75 Years Ago – March 13, 1947
Business girls form a new club — A new club for business and professional girls, tentatively named the Young Professionals, was organized and officers elected.
The officers of the new group were: Dorothy Kelley, president; Marilyn Brown, vice president; Glenna Briggs, secretary; Rena Pelletier, recording secretary; Arthurine Sinclair, Loretta Kelley and Teddy Daigle, by-laws committee; Edwina Kelley and Leona Clarke, publicity committee.
Potatoes reached Europe in perfect condition — Maine potatoes shipped to Europe arrived there in “excellent” and “perfect” condition, an official of the Maine Department of Agriculture announced. George H. Chick of Augusta, chief of the Department’s Division of Markets, who was back from an Aroostook County trip during which he contacted shippers and availability of rail cars, quoted a telegram from A.E. Mercker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture describing receipts in Spain and Italy. “The Italian Technical Commission,” Chick said, “had advised the United States’ Department that one shipload reached Geneva, Italy, in ‘perfect condition,’ and according to four trade sources, a second shipload was landed at Barcelona, Spain, in ‘excellent condition.’” The Maine Department member added that both Mercker, who was an assistant chief of the Fruit and Vegetable Branch in Washington, and Maine Department officials were “extremely gratified” at this news.
50 Years Ago – March 15, 1972
Bragdon was Spelling Bee winner — The annual Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Maine Sunday Telegram, was held at the Ashland Community High School on March 10. It was hosted by Rodney Doody, principal. The champion speller for SAD 32, which included the towns of Ashland, Portage, Masardis, Oxbow and Garfield Plantations, was Robert Bragdon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Bragdon of Ashland. Runner-up was Christine Gordon, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Gordon of Masardis.
Shasta Lodge honored six noble grands — Shasta Rebekah Lodge 132 observed Past Noble Grands Night Tuesday, March 7. A potluck supper was enjoyed by the 11 members present. Six noble grands were honored. They included June Coty, Jean Ellis, Ruth Orcutt, LeJuean Prue, Pauline Tibbetts and Carolyn Walker.
State title brought back by local post — There were 22 teams from all areas of the Pine Tree State participating in the State Championship Roll Off at the Bangor-Brewer Lanes March 5, but only one team walked away with the title, that team being a Presque Isle entry in the competition. Presque Isle VFW Post 2599 sent three teams to the roll off with their team of five men winning the contest with their total of 2907 pins. Men in this team included Floyd Smith with a pin fall of 601, Vince Grant 585, Glen Sullivan 578, Francis Allen 574 and Gene Sawyer 569. The pin fall per string showed: 548, 610, 622, 549 and 578.
25 Years Ago – March 5, 1997
Peers, friends honor Wieden — Friends and colleagues of Clifford O.T. Wieden gathered to reminisce about the man responsible for bringing the University of Maine to Aroostook County. The hour-long memorial service, held in the building which bears his name, provided an opportunity for those who knew Wieden to reflect upon his life and impact on the university community. Wieden died March 3 at the Aroostook Medical Center. He was 94 years old. Born Aug. 30, 1902, in Wilmington, Delaware, the Caribou High School graduate attended numerous colleges before embarking on a teaching career at Mapleton High School in 1923. A year later, he accepted a position at Gorham State Normal School, where he remained for 16 years. He later returned to Aroostook County, taking the position of principal at Aroostook State Normal School in Presque Isle. After moving to Machias from 1943-46, where he served as principal at Washington State Normal School, he came home to Aroostook County to stay. He again served as principal at the Normal State School until 1952. That same year, he was appointed president of Aroostook State Teachers College, which later became UMPI in 1970. In 1969, he was bestowed the honorary title of president emeritus.
Lady Wildcats won Eastern Maine hoop title, Eastern Maine champions — Members of the Presque Isle girls varsity basketball team gathered around the Eastern Maine championship plaque after their 54-42 victory over the Cony Lady Rams at the Bangor Auditorium.
