75 Years Ago – Jan. 16, 1947
Edwin Smith elected to head Presque Isle Fish-Game Group — Officers were elected, drew up bylaws and nominated a board of directors, when more than 50 sportsmen met at the Mooseleuk Club rooms to organize a new Presque Isle fish and game club.
Edwin Smith was named president, Philip Bishop vice president, and Robert Tate secretary-treasurer. The new organization, as yet unnamed, replaced the old Aroostook Valley Fish and Game club.
March of Dimes chairmen named — James Bishop and Robert Shean were appointed co-chairmen for the 1947 March of Dimes campaign in Presque Isle, George Shean of Houlton, county director, announced. The annual drive provided financial means for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to combat this dread disease. The money raised in Aroostook County for infantile paralysis work was apportioned so that a fund was established for cases in the county. Three such cases were being cared for in Aroostook County from this fund. Other Central Aroostook community campaign chairman included: Theodore Bartlett, Ashland; Vaughn Nichols, Blaine; Mrs. Harriet Keirstead, Castle Hill; Luman P. Mahoney, Easton; Sarah F. Stephenson, Mapleton; C. Hume Pierce, Mars Hill; Ray Carter, Washburn; Gretchen Turner, Westfield; and Mrs. Delma Russell, Woodland.
50 Years Ago – Jan. 19, 1972
Area firms sold spuds to USDA — Four Aroostook County industrial firms sold potato products to the United States government in its continuing program of purchasing potatoes for child nutrition programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Jan. 12 that it had purchased 414,000 cases of dehydrated instant mashed potatoes and 744,000 cases of frozen French fried potatoes that were distributed in the program. Made on an offer-and-acceptance basis with funds provided by Section 32, Public Law 320, the purchases consisted of 300,000 cases of potato flakes, 114,000 cases of potato granules and 358,000 cases of French fries. According to USDA Consumer and Marketing Service specialist in Presque Isle, John Boyle, this purchase amounted to a cost of $3,898,231 and a total of 30,240,000 pounds.
An honorary life member — Mrs. Alvie Kierstead of Presque Isle was presented with an honorary life membership to the Women’s Auxiliary of the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital Jan. 14. Mrs. Kierstead, 85, was the sewing and house mother of the Nurses’ Home, adjacent to the former Presque Isle General Hospital, for 13 years from 1943 to 1956 and had been a member of the then Ladies Aid (Women’s Auxiliary). During a check of the membership, Mrs. Kierstead was discovered and the auxiliary voted to give her a life membership, which was believed to be the first such membership of that organization. Mrs. Kierstead did her own knitting and read the newspaper regularly. When election time came, she knew how to vote. She also grew her own flowers and still had some which she started in 1928.
25 Years Ago – Jan. 15, 1997
Presque Isle airport received grant funding to update 20-year master site plan — The Northern Maine Regional airport in Presque Isle received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) on Jan, 8 to update the terminal’s master plan. A match of 5 percent in local dollars and an additional 5 percent from the state was needed as part of the grant’s requirements. The master plan included information highlighting the needs of the airport over the course of the next 20 years, including the reconstruction of the runway, approach surfaces and other safety-related issues.
NMDC approved $665,500 in loans — The Northern Maine Development Commission received $665,500 in loans, granted $10,000 to the Maine Potato Board’s sweepstakes promotion, and discussed the “Targeted Opportunities Program” at the monthly board meeting. Loans approved for local small businesses included $6,500 for State Street Market of Van Buren to purchase a conveyor pizza oven and $10,000 for a party supply store, All Dec’d Out of Presque Isle, for expenses related to their relocation to the Aroostook Centre Mall. Two other eloans were awarded to unnamed borrowers. A manufacturing enterprise that was considering operating at the Loring Commerce Centre received $400,000, creating 35 jobs. Another manufacturer received $250,000 and was expected to create 150 jobs.
