101 Years Ago – Jan. 4, 1917
Grange meeting — The Grange Circle met with Mrs. Thomas Porter and elected officers as follows: President, Nellie Sloat; Vice President, Maggie Porter; Secretary, Meda Wood; and Treasurer, Maggie Porter. Mrs. Alvira Porter was elected as committee on Flower Mission.
Thornton retired — Seth S. Thornton, Esq., who went out of office making way for the new incumbent, Parker P. Burleigh, Esq., retired with the record of having been one of the most capable and faithful officials who have ever filled that office. During his incumbency, the work of the office had increased to a large extent, and grown very much more exacting, but Mr. Thornton kept pace with its requirements, and showed marked ability for organization and system.
75 Years Ago – Jan. 7, 1943
Intelligence officer — Lt. Robert L. Smith, former 311th Material Squadron Adjutant, had been named assistant intelligence officer of Presque Isle Army Air Field according to headquarters. His duties to assist Capt. Elmer Brackett at the Post.
Mrs. Hews is chairman — The Presque Isle Chapter of the American Red Cross announced that Mrs. Ray D. Hews accepted the chairmanship of the new service to be developed, that of Hospital and Recreation Service, or, as more popularly called the “Gray Ladies.”
Store manager — Glenwood Philbrick, manager of the Houlton liquor store which closed its doors, became manager of the local liquor store, expected to open the middle of the month. The Houlton store was voted out by Houlton residents by the close margin of 12 votes after a recount in Augusta.
50 Years Ago – Jan. 3, 1968
Smith, Turner take seats — Mrs. Sarah C. Ketchum, election superintendent for the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District announced the results of the election for supervisors that closed on December 28. Elected were Lionel Smith of Mapleton and Clayton Turner of ashland. Mr. Smith to serve a full three year term and Mr. Turner, the remaining two years of the the three year term vacated by Carl Carlson of New Sweden.
Eagle Scout — Edward Chase Jr., son of Marilyn and Edward Chase Sr., received an Eagle Scout Award in Ashland, the highest award presented to a boy in Scouting at a Court of Honor held by Troop 179, Boy Scouts of America. Three Life Awards were presented, to Mahlon Page, and to two brothers, Charles and Reginald Tucker Jr., which Scoutmaster Milford Letourneau said, was very unusual.
Rotary honors Brooks — Charles A. H. Brooks, better known to Ashland people as Charlie, was named Ashland Outstanding Citizen by the Ashland Rotary Club. Brooks was born 1891 in Hartland, New Brunswick, and moved to Ashland in March of 1904.
25 Years Ago – Jan. 6, 1993
Huggable donation — The Aroostook Chapter of New England Telephone’s (NET) Telephone Pioneers, donated handmade Teddy Bears to Crown Ambulance. The bears help provide comfort to children in an emergency situation. The Pioneers have also donated bears to Aroostook County Police, the sheriff’s department, and nursing homes. Active and retired NET employees participated in making the “hug-a-bears.”
Scholarship winner — A University of Maine at Fort Kent senior business major was among the recipients of a Maine Higher Education Assistance Foundation scholarship. Mary Rossignol, of Washburn, was presented the $2,000 check by Joe Pietroski, executive director of the Maine Bankers Association during a ceremony at UMFK. The bankers association is the administrator of the foundation. The scholarship was established in the 1950s to support a guarantee fund for student loans.
