101 Years Ago – April 19, 1917
Downing wins — Harold Downing, 8 years old and son of Mr. and Mrs. Ned Downing, won the first prize of a Berry Wagon offered by A. M. Smith Hardware Company for the girl or boy who would form the most words out of the letters in the two words, “Berry Wagon.” Master Harold reported 1154 words, 900 of which were correct. Frances Lowrey, the little daughter of Dr. and Mrs. F. W. Lowrey, made 700 words and received second prize.
In Augusta — Mr. H. C. Ketchum, chairman of the Aroostook County Committee on food production and conservation was in Augusta to attend a meeting of the State Committee. He reported that the meeting was a very enthusiastic one, and that no one who attended failed to be impressed with the seriousness of the task which this committee had on its hands.
75 Years Ago – April 22, 1943
Whatley leads Rotary — Robert Whatley was named president of the Presque Isle Rotary club. He succeeded Percy Winslow. Other new officers were Dr. Levi Trundy, 1st vice president; Dr. Loren F. Carter, 2nd vice president; Fred P. Stevens, secretary; Otis B. Stevens, treasurer; and Albert E. Erickson, sergeant-at-arms. The new board of directors comprised of M. S. W. Dingwall, R. A. Whatley, P. R. Winslow, J. W. Larkin, H. E. Bryant, B. M. Jordan, Dr. Levi Trundy, M. M. Hayden and Dr. L. F. Carter.
Soldierly conduct — Earl C. Mitchell, former Aroostook representative for the C. M. Rice Paper Co., and well known in Presque Isle business circles, was cited by his commanding officer in a letter to the C. M. Rice Paper Co., for commendable work in a campaign against the Japs on an island in the South Pacific.
50 Years Ago – April 17, 1968
Bronze Star — Army Staff Sergeant Wallace R. Cosman, son of Mrs. Pearl Cosman, Presque Isle, was awarded the Bronze Star with ‘V’ device for heroism in Vietnam. The soldier was decorated for bravery while serving with the Seventeenth Air Cavalry on January 5, 1968. Cosman distinguished himself while serving as fire team leader in and infantry platoon during a reconnaissance operation in Pleiku province. When his platoon was pinned down by intense enemy fire from a fortified bunker, he “repeatedly exposed himself to the hostile fire,” as he assaulted the insurgent position. As a result, the Viet Cong were later routed from their position.
On baseball team — Kendall Kenney, an infielder of Presque Isle, was named to the 19 member Nason College Varsity Baseball Team for the 1968 season, to play a 24 game season against Barrington College, Bryant College, Gorham State College, Eastern Nazarene College, Lowell Technical Institute, Nichols College, Nathaniel Hawthorne College, New England College, New Hampshire College of Accounting, Ricker College, Saint Francis College, Suffolk University, and the University of Maine in Portland.
Dumont Trophy — Wilma Tompkins was the recipient of the 1967-68 George Dumont Trophy, given each year in memory of the late George Dumont to the women’s highest single. Wilma’s Hi Single was 136.
25 Years Ago – April 21, 1993
Citizen of the Year — Mary Philbrook, who became the first woman to be selected tribal chairperson of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs the previous year, was named the 1992 Presque Isle Citizen of the Year. Named as the recipient of the first Presque Isle Lifetime Achievement Award is Neil E. Michaud.
National award winner — Competing against approximately 6,500 school winners from throughout the United States, Nicole Shaw, a Central Aroostook High school senior, won a national Principal’s Leadership Award. Roger Shaw, principal of Central Aroostook High School, announced the award, which included a $1,000 college scholarship. One hundred fifty awards were presented as part of National Student Leadership Week.
