115 Years Ago – July 23, 1908
Meeting held and many in attendance — The Aroostook branch of the American HorseShoers’ Protective Association met Thursday evening at the office of J. Peterson & Son. Some 20 members from Presque Isle, Caribou, Easton and Fort Fairfield were present. Several of the blacksmiths from Limestone will soon join the association. The association will have a holiday and picnic at Aroostook Falls in August to which all members and their families are invited.
Entertainment of its own – Caribou has its P. T. Barnum on a small scale in young Johnny Norrell, who has built a bicycle track on one side of the new school lot on Park Street, and performs quite a daring feat, at least one which but few amateurs would attempt. The track is probably about 25 feet high at one end, gradually inclined to within three feet off the ground and then — then there is a vacant space of 10 or 12 feet when the course is continued. Young Norrell ‘jumps the chasm’ on a bicycle with all the cleverness of a professional.
100 Years Ago – July 26, 1923
Under new management — The chain of stores formerly known as the Direct Importing Co.’s stores recently passed under new management and the name has been changed. The store in Caribou, Dennis Ellington, manager, will be known in future as the Cloverdale Store. Mr. Billington has recently had several changes and improvements made in the interior of the store which will be appreciated by his patrons.
75 Years Ago – July 22, 1948
MPG elects new officers — Albert C. Anderson, 42, of Fort Fairfield, has been elected to the Board of Directors of Maine Potato Growers for a three year term, according to an announcement Tuesday by H. E. Bryant, MPG General Manager. Mr. Anderson was born and raised in the Fort and received his schooling in the Fort Fairfield public schools. He is married to the former Clara Christianson also of Fort Fairfield.
Fort Fairfield pitcher wins MVP prize — At Teague Park Tuesday night after the Limestone-Fort Fairfield game, Chester Henderson, of the Henderson Equipment Co., inaugurated a new incentive for ball players at Caribou by awarding Lee Amsden, pitcher of the Fort Fairfield team, with a $10 Most Valuable Player of the Evening award. This is the first time that any such award has been made to players here.
25 Years Ago – July 29, 1998
Veterans clinic moving to expand quarters — The VA Clinic will be moving to the Caribou Office Park at 1 Hatch Drive for 60 to 90 days during the construction, said Bill Flagg, Cary director of community relations and development. Ten years ago the clinic opened in a hallway closet at Cary Medical Center with one part-time physician. The office moved under the Maine Veterans Home in 1992. ‘We’ve outgrown our space,’ said medical service assistant Holly Kurpaska. Kurpaska has begun to pack boxes for the clinic’s temporary move.More than 1,800 veterans use the clinic, creating 7,000 office visits per year. As far as new patients, Shaw said there are 2-3 veterans who start receiving services every week.
Guerrette scholarship to help students, honor Caribou farmers — The family and friends of Ronald Paul Guerrette are collecting funds to create an FFA scholarship in the local farmer’s memory. Brian Guerrette said about $10,000 has been raised through donations. The is $60,000 which will make three $1,000 scholarships available every year. One of the scholarships will go to a Caribou High School FFA student, one to an Aroostook County FFA student and one to a Maine FFA student. Guerrette died at the age of 52 and was one of the region’s biggest potato growers. He was involved and supported the 4-H program and Caribou FFA, activities his children participated in. ‘This is something that he would have been proud of as it’s going to help students get that college education’, said Brian Guerrette.
