Presque Isle area From our Files (week of April 10, 2019)

5 years ago

101 Years Ago – April 11, 1918

Feeling the pride — Aroostook County felt a just pride in the fact that it had been placed on the Anti-Tuberculosis Association Roll of Honor Red Cross Seals list, as the following letter to Mrs. Sidney Graves, Aroostook’s capable agent, showed: “This is to certify that the Aroostook County Association in the year 1917 sold 131,510 Red Cross Seals, being a per capita percent of 1.54. In recognition of this fact and the interest shown in the cause of tuberculosis, this association is hereby placed upon the Roll of Honor. Singed, E.D. Merrill, M.D., acting president, and A.J. Torsliff, acting secretary. The work as agent, by Mrs. Graves, and her willing and faithful appointees all over Aroostook was most highly credible and this was the impetus for 1918.”

75 Years Ago –  April 13, 1944

VFW commander — A new slate of officers handled the affairs of the local VFW post, to take office when their next regular business meeting came around. The list of new officers consisted of: Charles E. Brown, Commander; Fred Frazier, Sr., Vice Commander; Junior Vice Commander, Roy Nightingale; Quartermaster, Fred Sprague; Chaplain, Leroy Norton; Trustees for a 3-year period: George Benson, Ralph Wing and Harry Theriault.

Aviation cadet — Robert F. Marino, 21, son of Mrs. Pearl Marino of Presque Isle, enrolled as an aviation cadet in the pre-flight school at Maxwell Field, Alabama, an installation of the Army Air Forces Training Command. The cadets received nine weeks of intensive military, physical and academic training. Cadet Marino graduated from Presque Isle High School, class of 1940, and attended the University of Maine, Orono, 1941-42.

50 Years Ago –  April 9, 1969

Hospital receives $6,000 — Rotary Club President Milton MacBride presented a $6,000 check to Robert Waldron, president of the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees. The sum represented net proceeds from the 1968 Rotary-Radio-TV auction. Frank Smith, chairman, said the check brought the auction’s total contributions to $312,336.07 which had been raised since 1948. The organization in 1966 pledged $36,000 as its share of the building expansion drive, and only $15,000 remained to be raised.

Outstanding graduate — Marine Capt. Ronald J. Curtis, grandson of Mrs. Hope Curtis of Presque Isle, was named the “Outstanding Military Graduate” of the Undergraduate Pilot Training class at Craig Air Force Base, Alabama. His father, Col. P. E. Curtis made award. Capt.

Local man honored — S. J. Tucker and Robert Witham presented Harold C. Hull of Mapleton, service manager of Northland Motors Inc. of Presque Isle, with an award, one of nine made by Volswagen for “Outstanding Individual Excellence on the management level.”

25 Years Ago –  April 13, 1994

New office building — Dignitaries of Maine Potato Growers, Inc. unveiled the new office building on Parsons Street. The previous structure was destroyed by fire back in August 1993. Taking part in the proud moment were Gordon Sprague, assistant manager of MPG; Roger Thibodeau, chairman of the city council; Gerald Sytsema, general manager; Greg Smith, president; Carl Lovely, vice-president; Paul Kinney, president of the chamber; Keith Doyen, director;  Al Condon, Hayden-Perry-Wilcox; Greg Clark, Buck Construction; Mark Smith Jr., and Mark Smith Sr., M. A. Smith Foundation; Mike Ferris, senior claims adjuster for Acadia Home Care; and Rick Sawyer, president of Acadia Home Care.

Grand opening — The new Dairy Queen/Orange Julius Treat Center officially opened at the Aroostook Centre Mall with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Welcoming the new establishment were Roger Thibodeau, chairman of the city council; Tom Stevens, city manager; Ellery Bouchard, owner of the Dairy Queen/Orange Julius Treat Center; Charlie Lau, chamber director; and Claudia Stevens, chamber executive director.

New business — My Favorite Muffin became one of the newest businesses to open at the Aroostook Centre Mall. Taking part in the ribbon cutting ceremony were Roger Thibodeau, chairman of the city council; Claudia Stevens, chamber executive director; Michelle and Steve Blanchard, managers/owners; Charlie Lau, chamber director; and Tom Stevens, city manager.