75 Years Ago – Oct. 16, 1947
Arthur Fairbanks received a 24-year award in Rotary — Arthur R. Fairbanks received an award for 24 years’ perfect attendance at the regular meeting of the Presque Isle Rotary Club, Monday noon at the Northeastland.
Other members receiving long-term attendance buttons were: Donald McEachern and William J. Mackin, 14 years; Franklin S. Cunningham, Fred P. Stevens, and Percy R. Winslow, 13 years; and Dr. Eugene H. Doble, 11 years. The following new members were introduced: Parker P. Burleigh, Albert E. Erickson, William V. Haskell, Chester M. Kearney, and Robert S. Shean. Past President Verne C. Beverly was in charge of the meeting in the absence of President Frank W. Hussey.
Dean Roix new Sea Scout head — Dean Roix, U.S. Navy veteran, assumed his duties as skipper and John O’Donnell as first mate of Sea Lion Ship, Sea Scouts, at the first meeting of the season. Homer Cyr and Neil Michaud, who had served as skipper and mate, respectively, were the new officers’ assistants until the first of the year. The Sea Scout unit was sponsored by the Lions Club. Skipper Roix reported that there were a few vacancies in the unit for boys 15 years of age or older.
50 Years Ago – Oct. 18, 1972
Weekend trophy winners — Ella Drost and Brad Johnson won the Sunday Mixed Doubles Oct. 15 with Lester Kelso and Lottie Ireland winning the Scramble and Challenge Awards. John Dionne and Helen Lacy finished second, with Mel Johnson and Dorothy Parks in third place. Hi singles for the men was Ray Little; and ladies, Jean Sawyer.
Candidates were given degrees — A Harvest Feast preceded the regular meeting at Aroostook Union Grange Oct. 12. The third and fourth degree was conferred on eight candidates. They included William and Nancy Firth, Sheila Sykora, Carleton Rose, Sharon Rose, Milo Rose and Perline Chase and Larry Jordan of Maysville Center Grange. Election of officers was held and Merle Sprague was reelected master. It was voted to send the master and his wife to the State Grange session in Augusta the following year. E. Ashley Walter Jr. of Waldoboro, state legislative director of the Maine State Grange, spoke during the literary program. He emphasized taking a more active interest in grange issues and proposals, to improve the various situations concerning Agriculture and calling the members attention to the Referendum questions and Bond issues.
25 Years Ago – Oct. 15, 1997
A rainy day fund — A work crew from the Maine National Guard put the finishing touches on the Presque Isle Armory’s new roof, one of several projects the National Guard had done in central Aroostook County in recent months. The badly needed improvements and repairs had been made possible through the sale of the Rumford Armory, said Col. Donovan Lajoie, the director of facilities engineering at Maine National Guard headquarters at Camp Keyes in Augusta. The sale raised $300,000, which allowed the National Guard to put the money into existing buildings throughout the state. The Maine National Guard owns several armories throughout Aroostook County, including ones in Presque Isle, Caribou and Fort Fairfield. After they were built by the federal government, and the Presque Isle Armory was built in the 1930s, soldiers say, their upkeep and repair became the state’s responsibility. But the state Legislature hadn’t provided the Maine National Guard with any funds for capital-repair projects since 1992.
Ashland’s Caron competed in the Maine Athletic Conference golf championship — Ryan Caron of Ashland was a member of the St. Joseph’s College golf team which competed in the Maine Athletic Conference golf championships, held Oct. 8 and 9 at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. Caron shot a 36-hole total of 188 to help St. Joseph’s to a fifth-place finish.
