115 Years Ago – Mar. 26 1908
Gone to Fort Kent for business — Lewis Washburn went to Fort Kent Monday in the interests of B. D. McLellan’s gasoline engine business.
In session — The National Horseshoers Protective Association is in session today in Caribou. Delegates from nearly every town in Northern Aroostook are in attendance.
Town meeting — At town meeting Monday the people of Caribou voted to raise not less than $25,000 for a new High School building to be erected this summer on the Pushaw lot near the old C. H. S. building.
100 Years Ago – Mar. 29, 1923
Closed camps — The American Realty Co. have closed all their camps in Ashland and are moving all their equipment to Washburn. It is not known if they will ever resume their operation in this section again. It is rumored that they will not cut any more pulpwood but are going into the long lumber business there at Washburn.
Hopeful for opening for the spring term — Work on the fitting up of the Parochial school building is being pushed rapidly forward under supervision of A. E. Warren, and it is confidently expected that the building will be ready for occupancy in time for the opening of the spring term.
75 Years Ago – Mar. 25, 1948
Half century in business, 77th birthday observed — Burned out twice in the first six years of business, with everything a complete loss, yet Claus Johnson of the occasion of his 77th birthday anniversary here last Saturday, was still in business.He had incorporated with his son, Arthur, and continues to run one of the three abattoirs (slaughter houses) in Aroostook, where they have carried on a wholesale meat business. Mr. Johnson was born in Westerkoltund, Sweden,, Europe, March 2, 1871. At the age of four months he was taken with two brothers and a sister across the wide waters by his pioneering parents. Landing in New York, then by boat to St. John, N. B. They proceeded by boat and horse to New Sweden where they landed, July 23, 1871, one year to the date following the first group of the 52 heroic souls who founded that colony with W. W. Thomas. Moving to Caribou he found employment with Charles B. Lovejoy who had built the first slaughterhouse in the county. He stayed there two years as an apprentice, but went back to the farm for another three years. In 1900 Claus, with his brother, John, came to Caribou and purchased the Lovejoy business. The third stand of buildings are intact now at the location where over half a century ago the first abattoir was constructed. Friends called on Sunday to offer congratulations and to drink a cup of Swedish coffee.
25 Years Ago – Apr. 1, 1998
Airport plan would build a new hangar — A new airport hangar is being planned for the Caribou Municipal Airport. The hangar will replace one built in 1946. Plans to construct a new hangar are being developed from the Airport Master Plan, which is a study of the needs and requirements necessary at the airport. The plan was originally composed in 1956, updated in 1979 and is now being re-evaluated. The construction process is slated for this summer, once a final draft of the master plan is adopted by city, state and federal officials, said Caribou City manager Richard Mattila.
Special treatment — The nursing home hairdressers, Debbie St. Peter, Joyce LaFrancois, and Ruth Bouchard, are now enjoying their work in a new and much larger beauty salon at the Caribou Nursing Home. The newly constructed shop opened recently. LaFrancois, a Caribou resident, has worked as a hairdresser there for 23 years.
