75 Years Ago – Dec. 4, 1947
Fire destroys building and equipment — Three new Jeeps, a demonstrator and a large amount of farm and garage equipment were destroyed by a fire which caused damage estimated at $12,000 at the farm of W. Jerome Dickinson on the White Settlement Road here Tuesday morning.
The cause has not been determined. The flames had made considerable headway when the local fire department arrived on scene. It was necessary to keep several pieces of equipment at the scene of the blaze for more than four hours to protect nearby buildings which were constantly threatened as the blaze progressed. In addition to the building in which the equipment was stored and the structure itself, a small ell attached to it, was also razed by the flames. Fire Chief Guy Smith gave the estimate of the fire.
Honorably Discharged – Cpl. Fred Ayotte received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Army Nov. 18 at Camp Stoneman, California, and is now with this wife and family at their home on Spring Street. Cpl. Ayotte had 18 months of service, the last year of which was spent in Japan.
50 Years Ago – Dec. 6, 1972
Dux beat Elks in ladies bowling – The Dux ladies were again the winners in a return bowling match with ladies of the Elks Club. Dux entertained with a noon luncheon. The Dux ladies first team took their match by 106 pins on their own alleys. Fran Cunliffe held 299 for three high while a high single of 112 was rolled by Marlene Tomilson. The Elks high three of 289 and high single of 121 was held by Vera Carmichael. The Dux second team won their match by 13 pins on the Elks’ alley. Vallie Smith held high three with 276 while Laura Nightingale had a 97 for her high single. Janice Harrigan for the Elks had a high three of 285 with 104 for high single.
Parlor artist for December – Guest artist for December at the parlor gallery at the FIrst Church of Houlton (Unitarian) is Audrey Tork. The display is open to the public Wednesday afternoons, 2 to 4 p.m., and Friday evenings 6 to 8. Mrs. York is a native of Houlton, and began doing charcoal and pastel sketches while in high school. She has studied at the Houlton Recreation Center under Esther Faulkner and Paul Donnolan, Mrs. Golden, and Peter Chaples; at Hodgdon HIgh Adult Education under Mary Rouse; and at Houlton Adult Education, again under Esther Faulkner. Professionally, Mrs. York trained as a nurse at Maine Medical Center, attended Ricker College and McGill University School of Public Health Nursing, and was a practicing public health nurse for several years in Bath and in Houlton.
25 Years Ago – Dec. 17, 1997
Fire destroys restaurant – An early morning fire on Dec. 14 destroyed Joe’s Family Restaurant in Houlton. Firefighters received word of the 99 Military Street fire at 1:53 a.m. from a taxicab driver. “A taxicab driver observed smoke coming from the restaurant and drove to the fire station to tell us,” said Houlton Fire Chief Milton Cone. “Upon our arrival, we found the building to be full of smoke.” A total of 21 firefighters, two pumpers and one ladder truck responded to the blaze. The building was owned by Joe and Tina Duran of Houlton. Firefighters were at the scene until 6:15 a.m.
Gift to benefit students’ trip to Washington, D.C. – For the fifth straight year, David Carter, a teacher at Southern Aroostook Community High School, is taking 11 seniors to Washington, D.C., in March. Close Up Washington is an organization that has taken high school seniors to the nation’s capital since 1970. “The Close Up week for the SACHS students will be an extensive, comprehensive view of how our democratic form of government operates,” said Carter. “Part of the week will include visits to the Senate, House of Representatives and the Supreme Court.”
