75 Years Ago – April 17, 1947
Northern Driving Club sets goal at 500 members — A campaign for membership in the Northern Aroostook Driving Club got underway throughout Aroostook County with a goal of 500 members. This newly organized driving club originated in December 1946.
The officers were: Burtt Brewer of Presque Isle, president; Fred Knight of Fort Fairfield, vice president; and Nemie Green of Presque Isle, secretary-treasurer. A Southern Aroostook Driving Club had also been set up at Houlton. These two driving clubs were cooperating with the Maine-New Brunswick circuit to further racing throughout New Brunswick and Maine. The committee of the Northern Aroostook Driving Club had also set up a junior membership for boys and girls up to the age of eighteen.
Durgin buys coin machine business — Guy E. Durgin announced the coin-operated vending machine, phonograph and amusement device business which had been operated by the Burke and Colbath corporation had been purchased by Durgin & Noyes Inc. Durgin & Noyes combined the B. & C. Corp. coin-operated machine business with their own, which extended throughout Aroostook. Directors of the corporation were Guy E. Durgin, president; Goldie Durgin, treasurer; Charles Noyes, clerk; and Manley VanTassel.
50 Years Ago – April 19, 1972
Miles announces promotion — John H. Miles, manager of Suburban Propane’s Presque Isle district office on 37 Industrial St., announced the promotion of Barbara Tapley to the position of office manager. Mrs. Tapley had been employed by Suburban Propanes for two years as a general bookkeeper. She resided in Blaine with her husband and daughter.. A lifelong resident of Aroostook County, Mrs. Tapley was born in Mars Hill and educated at the former Bridgewater Classical Academy.
Festival helps students — Larry Hersom received over $1,200 on behalf of the local chapter of Dollars for Scholars due to the group’s participation in the February Fun Festival. Making the presentation were John H. Miles, president of the Chamber of Commerce, and Robert C. Jackman, Fun Festival chairman. Hersom was president of the Presque Isle Chapter of Dollars for Scholars.
Local cadets support spuds — Maine Maritime Academy Cadets Peter Powers and George Benson, both of Presque Isle, displayed Maine potato products which were served at special receptions in ports while the training ship was on its two-month cruise.
Freshman is top speaker — A freshman emerged as the top winner in the Washburn speaking contest on April 12. Debbie Levesque took first place honors while sophomore Donna Tardie took second place. Coming in for third place was freshman Kim Meister.
25 Years Ago – April 16, 1997
Kneelands named ’97 Farm Family — The Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce announced the Farm Family of the Year for 1997 was the Richard Kneeland Family of Easton. The Kneeland family had met the criteria that was set forth for being chosen as the Farm Family. They are a generational farm family with good promise that the farming tradition will continue. They had been actively involved in the community as well as the industry itself and they had shown great success in the farming operation. Dick had been a voice for the people in Aroostook County in the State Representative office. The Fort Fairfield Chamber recognized his dedication and support of the Maine Potato Blossom Festival and his efforts in helping make possible for the 50th Festival to receive funding for the entire advertising campaign from the Maine Office of Tourism.
Cunningham students win math contest — The Cunningham MathCounts team participated in the state competition held in Augusta on March 22. Cunningham won first place among the nine schools that were represented. The overall school results were as follows: Cunningham, 36.50; Cape Elizabeth, 30.25; Orono, 29.50; Falmouth, 25.00; Wagner (Winterport), 22.00; Scarborough, 21.25; Waterville, 18.00; Boothbay, 17.50; and Lawrence (Winslow), 16.75 points. In the individual scoring, Cunningham’s Yuran Lu placed first with 39 points, David McCurry placed 10th with 22 points, James Hathaway placed 16th with 19 points, and Andrew Haeberlin placed 20th with 18 points. The Cunningham Middle School MathCounts team was coached by Zhugui Lu, a math professor at the University of Maine at Presque Isle.
