115 Years Ago — Aug 21, 1901
Craze — The horseless carriage craze has struck Washburn. It is not a carriage drawn by mules, however, but it is a vehicle drawn by a man propelling a bicycle. The novel rig was seen on our streets Tuesday.
100 Years Ago — Aug. 24, 1916
Gasoline prices falling — Gasoline will drop to 20 cents in practically every section of the country within two weeks, Standard Oil officials assert according to a report from New York City, at the same time denying that the government’s investigation of the advance in prices had anything to do with the reduction.
Arrived safely — Private Roy Campbell of the 115th Battalion, formerly of this place, has arrived safe in England.
75 Years Ago — Aug 21, 1941
Town purchasing additional acres — At a special town meeting held Saturday afternoon, Caribou citizens voted to purchase sixteen and three-quarters acres of land at a cost of $5,000 from Eugene Theriault to allow for the additional expansion of the Caribou Municipal Airport. The area authorized will present runway bordering along the Van Buren highway with house and other buildings.
Navy movies here — Free movies showing life in the United States Navy will be shown at the Caribou Municipal Building Friday, Aug. 29 at 7:30 p.m. and are open to all young men and other interested in the branch of our country’s defense. The pictures will be shown by V.G. Bates, Chief Electrician’s Mate and Recruiter of the U.S. Navy in cooperation with the Henry B. Pratt Jr. Post of the American Legion.
50 Years Ago — Aug. 24, 1966
Firefighters prevent multiple-building outbreak — A fire swept across the Collins planing mill on Washburn Street Sunday afternoon. The fire began shortly after 1:00, apparently in wood and other debris on the north bank of the Caribou Stream, and fanned by southwesterly gusts, spread quickly to lumber piles, a storage shed, and into the S.W. Collins planing mill. As fireman readied hose lines, the winds shifted and blew from the northwest, sending the fire over the stream for a short time. The fire destroyed the mill, equipment, and large quantities of lumber outside and inside the structure. Total damage was estimated at $57,000.
Starch factory up for sale — We are wondering what will become of the Colby Cooperative Starch Company plant at Colby Siding. It was in operation for 25 years, until 1963, and producing as much as 150 tons of potato starch in a week, in its better days. It now stands idle and still. Its directors are considering what use it may be put to in order to return dividends to the stockholders.
25 Years Ago — Aug. 21, 1991
Caribou Cares coming soon — A three-day program offering a variety of events for the younger members of the community will be held next week. Caribou Cares About Kids, scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Aug 29-31, offers an array of events for kids of all ages. Among some the activities will include a kid’s parade, bike decorating contest, health and safety fairs, local and state police fingerprinting and pony rides.
Family fun day raises $1,000— Caribou’s first “Family Fun Day at the Park” recently raised $1,000 towards the Teague Park Restoration fund. More than 100 volunteers turned out Saturday and Sunday to erect structures that are now part of the new creative play area at Teague Park. The five roofs of the playground used materials donated by S.W. Collins Co.
