Caribou area From Our Files (week of November 15, 2017)

6 years ago

115 Years Ago – Nov. 11,  1902

Progressing Work upon the Baptist church is progressing finely.  It will be a month or more before it is completed, but when finished, it will be a credit credit to the town generally.

Late dig Robt. Irvine finished digging potatoes last Saturday, Nov. 8.  This is the latest we have known of potatoes being dug in Aroostook for a number of years.

100 Years Ago – Nov. 15, 1917

Remodel — The second story of the old Gem Theatre building is being remodeled into tenements.

Frozen over Collins’ pond has frozen over and boys are enjoying their first skating of the year.  The newspaper hopes these boys are not too venturesome, though.

75 Years Ago – Nov. 11, 1942

Prize spuds — First prize in the M.D. McGrath Potato Sweepstakes, which closed Nov. 1, was to Norris Brown for his entry of the largest potato, weighing 3 pounds, 8 ounces.  The second prize entry, weighing 3 pounds, 5 ounces, was awarded to Philip Kelley.  Other entries receiving honorable mention were: 3 pounds, 3 ounces by Ellery Burtsell and 3 pounds, 2 ounces by Jack Denton.

Record mailing –The post office department is now starting the most gigantic task in its history, the movement of a deluge of Christmas parcels, cards and letters, while maintaining the regular flow of mail.  About 25,000 experienced postal workers already have been taken by the war services.  Arrangements are under way to add thousands of temporary workers, but the manpower is still hard to find and is in experienced.

50 Years Ago – Nov. 15, 1967

Walkout — A walkout of students at Caribou High School, set for Tuesday, failed to materialize, but revolt against what was termed unnecessarily stiff disciplinary action was still in the minds of some students regarding the “unconcealed resentment” about possible edicts on hair styles for boys and length of skirts and dresses to be worn by females.  A petition was rumored to be circulating around the school as well.  

Merger proposed Medford C. Locke, president of the First National Bank of Fort Fairfield, and S.W. Collins, president of the Aroostook Trust Co. of Caribou, have announced that the directors of their respective banks have approved an agreement merging the two banks.  The decision to make such a merger was approved because the directors felt that the economy of their respective communities would be strengthened and that it would increase their usefulness to the communities that they serve.

25 Years Ago – Nov. 11, 1992

Council seats captured Incumbents Galen Rockwell and Robert McMahan drew strong support from voters last Tuesday, garnering 2,647 and 2,556 votes respectively to starve off a challenge from Clair Dawson, who got 1,461 votes in the race for the Caribou City Council.

Recipe — Craving Yusef’s restaurant’s famous fried rice?  You can now make it at home.  Here is the recipe:

4 cups boiling water

2 cups uncooked rice, cooked according to directions            

(*Use whatever rice you are comfortable using, as long as you start out with 2 cups of uncooked rice)

You MUST let the rice cool in the refrigerator for a few hours before adding the ingredients.

Once the rice is cold, break it up using hands or a rubber spatula, carefully so as not to break or mush the rice.

ADD:

4 – 5 Tbsp. cooking oil

3 -4 Tbsp. chopped onions (*more or less according to taste)

3 Tbsp. pimientos (optional)

1/3 cup molasses

1 tsp. MSG

1/4 cup soy sauce

Mix gently and refrigerate. (* The longer you keep in the fridge the better. This will allow the rice to absorb the ingredients.)

When ready to enjoy, heat up in a frying pan.