of sufficient merit to be accorded a place in the book.
Local USO drive nets $703 — Percy R. Winslow, treasurer of the local USO Committee, said $703 had been collected in the local fund drive with some solicitors yet to report on their collections. The PI quota in the national drive was $1,380.
50 Years Ago – August 25, 1966
Erskine picked for national assignment — M.A. Wright, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the U.S., announced the appointment of Roger Erskine of Presque Isle as a member of the Agriculture Committee of the National Chamber. Erskine, director of the Presque Isle Chamber and vice president of the Northern National Bank of Presque Isle, and a graduate of PIHS and Husson College, had 20 years experience as a practical farmer before entering business.
Hi-Y donates books to jail — The Hi-Y conducted a used book drive and sold the books at reduced prices to the public. After reaching a goal of $100, the Hi-Y still had about 250 books left. Richard Lord Jr., leader of the local Hi-Y, brought up the idea at a club meeting that the excess books should be donated to the State Prison Library in Thomaston. It was voted unanimously to do so. The books were shipped free of charge by Cole’s Express.
25 Years Ago – August 21, 1991
PIHS team places second — A team of five PIHS students represented Maine in the fourth annual National Envirothon, held in Mapleton, and earned second place honors. The team included captain Alvin Winslow, Jeff Vigue, Marshall White, Martin McHatten and David Chandler. They were coached by adviser Ken White. The competition, based on students’ knowledge of natural resources and environmental issues, included nine teams from the United States and one from Nova Scotia.
Backstage appearance — During the sold-out appearance of the country super group Shenandoah during the Northern Maine Fair, Presque Isle radio station WOZI treated two Cariou listeners to a backstage visit with members of the band. As winners of the “Why I want to meet Shenandoah” essay contest, sisters Patty and Pam Searles chatted with band members offstage during the Forum concert.
