No one was a greater sports fan than Frank Cunningham. He believed firmly in the old adage that sports builds character. He rarely missed a local basketball game and went out of his way to attend those games when Presque Isle’s team was playing in tournaments away.
After each home game, he gave a quarter to each player. A quarter was a lot of money then; it bought a movie, a bag of popcorn and a candy bar. His devotion to his students, both in academics and their sports endeavor, was exceptional. Sylvia Cunningham Squires, Mr. Cunningham’s daughter, in March of 2004 dashed off an e-mail to Ron Moreau, a former teacher at Cunningham, when he inquired about her father. She wrote, “I remember being told that my mother (Doris) was not very happy with my father in March of 1932 because I was suppose to arrive [be born] at any time, but he went to the basketball tournament anyway. I believe that was the year Presque Isle won the state championship. I was good and didn’t arrive until April.”
He was a diehard Yankee fan. Sylvia went on the write. “Before the days of television, my father always let teachers have the World Series piped in over loud speakers in their rooms, if they [teachers] didn’t object to the students listening. I think a radio was also set up in the auditorium so the students could go there to listen during their study periods.”
Sadly, Sylvia passed away within the last year.
December of 1941 brought the country to war with Germany and Japan. Many of his students signed up before they received their draft notices and before they got a chance to graduate from high school. Mr. Cunningham knew some would never return; after all, he had witnessed the devastation of WWI. He shook their hands in a farewell gesture, his heart full of sorrow to see his kids go off to war. These kids were like family to him. He was more than a principal; he was their mentor and friend. Yes, this would be the last time he’d see some of his kids. Some never returned.
In 1948, 25 years after he had arrived, the town fathers decided a new high school was needed to accommodate the growing student population. The new high school opened for business in the fall of 1949. The class of 1950 would be the first graduating class. The old school was appropriately dedicated to him in his honor and would carry his name. Cunningham school was now a middle school.
Being principal in his day, despite the full-time position and extra work expected, brought minimal pay. He was first a teacher and second, a principal. Money was secondary; it was the teaching, the mentoring, and his desire to guide his students which propelled him. In summers, he supplemented his income by working at Green’s Clothing Store on the corner of State and Main. He did so for 25 years.
In 1953, in order to show their appreciation for his 30 years of devoted service, a committee formed and planned to collect $4,800 to be deposited into a purse to be presented to Cunningham on a certain date. A letter was sent out to all asking for donations. The letter went on to say, “Along with your money, please send a card, letter or picture to be placed in a memory book to be presented to Franklin Cunningham from his students and friends. A scroll containing the names and addresses of all contributors will also be given to him.” Each dollar of the $4,800 represented 4,800 days of service (30 years) Cunningham had unselfishly dedicated to the academic achievements of the thousands of students whom he had guided and mentored through the years.
In 1965 at the age of 69, Mr. Cunningham retired. Through the years he had received many awards including Outstanding Citizen given to him by the P.I. Chamber of Commerce in 1966. He received two honorary doctorate degrees, one from the University of Maine in 1961 and another in 1966 from Ricker College in Houlton. In 2004 he posthumously was selected to be inducted into the Hall of Honors of the Maine Sports Legends of Aroostook.
Mr. Cunningham passed away in 1977 at age 82. His wife, Doris, who had served as Presque Isle High School’s librarian for 17 years from 1954 to her retirement in 1971, passed away in 1994 at age 93.
No doubt, Frank Cunningham would have greatly enjoyed seeing the Cunningham gymnasium dedicated in 1983 to his long-time friend, Nellie Guerrette. The dedication was presented by then principal Dick Smith. After 49 years in the Presque Isle school system, good ol’ Nellie has yet to retire.
I must thank Ann Bennett Wight for inspiring this article. Upon offering me the 1953 letter which contained the information regarding collecting money to be given to Cunningham, I was compelled to write about Cunningham’s achievements. Besides, it was time; his castle, if you will, Cunningham Middle School, will be taken away in the spring of 2007, no longer needed.
Now, regarding my last article about the lost streets of Presque Isle, a correction and an addition must be made. It was brought to my attention by Pam Lord that one of the streets on Braden Terrace (on the Fairgrounds) wasn’t ‘Moseleu’ as I had stated, but ‘Mooseleuk.’ She lived there and knew better than I. Thanks, Pam. Charlotte Dyer recently informed me that directly behind North Street Plaza, was Edward St. which ran perpendicular from Winter St. (this street at one time crossed North St.) up to behind the new police station.
And thanks to Ron Moreau who shared the e-mail from Mr. Cunningham’s daughter.
Stay tuned to Forgotten Times for a piece on the history of Flo’s Inn which had operated on the Fort Road for over 65 years. Thanks for reading.
