100 Years Ago-July 31, 1912
Aroostook Times
Making the job easier — Putnam Hardware Co. in Market Square was selling the Walter A. Wood Mowing Machine. “There is no neck-weight to sap the strength of your team and reduce its working hours. All strength of your horses goes into pulling — one reason for the light draft but immense power of the Admiral.”
Linneus fire — The saw mill owned by Merrill Bubar was entirely destroyed by fire Sunday morning. The cause of fire is unknown.
Cholera outbreak — Mr. H.C. Chaloner, proprietor of the slaughter house and piggery on the Ludlow road, has had the misfortune to lose 51 of his hogs during the past week from cholera.
Top taxpayers — Houlton’s tax rate was $24 per $1,000 and the highest payers included: John Watson, $1,453.68; H.T. Frisbie Est., $1,360.80; C.H. Pierce, $1,339.44; A.H. Fogg Co., $906.00; and A.W. Madigan, $854.64.
75 Years Ago-Aug. 5, 1937
Houlton Pioneer Times
Management changes — The Maine State Liquor Commission named Glen Philbrick manager of the Houlton liquor store in a wholesale shakeup of personnel of the various outlets across the state. He had been serving as a clerk in the local store. It was also announced that Albert G. Millar had been hired as new clerk in Houlton.
Dispatch from D.C. — Writing of his recent visit to our nation’s capital as a part of the Aroostook County Boy Scout contingent to the National Jamboree, Houlton Scout Malcolm Berman described a visit to the Library of Congress. “We went up the stairs and there we saw the original Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. We also saw George Washington’s Commission as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army and letters exchanged between Edmund Randolph, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and many more colonial papers of historic interest.”
New business — W.H. Riley, manager of Community Slaughter House, the most modern and up-to-date facility north of Boston, opened on the Woodstock Road. The refrigeration equipment was installed by R.N. Bicknell while Allison Britton handled all the sign work.
50 Years Ago-Aug. 2, 1962
Houlton Pioneer Times
Shiretown manufacturer — Aubrey McLaughlin, industrial development director of the Houlton Regional Development Corporation, reported that over 300 men and women are presently employed at Allied Houlton Footwear Corporation located at the Houlton International Airport. Specifically 245 women and 57 men cover two eight-hour shifts and share a $751,000 annual payroll. Managers included Donald Ladd, general manager; Wilfred Fortier, production manager; Merlin Carson, stitching foreman; Ronald Bernier, cutting room foreman; Phyllis White, packing room foreman; Edmund Levesque, shipping foreman; and Victor Hunter, head machinist.
TV personalities — Don Messers and Charlie Chamberlain, popular television personalities seen weekly on the Don Messers Show over CHSJ-TV in Saint John, New Brunswick visited with local fans during a lunch break at Al’s Restaurant.
Featured business — Houlton Mack, owned by Theodore and Ward Ingraham, is located a short distance from the Houlton business district on the Bangor Road. The firm sells Mack trucks, used trucks and services all automobiles. The business was started by the brothers in 1949.
25 Years Ago-Aug. 5, 1987
Houlton Pioneer Times
State Champs — Members of the Southern Aroostook Merchants mens softball team won the Class B state slow-pitch championship. Team members included Paul Shields, Brent Martin, Mike Brown, Laurel Veysey, Kevin Locke, Kerry Swallow, Calvin Brewer, Jeff Campbell, Paul Sherman, David Sherman, Bert Audette and Warren Tweedie.
Library memorial — Friends of Arthur Smith, who with his daughter Samantha was killed in a tragic airplane accident at the Lewiston-Auburn airport in 1985, have recently established a fund in his memory at the Cary Library. The effort was spearheaded by Judy Bielecki and Rick Baietti.
