120 Years Ago – May 26, 1904
Tennis court being put in — J. D. Uppling is having a tennis court fitted up on his lot on Sweden street. The work is supervised by John Nelson.
Adding a new soda fountain — Beecher Currier has been in Van Buren a few days during the past week assisting in placing in position a new soda fountain in Scates & Co. ‘s drug store in that place.
115 Years Ago – May 27, 1909
New firm in town — W.H. and F. J. Laffaty has purchased, of Ezra Lunn, his interest in the Jordan and Lunn machine shop on Washburn street. The new firm will be known under the name of Jordan & Laffaty.
Work being done on North Main street — A. D. Estey has had a crew of men busy during the past week, working on North Main street, which has been turnpiked and much improved. Another crew has started to build a concrete sidewalk on Sweden street.
100 Years Ago – May 22, 1924
Looking to fill positions — The United States Civil Service Commission has announced an examination to be held at Caribou, Maine, on June 14, 1924, to fill the position of rural carrier at New Sweden and vacancies that may later occur on rural routes from that post office. The salary of a rural carrier on a standard daily wagon route of 24 miles is $1,800 per annum, with an additional $30 per mile per annum for each mile or major fraction thereof in excess of 24 miles.
Looking to make plans for potential trouble — Spruce bud moths have made such ravages among the forests along Aroostook waters, that there are large quantities of dead and dying trees there, and a meeting of citizens of Ashland was held last week to consider the situation. George B. Dunn of Houlton, who came to attend the meeting, spoke at some length of the destruction that the moths have wrought, and he considered it possible that the Great Northern Paper Co. might be induced to establish a plant here to use up the lumber, which unless cut soon, will cause a great loss to business men, working men and the state in general.
75 Years Ago – May 26, 1949
Caribou girl wins League Oratory title — Miss Joyce Hale, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Hale of Caribou, won first honors in the girls division of the Aroostook League Speaking Contest held Friday evening at Washburn high school auditorium. Newman Dorsey of Fort Fairfield was winner of the boys group.
Welcome auto bureau here — Opened to the public in its new, but temporary, quarters at Nylander building on South Main Street, the Maine State Automobile Registration Bureau, formerly located in Presque Isle, was officially welcomed to Caribou early this week by several town officials. Hal C. Cushman, chairman of the town council, Chester Henderson, president of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce, and Nelson J. Gagnon, chairman of the board of trustees of the Nylander Museum were all on hand Monday morning to offer official greetings to Basil Huntress, inspector in charge of the office and his staff of clerks.
25 Years Ago – May 26, 1999
A life together — As husband and wife, Ben and Ida Paradis have lived through the Depression, two World Wars, the birth of the space program, seven children and farming. The couple will be doing something on Sunday that not many people have the privilege of doing. Ben and Ida Paradis will be celebrating 70 years of marriage. The couple was married on May 30, 1929, in Caribou at the dawn of the depression. Ida Paradis remembers working outside of their home to help support their children.During the early years of their life together, Ida said they brought home $6 a week between the two of them. Staying together for 70 years is no small accomplishment. Nylander celebrates 60 years — In August of 1939, the Nylander Museum reported more than 800 people had registered as guests during the five weeks since the facility opened. 60 years later, with a decline in the number of visitors, the city-appointed board of trustees is attempting to increase the number of visitors to the museum of natural history. ‘We are trying to change things to bring people in here,’ said board member Brenda Bourgoine. The board is listing the museum displays on an internet site to attract tourists to the area to see Olaf Nuylander’s lifetime collection of natural history. Nylander was world renowned for his work.
