101 Years Ago – Nov. 29, 1917
Boarding horses — In order to make room for more transient horses, E. B. Taylor, the liveryman, leased twenty-five stalls in the Crouse Stables on Howard Street for his boarding horses, leaving that many stalls in his own stable on Main Street. The standing in of horses had been quite a problem during the fall, with the two stables closed on Main Street.
Conservation of food — Aroostook was “conserving,” but Mr. Joe Mitchell Chapple said not to the extent that conservation of food was being practiced in other sections of the country. It was hard for Aroostook, in the midst of its plenty, to realize the emergency need for food saving that presses on the world, and bids fair to be a deciding factor in the war.
75 Years Ago – Dec. 2, 1943
Temporary quarters — Chester M. Kearney, formerly of Aurora, Ill., arrived in Presque Isle after a drive from Illinois, an accountant and income tax consultant, residing at the Northeastland for the winter. Temporary quarters for his office had been established with the Woodman Potato Company through the courtesy of “Bob” Woodworth, his cousin.
Yellow plates — A single number plate with lemon-yellow numerals on black enamel was issued to Maine motorists who were given windshield sticker registration because of metal shortage. Secretary of State Harold I. Goss said that some steel stored out of doors for two years had been found, reconditioned, and was being transformed into plates at the state prison. The single plate was to be carried on the back of the machine.
50 Years Ago – Nov. 27, 1968
Police Chief retiring — Retiring Chief of Police Watson Burlock, who was credited with modernizing the Presque Isle Police Department during his 25 years of service, was honored at a citywide testimonial dinner held at the Northeastland. Burlock, who once won the State’s Mission of Texas Award for being the most outstanding chief of Maine, said the biggest department change during his term had been in facilities. When he took over as police chief in 1948, the offices were located in a former warehouse and the jail was situated downstairs in its present building on Church Street.
Attains new office — Ralph K. Sylvester of the Northern Maine Vocational Technical Institute of Presque Isle, was named to the post of secretary-treasurer for the Higher Education Council of Maine at a meeting at Westbrook Junior College. The Council, in its second year, is composed of the chief administrative officers of all degree-granting Maine colleges and universities, the state vocational-technical institutes and those progressing toward degree granting status.
25 Years Ago – Dec. 1, 1993
Elks donation — The Presque Isle Lodge of Elks BPOE 1954 presented the Opportunity Training Center with a check in the amount of $1,000 to be used for general operations of the Work Opportunity Program. Steve Richard, director of OTC, accepted the donation.
League donation — A new $2,800 non-invasive blood pressure monitor for babies and their mothers was donated to the obstetrics unit at Gould Memorial Hospital, Presque Isle. Donated by The Aroostook Medical Center League of Community Supporters (TLCS), the monitor provides the nurses and physicians with an instant blood pressure and pulse printout. TLCS made medical related donations with proceeds from fundraisers such as the NOv. 6 art auction.
