101 Years Ago – Jan. 25, 1917
Smith buys property — The property on Blake Street near the C. P. R. R. which had been occupied by R. W. Gratz, the truckman, a long term of years, had been sold to J. W. Smith. Mr. Gratz intended to move to the great Northwest.
Barrel price — Potatoes were sold as high as $5.25 a barrel. The ruling price at the time being was around $5. The movement was as rapid as the car shortage.
75 Years Ago – Jan. 28, 1943
Home Guard — The powerful Presque Isle Home Guard five took over first place in the city basketball league by beating a good Aroostook State Normal School team 46 to 38, at the Normal gym. Luther Smart and Dana Hardy had eagle eyes for the hoop, slinking 16 and 14 points respectively. Wes Hussey and Curtis sparked the Future Teachers. At the half Home Guards was out ahead, 18 to 14. In the second city league game, the Abnaki club sprung a surprise by beating the Presque Isle A.A.F. officers’ outfit, 40 to 22, but it was a close game the first with the Abnaki five leading 17 to 13. Bill Simpson really found the range for the winners collecting 29 points.
Fuel rationing — Rotarian Maxwell Hayden, member of the local rationing board set-up, was the principal speaker at the Rotary club luncheon, President Percy Winslow presiding. He explained the program involved relative to gasoline and fuel oil rationing. Another member, Larry H. Alline spoke briefly, presenting a highly informative talk on the critical water shortage in Aroostook.
Perham donation — The Salmon Brook 4-H Club of Perham, led by Mrs Harriet Lewin, at their last meeting, voted to place a poster and box in Holt’s store for collection of keys, records and odl metal. The proceeds of this drive to go toward the National Ambulance fund.
50 Years Ago – Jan. 24, 1968
Ricker news — Ricker College President C. Worth Howard announced the appointment of Harold Emerson to head a new department of placement which served as a meeting point for graduating seniors, alumni, and industry. Mr. Emerson continued to serve in his capacity as director of admissions.
DuPont grant — The University of Maine’s department of mechanical engineering had received for the third successive year a $2,500 DuPont Science and Engineering Grant. For the previous two years, the department had used the grant to assist promising faculty members to initiate research programs.
25 Years Ago – Jan. 27, 1993
Wildcat girls win — The Viking boys team edged out Presque Isle, while the ’Cats returned the favor against the girls team in a cross-country ski meet held at the Caribou Ski Trails. In the boys competition, Caribou totalled 17 points to win by just two points over the Wildcats in the 8.5-kilometer event which used the classical style of skiing. The girls race, six kilometers in length, saw Presque Isle nab the top spot with 15 points, while Caribou tallied 26. Presque Isle’s Sarah Richard was the winner at 19:23, while Neali Ouellette of Caribou was next with a 21:46 clocking. Finishing third was Amanda Badger of the Wildcats, at 22:26.
Financial boost — Diane Moore-Holbrook, rotarian and executive director of Aroostook Academy, received a check for the school from Presque Isle Rotary Club president Michael Kelley. The $7,500 donation represented part of the proceeds generated from the club’s annual television-radio auction.
