Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of November 13, 2019

Compiled Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
4 years ago

101 Years Ago – Nov. 14, 1918

Mr. Buswell, agent — Mr. Willis Buswell, the popular agent of the B. & A., returned from Dixmont where he had a farm. Mr. Buswell had a potato plant of 25 acres and his crop averages 90 barrels to the acre. He also thought of Aroostook as the cream of New England agriculturally, he also believed that there were many fine farms and good farming opportunities in southern Maine.

75 Years Ago –  Nov. 16, 1944

Katahdins became most popular variety — Katahdins supplanted Green Mountains as the most popular variety with Aroostook potato growers. In 1943, for the second year in succession, growers who kept potato sales books in cooperation with the Maine Agricultural Extension Service reported that their acreage of Katahdins exceeded their acreage of Green Mountains.

Local Farm Credit Association loaned $309,000 — Ralph W. Cary and Stanley W. English of Presque Isle, Forrest M. Dudley of Mapleton and Sam J. Hartley of Bridgewater represented the Presque Isle Production Credit Association at the annual directors’ conference for Aroostook Associations at Presque Isle. More than 12,000 farmers obtained loans totaling $24,478,000 from the 34 production credit associations in the New England States, New York and New Jersey. The Presque Association had supplied $309,000 in short-term credit to farmers.

50 Years Ago –  Nov. 12, 1969

Presque Isle doctor named a fellow — Dr. Idris Howard Foy of Presque Isle was named a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He was initiated during a convention of the college in San Francisco. Dr. Foy belonged to the Royal College of Surgeons in England since 1959 after passing two examinations. He graduated from the University of LIverpool (England) Medical School in 1946. The doctor served as consultant in surgery in Manchester, England, and Bangor, North Wales, before moving to Presque Isle in May 1967. He was a member of the Maine Medical Association and the American Medical Association.

Hews honored by ASCS — Edward D. Hews, formerly of Presque IIsle, was honored by the Aroostook County Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service for his work with the farmers of Aroostook County. A citation was presented to Hews by Mahlon Delong, chairman of the county AS Committee.

Leaders  selected for CYO — Diane Belanger of Presque Isle was elected vice president of the District Nine Catholic Youth Organization during a Nov. 2 meeting.Also elected were Allan St. Peter of Caribou, president; Camille Charette, Washburn, secretary; and Scott Morin of Ashland, treasurer. The CYO scheduled a Youth Leadership Training Course which took place during the few months afterwards.

25 Years Ago –  Nov. 16, 1994

Gift of life — The University of Maine at Presque Isle Criminal Justice Club made a donation of a Lifeline emergency response unit to The Aroostook Medical Center Health Group. The unit donation was in appreciation for the support shown by TAMC during the Children’s Health and Safety Fair held during the summer. During the fair, the Criminal Justice Club made hundreds of identification passports for area youths. That was the second year of existence for the club, whose goal was to interact with the community in the law enforcement field.

Owls victorious in Star City Shoot-Out — The University of Maine at Presque Isle Owls defeated the Husson Braves, 93-87, to win the 14th annual Star City Shoot-out. The last time that the Owls defeated the Husson team was in the Star City Shoot-out in 1987. The Owls led most of the game, by margins of up to 11 points, but Husson fought back and went ahead, 68-67, with seven minutes remaining. The game was then a see-saw affair until Chris Casavant broke a 78-78 tie with back-to-back field goals at the three-minute mark. The Owls never trailed again as they scored a number of free throws down the stretch when the Braves were forced to foul to try and regain the ball.

Sports consignment shop opened — 2nd SeasonSports, a sports equipment consignment shop, opened next to Kelly O’Casey’s Restaurant on Maysville Street in Presque Isle. Owned by Matt Sleeper, the outlet featured “previously-owned” sporting and recreational equipment.