120 Years Ago – May 4, 1904
Liking the new law — The five rural mail carriers leaving the Caribou office feel highly satisfied with the new law which goes into effect on July 1, 1904, which increases their pay ten dollars per month, making $720 per year.
Returned from Boston — E. M. Bennett of Limestone returned Tuesday from Boston where he had been to purchase a new engine for his well drilling machine. Mr. Bennett informs us that he has quite a number of wells to drill this season.
115 Years Ago – May 6, 1909
Now to be located in town — Dr. W. C. Rich, eyesight specialist, left here Monday for a brief business trip to Portland. He returned Friday with his family and will be permanently located in town.
Good sales — L. M. Goodrich of Goodrich was in town Saturday. Mr. Goodrich, who is an agent for the Buick automobile, has sold 15 machines so far this season, with several more prospective customers.
100 Years Ago – May 1, 1924
Opened an office — James H. Glenn, who sold his hardware store and building to C. T. Bishop last year, and who since that time has been employed by Mr. Bishop, has opened an office on Washburn street, Mr. Bishop having gone out of business.
Leased a building on Sweden street — Charles T. Bishop, one of Caribou’s enterprising and progressive young business men, has leased his building on Sweden street to the F. W. Woolworth Co., for the term of 20 years, and it will be converted into a five and ten cent store. All of Mr. Bishop’s hardware and fixtures have been sold to the Woolworth concern, which will take possession May 1, and many alterations are to be made. The building is an ideal location for a store of this kind, being between the two local banks and near the Powers Theater. It is planned to have two entrances, one on Sweden street and the other in the rear, on Vaughan Avenue.
75 Years Ago – May 5, 1949
Hearing is postponed — Technicalities here last Friday resulted in postponement of a public hearing to decide upon a permit for construction of an outdoor theater. As of Wednesday a second petition has not been presented to the Caribou zoning board or a notice posted for the meeting. Gordon Wilcox of Washburn and Lewis F. Christie of Mapleton contemplated construction of an outdoor theater on a parcel of land purchased from Ralph Hitchings on the Presque Isle road. However the proposed location of the building and parking area lies within the zoning district of the Town of Caribou. Any commercial enterprise which would include the use of land more than 330 feet from the highway requires a public hearing and decision by the board. Christie and Wilcox secured the signatures from the required two thirds of land or property owners within 500 feet from any part of the land or building to be put to non-conforming use. The technicalities arose when the potential theater proprietors did not have clear title to the property at the time notice was posted and the 10 day or more lapse of time before hearing did not take place.
State receives three bids for auto office — Bids intended for a new structure to house the state automobile registration division office for Aroostook county were opened at the office of the Secretary of State, Augusta, Wednesday. Three offers were made on behalf of a location in Presque Isle, while Caribou and Fort Fairfield citizens tendered one bid from each town. Specifications were mailed to several Aroostook towns. Then a meeting at Augusta led to changes in the plans, and May 4 was set as the final date for receipt of bids on a 52 x 37 cinder block, brick faced, one-story office building. Caribou was represented at Augusta by Atty. W. P. Hamilton and Joseph Hatch, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. On behalf of the Retail Trade Bureau and other citizens, this town offered to erect and heat the office, lease it to the state for five years for $1.00, with option to renew at the same terms. Fort Fairfield offered to build and heat the office, rent it without charge, but for no definite period of time. The town was presented by R. V. McGee, past president of the Chamber of Commerce and Fred Knight of the merchants committee. For Presque Isle, Mark Turner & Associates offered to build the office on the B & A lot, rent it to the state for $125 a month. Mark Turner also offered the state the basement of the building now occupied on the street floor by a First National store for $75 a month. Presque Isle’s third offer was to renovate its present municipal building for state use. If it can be done within the appropriation approved by the town, and to set a rental figure that would be acceptable to the state.
25 Years Ago – May 5, 1999
Trombley named Aroostook Republican editor — This week, the Aroostook Republican and News unveils several changes. The first is that Jennifer Trombley, a reporter at the newspaper since 1997, has been promoted to editor. She will be responsible for all day-to-day editorial operations of the Aroostook Republican. She also covers Caribou municipal government and schools and the Loring Commerce Center. Her staff includes reporter Robin Bishop, who covers Limestone, New Sweden, Stockholm and Woodland plus other news and features and Linda Cyr, who types much of the community material you see in the paper every week. More local opinion and a better layout of the new Viewpoints page. The masthead has been made bigger to be able to share with the readers the staff of this paper. There is a space clearly marked for letters to the editor.
Planning board to review Tim Horton’s plan — Bennett Drive may be home to a Tim Horton’s Restaurant if the proposed building design meets the Caribou building codes and Horton’s corporate officials approve the building. The plans include a building similar to but smaller than the Presque Isle restaurant that will be located between Katahdin Trust and Caribou One Stop.
