From Our Files
Headlines from 102 years of local news
102 Years Ago – October 22, 1914
New HS editors — The following board of editors had been appointed for the high school newspaper to be issued in a new form: editor-in-chief, Dorothy Lenfest, 1915; assistant, Dorothy Graves, ‘16; literary editor, Mildred Colwell. ‘15; assistant, Una Scott, ‘15; business manager, Harry Pierson, ‘15; assistant, Woodford Hone, ‘16; alumni editor, Gladys Porter, ‘15; exchange editor, Laura Mallett, ‘17; grinds, Eugene Nadeau, ‘15; local editor, Marion Chase, ‘16; and athletic editor, John White, ‘17.
Jewelry — H.B. Holmes, the jeweler, returned from a week’s visit to the Boston market, where he made extensive purchases of goods for the fall and holiday trade.
75 Years Ago – October 23, 1941
Musical program — Franklin Cunningham, principal of Presque Isle High School, was program chairman at the Rotary Club meeting. A musical program was presented by PIHS students. Mr. Cunningham, also chairman of the Rotary Boy’s Work Committee, introduced the students. The program consisted of two vocal selections by Carleton Hallett, with Mrs. Ruth Hedrich at the piano. Storer Parsons and Barbara Weick rendered two piano duets and Maxine Hedrich and Lillian Glidden sang two duets, accompanied by Mrs. Hedrich.
Wildcat runners defeat Houlton — Paced by Captain Malcolm Dempsey, Markee and Hallett, who all finished in a first-place tie, the Presque Isle cross country team defeated Houlton High 19 to 37 over the local 2 1/4-mile course. The three Wildcats runners came in ahead about 100 yards ahead of the nearest runners. The time was very good over the course, coach Wallace stated. This was Presque Isle’s only home dual meet of the season and second straight victory.
50 Years Ago – October 27, 1966
Open house — Milling crowds were everywhere at Maine Sugar Industries in Easton, inside and out of the huge buildings, peering into vats, climbing over steam pipes and wading through the mud outside. Four thousand attended a catered luncheon which featured Maine food and Maine politicians, including Sen. Ed Muskie, Secretary of State Ken Curtis, Rep. Bill Hathaway, Gov. John Reed, and others. Plant owner/manager Fred Vahlsing Jr. joined them in urging farmers to use the sugar beet allotment to support the refinery and stabilize their own income.
Students rang for MS — A house-to-house march for the Multiple Sclerosis Hope Chest was conducted in Presque Isle Oct. 27, 6-9, under the direction of Kappa Delta Phi fraternity and the Circle K Club at Aroostook State College. David Morin was general student chairman. Roger Kelly of the Circle K Club and Keith Kenney of Kappa Delta Phi were in charge of their groups. That was the third year that Aroostook State College students had conducted the MS drive as a public service project. All students participating were wearing red and white ID tags.
25 Years Ago – October 23, 1991
Balloonists eye city — Presque Isle had been asked to submit information for consideration as a starting point for a transatlantic balloon race celebrating the 500th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America. City Manager John Koelsch said officials from Cameron Balloons Unlimited, an English company, had contacted the city and asked for the materials in connection with the Great Chrysler International Transatlantic Balloon Race planned. Presque Isle was the starting point for the first successful transatlantic balloon flight in 1978. In that year, the Double Eagle II launched for a first flight to France. A park now exists at the launch site.
Service project — 120 employees of Key Bank branches throughout Aroostook County donned work clothes to participate in the bank’s first service day. All County bank offices closed at 1 p.m. as personnel completed various community service projects. At the new Houlton Road site of the Aroostook Academy in Presque Isle, one group of Presque Isle employees worked on trimming trees and shrubs around the grounds.
