101 Years Ago – April 4, 1918
New fire truck — D.W. Gilman and H.R. Pipes, who were appointed by a committee to buy a fire truck in accordance with the vote at the annual town meeting, went to Portland and Boston for that purpose. After inspecting different fire truck outfits and investigating carefully, they decided to purchase the same kind of a truck that Houlton had, an American LaFrance. This truck had a 300 gallon pump, chemical tanks which held forty gallons, and a hose capacity of 1,200 feet of rubber-lined cotton hose. This was one of the most efficient apparatuses of the kind made, and there was no doubt but that the committee had made a wise choice and one in the interest of the town.
75 Years Ago – April 6, 1944
Mooseleuks win crown — The Mooseleuk Club won the annual City Bowling Championship by defeating the Abnaki Five in the final match of the tourney. In four roll-offs, the Mooseleuk unit garnered 12 points against Abnaki’s 4 points.
Promoted to Lt. Colonel — Major Morris L. Biderman, former Providence dentist, a Base Dental Officer of the Air Transport Command post of the North Atlantic Wing, was promoted to lieutenant colonel, according to an announcement made by the Base Public Relations Office. Lt. Col. Bidderman, a graduate of West Warwick High School and of Loyola University, Chicago, entered the Air Transport Command on April 2, 1942.
50 Years Ago – April 2, 1969
Graduates with honors — Spec. 4 James F. Ledger of Presque Isle graduated with honors from the U.S. Army Signal Center and School, Department of Specialist Training, Fort Monmouth. The son of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd H. Ledger of Presque Isle, a 1965 graduate of Presque Isle High School. Prior to entering the Army, Specialist Ledger served as a control operator at WAGM Television, Presque Isle. Classed as one of the finest technical institutes of its kind, the Signal School chiefly trained men in numerous Army electronic specialties. Courses varied in length, but they were all aimed at qualifying the enlisted student for greater responsibilities and advancement in the army.
Loans benefit many — More than $1 trillion, benefitting 4.6 million people, was loaned and granted through the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) division of the United States Department of Agriculture in the calendar year of 1968. Water, sewers, farm labor housing and special impact areas accounted for $32.9 million of the total. Collections for the calendar year were a record $796.2 million.Farm credit totaled $642 million to 102,750 families. The figure included $226.8 million for farm operation, $124 million for emergencies and $10.3 million for grazing ranges. Rural housing accounted for $529.9 million of the total and included $16.7 million for farm labor housing.
25 Years Ago – April 6, 1994
Donations — Terry Forbes, president of U.P.I.U. Local 1981 in Presque Isle, presented Steve Richard, director of the Opportunity Training Center, with a check for $250 form the United Paper Workers Union as a donation to the center. Maine State Trooper John York and Sgt. Hugh Turner accepted as well 50 teddy bears, donated by the union to the state police to aid in crisis management.
Gordon earns honor — Alan Gordon, coach of the University of Maine at Presque Isle women’s basketball team, was named Coach of the Year by the Maine Athletic Conference at their annual banquet in Portland. Gordon, who led the team to an overall record of 17-8, finished his second year on a winning note as the previous year’s team compiled an outstanding record as well at 14-6. That year’s team began the year with an 8-0 mark and had early key wins over Husson College, Mt. St. Mary’s College, Elms College and Johnson State College. They ended with a 4-4 MAC mark, good for fourth place, and then defeated the University of New England in their first playoff win since 1986 by a convincing 80-43 score. The lost in semifinal action at the Final Four Tourney in Portland to the eventual winner, St. Joseph’s College, 86-70.
