File photo 1940
100 Years Ago – Dec. 15, 1915
Concert — Miss Doris Pride, the efficient teacher of music in the public schools, is busily engaged in the rehearsing a group of high school musicians and singers, who are to take part at a joint concert to be given by Presque Isle, Fort Fairfield, Caribou and Houlton High School students at the coming Teachers’ Convention at Caribou next month. The local school boasts of several fine musicians, the high school orchestra being among the best school organizations in Maine.
Speaking contest — The first Baptist Church was well filled with interested spectators on Monday evening, when the Sophomore class of Ricker Classical Institute held their annual speaking contest. The program, both musical and literary was a fine one and listened to with close attention.
75 Years Ago – Dec. 12, 1940
Clothing for relief — More than two tons of garments destined for the relief of the bomb stricken British were packed and ready for shipment this morning as the Houlton Lodge of Elks wound up its brief but energetic campaign.
Mercury drops — During the severe cold spell last week thermometer readings were well below zero for several days. On Wednesday the mercury went below the thirty mark in several locations, the lowest readings to be reported was 38 below zero during the early morning. Owing to the severe cold schools were closed for the day.
50 Years Ago – Dec. 16, 1965
New motor — The industrial arts department of Houlton High School has been presented with this new 289 cubic inch, standard transmission motor from the Ford Motor Company. It is fully operational and will be used by all six grades for the advancement of technical education.
Puffets — Puffets are but one of 706 items manufactured in Maine. Ask Mainers what a puffet is and they’ll stare at you blankly. But if you really want to arouse curiosity (and we do), mention some of the less known products, such as: blueberry rakes, dogsleds and fiddleheads, arc lamps and rubber stamps, poker chips and seafood dips. P.S. a puffet is the velvet pillow used by jewelers to display diamonds.
25 Years Ago‚ — Dec. 12, 1990
Food for families — Cub Scouts throughout the county gathered “food for families.” Pack 205 in Patten collected 397 items.
The right tree — Consumers should remember three simple, but important words: “thump” “Pluck” and ‘bend.” Lift the tree and thump it down on the ground to see how many green needles fall off. Next, pluck off several needles to see how easily the tree gives up its green. Finally, try to bend a needle between your thumb and forefinger. If it does bend, the tree is probably in good shape.
