115 Years Ago – May 26, 1903
New school — This summer, a new $6,000 school building will be built at Sprague’s Mills in which will be located at the primary, grammar, and high schools. It is also planned to raise the grade of the high school, which has heretofore been somewhat immature, making it a fitting school for college.
Probability — It is very probable that Clark’s Hall will be fitted up and used by the Masons of Caribou for lodge purposes. It is understood that negotiations to that end are being made. This will leave the town without any place for holding entertainments of a public nature. It is about time steps were being taken toward the building of a opera house.
100 Years Ago – May 29, 1918
Headlights — State Automobile Inspector Edward Allen, who has dealt leniently with automobile owners who have not complied with the state law in regard to headlights, says that all should be now acquainted with the law, and prosecutions will follow violations.
75 Years Ago – May 26, 1943
Chimney spark — A fire starting from a chimney spark completely destroyed the home of Fred Kennard at Dow Siding on Monday morning. The loss, for both the building and furniture, is estimated at $1,000-$2,000 by Fire Chief Ellroy DeMerchant.
Patriotic song — Sincock School pupils ranging from first through sixth grade presented a patriotic sing at the weekly meeting of the Caribou Rotary Club yesterday afternoon. Miss Pooler and Miss Hallowell were in charge of the program.
50 Years Ago – May 29, 1968
Invisible fire — The fire that nobody knew anything about was one which, in the words of Fire Chief Donald Woods, could have been “a real holocaust.” Firemen got a call to the Corey Hotel early Monday evening because some of the upstairs tenants in the hotel complained of smelling smoke. Investigation revealed that the floor stringers over the furnace in the basement boiler room of the hotel had been burned halfway through. But there was no fire; the rafters were cool to touch; there was no smoke Monday evening in the boiler room. Strangest of all, nobody knew where the fire may have occurred.
25 Years Ago – May 26, 1993
Cuts — Caribou’s Board of Education Wednesday night approved the elimination of seven teacher positions for this coming year due to declining enrollment and federal funding cuts. All but two cuts will involve teacher layoffs, and the other positions will not be filled, according to Superintendent Irvin G. Belanger. The board adopted a bloodborne pathogens exposure control policy for the school department employees.
Parade scheduled — A Memorial Day Parade is scheduled in Caribou Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. Sponsored by Lister Knowlton VFW Post 9389 of Caribou, the parade will proceed from the Caribou Courthouse to Hatch Drive and South Main Street, as far as the Soldier’s Monument, where a special Memorial Day ceremony will follow. There will be a featured speaker at the ceremony and the high school band, under the leadership of director Vaughn McLaughlin, will perform a special musical selection.
