120 Years Ago – Aug. 25, 1904
Turning out jobs double-time — It is a busy time at Ellingwood’s mill. Four men are kept on the jump from morning till night. Just at present they are turning out door and window frames in double quick time so great is the demand on account of so much building going on this season. And for the same reason it is almost impossible to hire extra help, carpenters being engaged ahead.
Sidewalks going in — The old board sidewalk on South Main street has been taken up and the foundation laid for a concrete walk. When the various sidewalks in town, now under construction, are completed the town will have quite a long stretch of concrete.
115 Years Ago – Aug. 26, 1909
What an egg — Story Clark of Washburn brought into the Republican office this morning a hen’s egg which weighs strong four ounces, and is perfect in shape. Eggs of this size produce a strong argument in favor of selling them by the pound instead of by the dozen.
A new cellar — A new cellar is being dug on the corner of Grove and Main Street, on the site of the old Bickford tavern, the spot where Caribou’s first hotel stood for so many years.
100 Years Ago – Aug. 21, 1924
Resigned — Pearl Burns has resigned her position in the Standard Supply Co. store. Elsie Peterson has been appointed in her place.
Annual field day held — The firemen of Aroostook county held their annual field day and picnic Thursday at Four Falls, N. B., with an attendance of about 66, representing the departments of Presque Isle, Caribou, Houlton, Mapleton, Fort Fairfield and other places. A baked bean dinner was served. The officers for the year were elected. A short business meeting was held and among other things discussed was how to improve the field day next year.
75 Years Ago – Aug. 25, 1949
Caribou is busy with three major constructions — In Caribou at the present time three major construction projects are underway, two of which involve the town or its residents directly, and one which is taking place under State initiative. A new elementary school, a State motor vehicle storage garage, and a two story Automobile Registration Bureau are all under simultaneous building schedules with work on all units progressing rapidly. The new school, a basic structure, is located on the north side of Teague Park in what was known as the race track area. The foundation for the one-story school has been completed and now masons are engaged in laying the brick walls. Steel has started to arrive. Supervisor Albert Hodsdon said recently that in about one month townspeople will be able to get a view of the size, shape and appearance of the new school. In the same area, to the east of the new school, the State is nearing completion on a large National Guard storage garage which has overall dimensions of 52 x 72 feet. The garage should be completed by September 1, 1949. The total cost will be in the vicinity of $40,000. The third major construction program in Caribou is taking place at the corner of Prospect and Herschell streets. A two-story brick building has rapidly taken shape there and when completed will house the State Auto Registration Bureau now located at the Nylander Museum building. Present plans call for the building to be completed by slightly earlier than October 15. The General Contractor is the S. W. Collins Co. of Caribou.
New hose drying tower on Municipal Building nearly ready for use — Construction on the Caribou Fire Department’s new hose drying tower is now completed and only awaits installation of a motor before it can be placed into use. The motor, used to hoist one end of a section of wet hose to the top of the tower, has been received. Six new fire boxes have also been received by the local department. These will replace those on Sweden Street, while the old boxes will be installed in new sections of town.
25 Years Ago – Aug. 25, 1999
Receives donation — Jim Bell, district executive of the Katahdin Area Council-North Star District Boy Scouts of America accepted a donation from Kevin B. Simmons, owner/manager of the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. The Caribou Inn recently donated a one-year Caribou Fitness Center health club membership and a six-month Caribou Fitness Center membership, valued at more than $600. The donations were used as prizes awarded in a recent Boy Scouts tournament.
One-stop food and friends — ‘This is a good place to meet your old friends. If you’re alone, you don’t have to eat alone,’ said Evelyn Michaud. Michaud knows better than many what the benefits of the Elderly Dining Site are, since she was the site manager for 21 years. Recently relocated from the Lions Club to Lyndon Heights, the senior lunch site draws as many as 15 or 30 people (depending on the menu) older than 60 (depending on the menu), who come each day to join their friends for a noon meal. The sunny room filled with the varying scents of home-cooked food like haddock and baked potatoes becomes a social club for seniors.
