Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of December 6, 2023

Compiled by Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
12 months ago

100 Years Ago – Dec. 6, 1923

N. F. Perry appointed president — At a meeting of the directors of the Northern Maine Fair Association, Nathan F. Perry was elected President of the Association to take the place of J. Frank Guiou who had tendered his resignation. Harvey McGlauflin, who was elected secretary at the annual meeting, having declined to accept, Ora Donaldson was elected at the meeting of the directors to fill that office.

75 Years Ago – Dec. 2, 1948

Proceeds from Rotary Auction at least $23,500 — The Presque Isle Rotary club’s first annual radio auction was expected to net $23,500 and $24,000 for the benefit of the Presque Isle General hospital, Robert Tate, co-chairman of the event, announced at the regular meeting of the Rotary club. Tate said gross receipts from the project amounted to more than $25,000, and expenses were not expected to exceed $1,500. The entire meeting was devoted to an open, informal review of the three-day auction, after Tate and James Rathburn, co-chairmen of the project, had presented their reports on the auction. Many assuming incidents in connection with the affair were recalled by various members. 

Lions sponsored benefit movie — The State Theatre presented a special movie for the benefit of the Lions club Christmas party fund. Through the courtesy of the theater management, part of the proceeds of the advance sale of tickets went toward defraying expenses of the annual Christmas party for children of the Northern Maine Sanatorium. The feature film was “Wallflower,” starring Robert Hutton, Joyce REynolds, and Janis Paige, which was shown one day only. Edward Kennedy, chairman of the Lions committee, was in charge of the project.

50 Years Ago – Dec. 5, 1973

Mapleton man on State Barber Board — A Mapleton man was appointed by Governor Kenneth M. Curtis, through the Executive Council, to a three-year term on the State Barbers Board. Robert Levasseur, as a member of the three-man board, helped make rules, recommended legislation, gave the exam at the barber school in Lewiston and handled all cases concerning barbers in the state. This was reported to be the first time that a member of the board was appointed  from Aroostook County. Other members of the board were from Biddeford and Augusta. A veteran of World War II, Levasseur was a 1948 graduate of Hanson Barber School and had been a barber for 25 years. He also graduated from the Northland Beauty Academy as a beautician in all phases of beauty culture. 

Rotary auction collected $50,000 — The unparalleled sale of 40 gold bricks during the annual Presque Isle Rotary Radio-TV auction brought the proceeds to approximately $53,000, auction chairman Harold Mailman reported Dec. 3. The 26th annual auction took place Nov. 28-30. The gold bricks, which went for donations of $1,000 in lump sums or pledges of $100 over a 10-year period, brought in $40,000. Proceeds of the auction itself were expected to be about $9,200, Mailman said. Cash donations and advertising accounted for another $4,600.

25 Years Ago – Dec. 9, 1998

Facility gained accreditation — The NEHEMRI facility was awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a result of a survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The ACR awards accreditation to medical imaging practice for the achievement of high practice standards after a voluntary inspection of its practice. Surveys are conducted by radiologists who are members of the ACR. They assess the quality of the work being performed as well as staff efficiency, physician performance, and the adequacy of space and equipment available to the practice. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Diagnostic Practice Accreditation Committee which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.

Boston Post Cane recipient — On Nov. 27, Crouseville resident Edna O’Donnell was presented the coveted Boston Post Cane signifying her position as the eldest resident of the Washburn area. Presenting the award were Town Council Chairman Rick Corey, along with Councilors Rod Leach and Tim O’Donnell. Also attending the ceremony were three of her sons, Jim, Tom and Tim along with Carolyn O’Donnell and Debbie Corey. Edna celebrated her 97th birthday Dec. 1 and reminisced about her busy life. She and her husband, Thomas O’Donnell, had seven sons, losing one infant.