100 Years Ago – Feb. 8, 1923
Special rates for Farmers’ Week — The Bangor & Aroostook Railroad granted an excursion rate of one and one-third regular fare for the round trip from all stations to Bangor or Old Town and return to those who attended Farmers’ Week lectures, demonstrations and meetings at the College of Agriculture, Orono.
An interesting program was arranged for Farmers’ Week. The question of marketing, which was of especial interest to Aroostook farmers, received its share of attention.
75 Years Ago – Feb. 5, 1948
Returning to Washington — Miss Betty Green, Maine’s Potato Blossom Queen, and Miss Elsie Winters, Louisiana Sweet Potato Queen, were guests of honor at the Mardi Gras ball in Washington, sponsored by the Louisiana State Society of Washington. Miss Gree, with Mr. and Mrs. Herbert W. Moore, left here Saturday for the nation’s capital. Queen Betty and Queen Elsie were at a meeting of the National League of Wholesale Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Distributors in Atlantic City, N.J., as they presented sacks of choice Maine spuds and Louisian yams to Fletcher Smith, president of the league.
Concert — The Graudan Ensemble, gifted Russian artists, presented a concert at the High School auditorium Thursday evening, under the sponsorship of the Community Concert Association, Mrs. Philip Christie, publicity chairman. The artists, Nikolai and Joanna Graudan, ’cellist and pianist, made many appearances as concert soloists before combining their talents as the “ideal duo.”
50 Years Ago – Feb. 7, 1973
Johnnye Hoffses honored — Johnnye Hoffses of Mapleton was honored at a surprise appreciation open house Friday evening, Feb. 2, in recognition of the help he had given individuals and organizations in the community and area. Over 100 persons from Castle Hill, Chapman and Mapleton braved the icy roads and weather to gather at Nightingale’s Hall. Norris Braley presented Hoffses with a color television set, a wallet filled with money and a book of testimonials.
Farm Credit appointment announced — Roy E. Duff, general manager of Aroostook Farm Credit Service, representing the Federal Land Bank and Production Credit Associations, announced the appointment of Neil G. Piper to the Aroostook Farm Credit staff, Presque Isle office. Piper came to Farm Credit with a farm background, having been raised on a farm in Troy, Maine. He graduated from the University of Maine, Orono, in 1971 with a B.S. degree in Agricultural Resource-Economics. While in college, he was elected to Alpha Zeta agricultural honor society and Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Piper and his wife, Corinne, who was on the Presque Isle High School teaching staff, lived on the Washburn Road in Presque Isle.
Tags for Maine — Some of the wives of the supervisors of the Central Aroostook Soil and Water Conservation District got together to prepare the name tags for the delegates from Maine who were attending the National Association of Conservation District’s Annual Meeting held at the Las Vegas Hilton in Las Vegas., Nev. Those present were Mrs. William Haskell, Presque Isle; Mrs. Harold Anderson, Stockholm; Mrs. Louis McLaughlin, Fort Fairfield; and Mrs. Wallace Boyd, Mars Hill. The tags were done in the shape of the State of Maine covered with green felt. On top of a pine cone was a hand-carved wooden chickadee, made by Mrs. Thomas Powers of Presque Isle. Approximately 30 of these name tags were constructed.
25 Years Ago – Feb. 11, 1998
Saucier won an internship — Eric Saucier of Presque Isle worked as an intern at J. Ottman Consulting in New York City during Colby College’s January Program. During January, Saucier helped develop the company’s Internet home page and worked on environmental marketing for a client firm. The son of Robert and Anna Saucier, Eric was a sophomore government major at Colby.
Olympic donation — Steve Richard of the Opportunity Training Center, accepted a check for $250 from Mona Roy of Hayden Perry Insurance Company to benefit the winter Special Olympics held at Sugarloaf USA.
Scoring threat — Washburn junior Nick Thompson was one of Aroostook’s County’s best offensive players, as evidenced by his 28 points per game average during the regular season. By winning four of their last five games, the Beavers claimed the ninth position in the Eastern Maine ‘D’ standings.
Campbell took last patrol — Presque Isle Police Department patrolman Ernest Campbell retired after 30 years of service to the City of Presque Isle. Campbell, 53, served eight years as a dispatcher for the department before switching to a patrol car in 1976. He had been patrolling city streets ever since. Campbell was born in New Brunswick and lived in Michigan before serving in the United States Army for three years, including a tour in Vietnam. He resided in Presque Isle with his wife, Juanita, owner of Nita’s Bridal Shop.
