75 Years Ago – Feb. 6, 1947
Maine’s Potato Queen in Chicago on tour of the nation — The “goodwill mission” of Maine’s potato industry breezed into Chicago in the fifth leg of its 13-stop schedule under the capable reins of Maine’s charming Potato Blossom Queen, Miss Yvette Gagne
. Accompanied by Charles M. White, the former market division chief of the State Department of Agriculture, and Mrs. White, Miss Gagne declared that the folks back home could well be proud of the type of produce representatives handling their interstate spud shipments. Mr. White was even more emphatic in his appraisal of the merit of the market tour, pointing out that produce embers of the trade, met to date, had repeatedly expressed their pleasure at the opportunity of discussing “in person” packaging, marketing, handling and similar phases of the potato industry common to growers and distributors alike.
Shalek spoke to the Pierian club — Leon Shalek, a student at the University of Maine, was the speaker at the Pierian club meeting held at the Northeastland Hotel. Mr. Shalek, who served in the European Theater of Operations, spoke on the subject, “A Veteran in College.” Mrs. Eleanor Whittaker played several piano solos during the program. Mrs. Edward Green was chairman of the day’s program.
50 Years Ago – Feb. 9, 1972
Cyr honored for service — TexNed M. Cyr of Route 2, Presque Isle, was honored by Knapp King-Size Corporation of Brockton, Mass. Knapp celebrated its 51st year as a manufacturer and distributor of footwear selling directly to wearers through local independent salespersons. In such a capacity, Cyr had satisfactorily served his customers in this area and in appreciation for his ability, cooperation, loyalty and friendship, he received a lapel pin signifying his membership in the five years of Knapp Service Club.
New Lion initiated — William Ramsey of Presque Isle was inducted into the Presque Isle Lions Club during the Jan. 27 meeting of the organization at the Northeastland Hotel. District Governor Olen Holmes was in charge of the ceremonies. Ramsey was sponsored by Lion Burton Tompkins Sr.
Local company expanded its operations — Vaughn Porter, general manager of Roy C. Thompson Company, announced the company’s plans to expand their John Deere farm equipment business into the Fort Fairfield-Limestone area, occupying the building formerly known as the H.G. Slipp Company. Plans called for a similar operation to the main facility in Presque Isle with a complete line of John Deere parts, consumer products and tires.
County officers — Six high schoolers were elected from the three Aroostook schools which have Hi-Y to direct the Northeast District Tri Hi-Y for the following year. Those elected were, Mary Ann Miller of Houlton High School, Northeast District treasurer; Nancy Small from Presque Isle High School, secretary; Dave Shea, Fort Fairfield High School, vice president; Rick Currier, PIHS, president; Debbie Weeks and Ray Langley, both of PIHS, chaplain and reporter, respectively.
25 Years Ago – Feb. 5, 1997
Book donation — Mary Pelkey, special programs advisor for the Loring Job Corps Center, accepted a collection of books from Florence Zettergren of Pieces of Eight bookstores. The donation was to help build-up the center’s resource library for Job Corps students. The center was soliciting other donations of books appropriate for those between the ages of 16-24, as well as reference books.
County women completed a Girl Scout training course — Rosalie Dwyer from Presque Isle and Linda Alverson from Oxbow, completed an 18-hour course to qualify to train volunteer troop leaders in the Abnaki Girl Scout Council. This rigorous college-level course, which was designed by the national organization Girl Scouts of the U.S.A., focused on how to teach adults and was conducted at the Abnaki Discovery Center in Howland. “The quality of the Girl Scout program for 6,000 girls in the Abnaki Council was directly related to the quality of the training their troop leaders received,” said Laura Johnson Dorrer, director of adult development in the Abnaki Council. “Our council-certified volunteer trainers provided adult volunteers with effective training opportunities, so the addition of Rosalie and Linda to our corps of volunteer trainers enhanced the delivery of the Girl Scouts program for many Presque Isle area Girl Scouts.”
