115 Years Ago – Oct. 8, 1908
A new hall going up — It is understood that H. D. Collins is to begin at once the erection of a hall on his lot in the rear of A. V. Goud’s and A. A. Garden’s stores, the building to be probably 40 x 70 feet, removing the house which now occupies a part of the land and which is used as a storehouse by the telephone company. It is further understood that the hall will be occupied by the Dreamland Theater and for parties, dances, etc. The entrance will be from Sweden Street, between the stores of F. A Havey and A. V. Goud Goud & Co.
As good a team as any, job well done — John McElwain, one of Caribou’s enterprising farmers, has finished digging his 43 acres of potatoes with a yield of over 5900 barrels, and thinks the crew of men he had working for his is about as good, if not better, than any in the county. In five and one half days this crew, consisting of Arthur McDonald and Wm. Morris of New Brunswick, Ernest Chapman and Will Hall of Lincoln county and Joseph Cyr of Van Buren, with James Searles on the potato digger and Peter Cyr hauling to the storehouse, picked 2127 barrels, an average of a little over 77 barrels each; and during the whole season these five pickers averaged 71 barrels. They were a faithful crew, being always in the field at 5:30 and sometimes at 3:15 every morning.
100 Years Ago – Oct. 11, 1923
Accepted a new position — Miss Bertha Sirois of Limestone, who has been bookkeeper at the office of the Fort Fairfield Light & Power Co., for the past two months, has resigned her position and accepted a similar one with the Caribou National Bank.
New Proprietor for Vaughan House — Owen E. Blackden, until recently proprietor of the Presque Isle Houlse, became proprietor of the well-known Vaughan House Wednesday of this week. Mr. Blackden has been engaged in the hotel business for many years, thoroughly knows every phase of it, and we wish him success in his management of The Vaughan.
75 Years Ago – Oct. 7, 1948
Meters net town $415.82 — Parking meters in Caribou, for the first seven and one-half days, have net the town $415.82 – and two slugs, according to town manager William B. Burns, who with his clerks, Mrs. Perley Allyn and Mrs. Prescott Roberts, spent several hours Tuesday counting a large, steel basketful of pennies, nickels and dimes. At present there are 235 meters placed throughout streets in Caribou.
Father and son each pick over 100 barrels mark — Another record potato picking for the season was reported this past week when Joseph Bouchard of Caribou picked 150 barrels last Tuesday at the Albert Smith farm on the Fort Fairfield road. The following day he picked 138 barrels. Four years ago on the same farm, Bouchard established a days record of 169 barrels. Bouchard’s son, Richard, who is 17, and 6 feet 1 inch tall and thus farther to go to the ground – picked 117 barrels at the same farm with his father.
25 Years Ago – Oct. 14, 1998
A new van for the Maine Veterans Home — The Maine Veterans Home recently acquired a 10-passenger van which will be used for the residents. The MVH logo is displayed on the van. A fire extinguisher and cell phone were placed in the van by Henry Lovl, DEO, Wilfred LaVasseur, Commander VFW Post 9389, Nancy Fay, Don and Raymond Guerrette, 1st vice commander American Legion Post 15.
Control Devices wins big safety award — Control Devices Inc., was recognized with a Safety Health Achievement Recognition Program award that is held by only one other company in Maine and seven companies in New England. Control Devices was the first company in Maine to receive the award this year, a second award has been given to C.M. Almy and Sons, a Pittsfield company.
