101 Years Ago – May 10, 1917
Making ambulance pillows — The pupils of the Training School had done splendid work in making ambulance pillows and had used every piece of cloth available thus far to cut up into filling.
Flag raising — A flag raising took place at the Butterfield school house, South Presque Isle, and was a pleasant neighborhood incident. The flag was the gift of Miss Ruth Barker, and the pole was set by her father, Hart Barker. There was an appropriate program of exercises, consisting of reciations, songs, etc.
75 Years Ago – May 13, 1943
BPW elects leader — The annual business meeting of the Business and Professional Women’s Club was held at the Northeastland Hotel. A musical selection, “By the Waters of Minnetonka,” was presented by Marie Oleson, violinist, and Marjorie Larsson, pianist, students at Aroostook State Normal School. The were introduced by Miss Virginia Ames, a member of the faculty.
Drive money — The Presque Isle Fire Department realized enough money during their canvass and dance to pay for the resuscitator being used at the hospital and for a portable machine of the same type.
Red Cross chairman — Mrs. F. S. Cunningham was elected chairman of the Presque Isle branch of the American Red Cross. Other officers elected were Mrs. John Zipple, vice president; Miss Winifred Mills, treasurer; and Mrs. R. W. Cary, secretary.
50 Years Ago – May 8, 1968
First place — Patricia Rafford of Ashland, a freshman at Aroostook State College, took first place in the finals of the Aroostook State College Basic Speech Contest. Her speech, “The New Breed,” dealt with the new type of students on campus — those who ask “why” and also seek status as individuals. Students, according to Miss Rafford, want the responsibilities and privileges of young men and women, who want a voice in their curriculum and their future. According to Miss Rafford, 22-year-olds can not be treated as 13-year-olds. Second-place winner was Linda Crockett of Caribou. Her topic was “The Interior Life,” a speech questioning religious values. Robert Coffin of Presque Isle received third place with a speech on Civil Rights entitled “Civil Rights Have Gone Overboard.”
“Mrs. Maine” — Three finalists for the Mrs. Maine title had been named in the Mrs. America contest, and one of them to represent the State of Maine in the national pageant to determine the Nation’s No. 1 Homemaker for 1969 in Minnesota’s Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Mrs. America judging panel selected Mrs. Joyce Theriault of Presque Isle, Mrs. Joanne Barry of Bangor, and Mrs. Jeanne Fernald of Somesville as survivors from a strong field of candidates.
25 Years Ago – May 12, 1993
Washington bound — Jacqueline “Jacquee” Christnot of Presque Isle and Charlene Dyer of Washburn, Upward Bound participants at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, were selected to represent Maine at the National Student Leadership Congress in Washington, D.C. Students stayed on the campus of American University. A residence staff provided supervision throughout the conference. Activities included a reception for the delegates on Capitol Hill: an opportunity to meet their congressional representatives from Maine; a workshop on negotiating skills by the staff of the Harvard Negotiation Project; and a workshop on diversity by The Points of Light organization.
35 years of service — The United Way of Aroostook (UWA) celebrated “35 Years of Service and Caring” at its annual meeting. The event also announced the success of its 1992-93 fundraiser campaign and elected new board of directors and officers. Under the direction of of campaign chairman, Connie Sandstrom, UWA surpassed its goal by raising over $232,000.
