100 years ago: Jan. 2, 1908
The banks and post office observed New Year’s Day and remained closed: the six rural mail carriers in Caribou also observed the day and did not make their usual rounds. Otherwise the day passed about the same as any other day in winter in Aroostook with the usual routine of work.
Helen S. Briggs, china decorator who has recently returned from studying in Boston and is at present at home in Caribou gave a very pleasing and artistic display of decorated china in the parlors of the Snell House, Thursday, Dec. 19 and expects to return to Houlton for the purpose of organizing classes for the purpose of giving lessons.
Rain began falling about midnight, Friday continuing nearly all day Saturday taking off nearly all the snow. Later on the temperature changed and the streets and walks soon became covered with ice making it rather unsafe for pedestrians and for horses too unless they were sharp shod.
J.A. Hale the blacksmith made a pretty good record at horse shoeing on Monday, putting the four shoes on a horse in just fourteen minutes. The owner of the horse was holding a watch while the operation was in progress.
Some farmers were plowing Dec. 12. There was no frost in the ground.
There is quite an interest here in raising pork. There seems to be no good reason why the business could not be made profitable. With good healthy pigs with good appetites such as seem determined to make hogs of themselves, of the breed that will make both ends meet, at the present high prices of bacon and lard, etc. the business must pay well. If we should go into it as they have in Canada, the customer would have good cause to be willing to pay a good price for our bacon.
75 years ago: Jan. 5, 1933
A five string bowling match between Nicholas Habeeb and Ferris Corey, Monday evening at Daigle’s Alleys, resulted in a victory for Habeeb with a score of 576 against Corey’s 509.
Dale Currier has postponed his return to his studies at Bowdoin College on account of the illness of his father N.A. Currier. Dale will remain on duty at the Pattee Company store until his father is able to be out again.
Arthur Dickinson of this town has gone into the horse-shoeing business in Fort Fairfield with Harry Shaw of that town. Mr. Dickinson formerly conducted a shop in Fort Fairfield.
Harry E. Shaw and his brother Neil and their mother, Mrs. Ruel A. Shaw left for Boston Tuesday morning. They expect to go through to the auto show in New York, before returning home.
Ida Lister spent a few days of the Christmas vacation at the home of Miss Rose McLaughlin on the Fort Fairfield Road.
Woodrow Estes, seventeen-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Estes of the Madawaska Road, had the misfortune to break his leg Monday forenoon, while twitching logs in the woods. He was taken to the Cary Memorial Hospital where X-rays were taken and it is believed that his leg is badly fractured.
Guests and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Beckwith in Fort Fairfield at a Christmas party last Saturday evening were Mr. and Mrs. Egon Espling, Mrs. Judith Marden, Bill Anderson and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Espling.
Mr. and Mrs. Kermit Bailey are on a month-long trip to Long Beach Calif. and are visiting over the holidays with the Rev. and Mrs. William Powell, formerly of the United Baptist Church in Caribou.
Spending Christmas eve with Mr. and Mrs. Allen Hanson were Mr. and Mrs. Chester Spooner and Wendell and Lois Spooner. The next day, Mr. and Mrs. Spooner and family were invited to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Dickinson and family for their holiday dinner.
Caribou’s new air raid warning siren has arrived, it was reported by Civil Defense Director Jack Lancaster, and will be installed in the near future. In the past Caribou’s only warning device was the fire alarm whistle, the use of which for alert signals often caused confusion. The new siren will have a separate and distinct sound from the fire alarm and when it blows citizens will immediately know that an alert has been sounded.
The Maine Potato Industry will be provided with pre-cooled refrigerator cars for a large percentage of their late spring shipments, the Maine Potato Council announced yesterday.
25 years ago: Jan. 5, 1983
Roy Doak was unanimously elected as mayor by the Caribou City Council, replacing Pat Collins, who served for the previous two years. Philip R. Bennett Jr. was unanimously elected deputy mayor.
Clifton Foster, commander of the Lister Knowlton VFW Post 9389 presented Edgar Dionne, the organization’s latest life member, with a permanent metal card during a recent meeting held at the post home.
Richard Hede left recently for California and Alaska, where he joined his mother who is visiting with her daughters and son Daniel.
Mr. and Mrs. Elwood Peterson entertained for Christmas eve supper and gift opening, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Peterson and sons, Jason and Lucas, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Peterson and children Heidi and Clifford of Woodland and Mrs. Peterson’s sister of California, Mr. and Mrs. Linwood Peterson and daughter Tricia.
A Christmas program was held at the Stockholm School Thursday afternoon. “The Joy Store,” a play written by Mrs. Stedt and members of the seventh and eighth grades was performed by the students. A second play, “Dr. Scrooge and Mr. Santa,” was presented by the seventh and eighth grade pupils.
Having supper with Mrs. Signe Oliverbaum and son, Edwin, were Mr. and Mrs. Carl Sandstrom, Mrs. Christy Devoe and daughter, Andrea, Mrs. Connie Elsworth and son, Ryan and Bruce Sandstrom.
