120 Years Ago – Sept. 1, 1904
Largest crowd to visit Caribou in years — Undoubtedly the largest crowd which has visited Caribou in several years gathered here on Sunday last. The Limestone train was the first to arrive bringing two coaches and 60 people; a few minutes later the train from Van Buren hauled up to the station bringing 105 more. Shortly afterward the train which started from Millinocket arrived, having 14 coaches and bringing 912 passengers. The station grounds and Broadway were alive with people, many gathering to see the trains arrive. It is estimated that fully 1500 people were at or near the station — probably the largest crowd which ever assembled there. A large number of the excursionists winding their way to the Adventists’ campgrounds on Sweden Street, which were thronged with people all day long. Others wandered aimlessly around town, not knowing what to do or why they had come. Shortly after 4 o’clock the visitors began to return to the station, the Millinocket train leaving at 5 o’clock and the Limestone and Van Buren trains shortly after.
Sewer troubles — The digging of the sewer on Water street is being done under difficulties. A ledge has been unearthed which has had to be dynamited, as four or five feet of solid rock have been taken out.
115 Years Ago – Sept. 2, 1909
Resigned and has a new job — Frank Simpson has resigned his position as clerk at the Vaughan House, and has entered the employ of Smith & McDougal as bookkeeper.
Repairs and changes are completed — The part of the old Burleigh hotel which has been undergoing repairs and changes for the past few months, is now complete, and will be occupied by Ziter, Solomon & Otis, who open to the public on September 15. They will carry a line of gents clothing, dry and fancy goods etc.
100 Years Ago – Aug. 28, 1924
New restaurant opened — Thos. Habeeb has his new restaurant in his new concrete building on Sweden Street in readiness for the public, he opened last week. The restaurant is clean, sanitary and inviting and presents a very neat and attractive appearance.
Lost their guns — Two revenue officers stationed in Van Buren, who crossed the line while patrolling the border to keep out rum runners, are reported to have lost the guns which they carried as a result of their visit to Canadian territory. Asked by a Dominion official for their permits to carry weapons, they displayed their badges, which he considered insufficient and he confiscated their guns.
75 Years Ago – Sept. 1, 1949
Nurses buy a resuscitator for Cary Hospital — Funds raised by nurses of Cary Memorial hospital by staging a dance at the high school last fall have been used to purchase a resuscitator for the hospital’s nursery, it was reported by Miss Katherine Ames, superintendent. It has been originally planned to purchase chart tables with the dance proceeds, but several difficulties arose relating to proper size and to cost. Each of two floors at the hospital were to be newly outfitted with such desks. A resuscitator instead was bought for the nursery. According to Miss Ames a similar apparatus has been used in the operating room, but it was believed the nursery would be more efficiently equipped if it contained its own unit.
Caribou officials tell Rotary of a 15,000 mile cross-country trip — Highlights of a 15,162-mile automobile tour to the west coast and parts of Canada were outlined to Caribou Rotatarians at their weekly meeting Wednesday by Mrs. Clara Piper, local librarian, and Mrs. Eva D. Ryder, town clerk. Visits to 15 national parks in the country which took the couple into Utah, Wyoming, Washington, California, Oregon, Colorado, and Montana were briefly described by Mrs. Piper. The two women also visited Lake House in Canada which they described as one of the most beautiful spots visited. Mrs. Ryder, who acted as treasurer for a traveling group of four women, cited that 889 gallons of gasoline were used at a total cost of $267.68. For gasoline, grease and oil the cost averaged about two cents a mile. Meals averaged $2.68 a day and lodgings $2.28 a night.
25 Years Ago – Sept. 1, 1999
Computer lab to open to the public — In an effort to meet the needs of children, their families and community members, the Caribou Adult Education Program is opening its computer labs for the first time to the public so that all local residents have access to computers and the Internet. Adult Education Director Al Menard said the lab was always open for students enrolled in the program to use. The Caribou School District received a federal grant which has enabled the Learning Center to open the lab to people in the community. Roger Dyer is an instructor and the supervisor at the Learning Center. He will be facilitating the computer lab which contains 12 computers with printers and Internet access.
Meals program receives boost for deliveries — The local Meals on Wheels Program received a $10,000 grant that will help eliminate waiting lists for meal deliveries to homebound senior citizens, expand the program, and provide emergency food supplies during severe weather this winter. The Senior Helpings Grant is part of a national effort by Philip Morris Companies Inc. and aims to alleviate hunger among the elderly. The $2.1 million initiative provides food and support for 56 hunger-relief programs nationwide. Steve Farnham, executive director of the Aroostook Area Agency on Aging, accepted the check from Olin Quint, representative from Philip Morris Co., at Lyndon Heights, home of the senior lunch program in Caribou.
