99 Years Ago – May 14, 1925
Breaking record — The Presque Isle Starch Factory broke all records for the month of April, grinding up 35,366 barrels of potatoes. In May, up to the date of writing, May 11th, it had averaged taking in and grinding 12,000 barrels of potatoes a day. Up to Monday morning, it had manufactured 1613 tons of starch, the largest quantity it had ever made in any one season. The Farmers’ Factory had been a big asset to the farming community as it had grinded a great quantity of potatoes that would otherwise have been wasted, and had paid out a large amount of money to its patrons.
50 Years Ago – May 15, 1974
Deputy master — Roderick D. McKay of Washburn was appointed district deputy grand master of the First Masonic District, Grand Lodge of Maine, Wednesday, May 8, at the Grand Lodge Session held in Portland. The appointment was made by Most Worshipful George E. Pushard, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine. The First Masonic District covered Aroostook County and included nine lodges. District Deputy Grand Master McKay was a past master of Washburn Lodge, AF and AM No. 193, and had been installed as chaplain for 1974. He was also a worthy patron of Colvale Chapter No. 110, OES, Washburn.
Ball netted $1,000 — A charity ball sponsored by the Women’s Auxiliary of the A. R. Gould Memorial Hospital netted $1,000, which was devoted to a solarium at the hospital. Mrs. Charles Eber and Mrs. Roy Gibson, co-chairmen of the event, believed that as a result of the ball’s success, they planned to become an annual event. The auxiliary tendered special thanks to Charles Steffan of the Northeastland Hotel for his cooperation and assistance with the ball. Patrons and patronesses not announced previously included Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Hedrich, Mr. and Mrs. William Flora, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Cambridge, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Marino, Mr. and Mrs. Cluny McPherson Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Weinberg, Dr. and Mrs. Ben Griffiths and the Graves Funeral Homes.
25 Years Ago – May 19, 1999
Clark honored by peers — Presque Isle’s Marilyn Clark was honored as the 1999 Outstanding Librarian of the Year, Monday, at the Maine Libraries Conference at the University of Maine. The Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library was closed Monday afternoon as the entire staff attended the event. City Manager Tom Stevens said the award had been kept a secret from Clark, who was unavailable for comment Tuesday. Clark’s family also attended the ceremony. Clark had been director at the local library for 18 years. She was nominated for the award by Stevens and children’s librarian Donna Rasche. Stevens said it “was easy to nominate a person like Mrilyn.” Stevens said Clark was given a plaque to mark the event and seemed very humbled by the honor.
Donation — Ed Hews from the Northern Maine Fair Association accepted a $1,500 donation from Dick Campbell, community relations director for Wal-Mart in Presque Isle. The money was used to promote youth programs such as 4-H and FFA at the fair, and to benefit the forest education resource center being built on the fairgrounds.
