HOULTON, Maine — Seven months ago, Aroostook County Commissioners put out a call for assistance to find a new home for nearly a century’s worth of newspaper articles and photographs documenting history in the region.
Since that time, the extensive number of leather bound books that hold archived copies of old County and state newspapers remain where they have been for year, behind a closed, locked door at the top of the Aroostook County Superior Courthouse in Houlton.
“We have put out a call to people and asked a number of local historians,” Ryan Pelletier, county administrator, said Tuesday. “But so far, we haven’t found a solution. People have said that they are interested in preserving the records, but they just can’t think of a place to put them due to space issues. We would really like to solve this, because we want to preserve that history.”
During a meeting last July, the commissioners discussed what to do with the archived newspapers. Some of the clippings are from newspapers that are now out of print, and some are just piled in cardboard boxes next to black and white photographs of former County judges.
The commissioners would like to find a way to maintain and preserve the records, possibly by having The County do it or by working with a historical society or university to have it done.
Pelletier said that no one is sure who was keeping the newspapers archived like that, or why the work suddenly stopped. The archives feature newspaper clippings that begin in 1900 and end in 1992. He and other commissioners are concerned that the newspapers will decay, however, because of the conditions in the room.
The archives are in a small room that is just off the mechanical room in the courthouse. The Aroostook County District Attorney’s office controls access to the space and anyone who wants to view the records must sign in at the office and get a key.
But it is very hard to do any research up there, as it gets too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. The room also is not compliant with Americans with Disability Act standards.
“We really just want to get these clippings into an appropriate place,” said Pelletier. “I know that they are very important to our history. I think we have a duty to put them in a climate controlled room that is accessible to everyone.”
Pelletier said it is clear that the commissioners are in favor of preserving the records and he asks that any individuals who would like to assist in their maintenance contact him at 493-3318.
