Houlton area From our Files – Week of December 6, 2023

PLOPPING PENNIES -- Noah (left) and Cooper Blake, sons of Deanna Donahue and Jason Blake of Houlton, attended the Dec. 8 community-wide penny drive held at Houlton Regional Hospital. While there is no official word yet as to how much money was raised, officials are already planning for next year's penny drive. The money will be donated to United Way of Aroostook. (File Photo: 1998 | Houlton Pioneer Times)

75 Years Ago – December 2, 1948

Season Starts With Two losses for H. S. Basketball Quintet – The Houlton High courtmen started their ragged basketball schedule off the wrong way last weekend. Journeying to Millinocket Friday, Houlton took a severe beating 77 to 24 from a highly capable Stearns team. The following night they lost another contest to Schenck High School. The score of that game was 38-25. Captain Eber Currier led Houlton in the scoring department last Friday. Currier tallied 11 points, Bob Williams was top man for Stearns with 16 points. 

Maritime Quintet Ricker’s First Foe – The Ricker Junior College Quintet will open their season Friday night when they face the Maine Maritime Academy from Castine. Coach Ted Boynton said today that the following Ricker men will dress for the game: Blaine Trafton, Jim DiFrederico, Al HIckson, Reginald Walton, Denis Warner, Paul Fitzpatrick, Dick Boynton, Dana Treadwell, Norm Girardin, Jim Guillow, and Don Hataway.

50 Years Ago – December 5, 1973

New Sergeant Joins Troop F As Supervisor – Cpl. Bradford S. Smith of the Maine State Police has been promoted to the rank of sergeant, and has been assigned to Troop F in Houlton as a field supervisor. The 26-year-old Ellsworth native joined the State Police in 1968 and has been assigned to the Bridgton area of Troop B. He was promoted to corporal earlier this year. 

In Colorado – Airman First Class Wayne D. McGary has completed six weeks of basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas and has been transferred to Lowry AFB in Colorado. He will start school January 8 for training as a weapons specialist. Wayne is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald McGary, and is a 1973 graduate of Hodgdon High School. 

25 Years Ago – December 23, 1998

First-ever penny drive successful – Houlton Regional Hospital’s first-ever community penny drive was deemed a success by event organizers. On Tuesday, Dec. 8, residents in the Houlton area brought in rather loose or rolled coins and dropped them into a big, blue bucket positioned in the hospital lobby. By the end of the day, the five gallon bucket was half-filled with coins.