From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news.

100 Years Ago-Sept. 29, 1909
Aroostook Times

    Crystal — Nearly all farmers are digging potatoes. A very good crop and little or no rot is reported. They are selling at $1.10 per barrel.
    Houlton — For the first time for a few years, Houlton High School is to have a football team this year. The team is sure to be a good one as the material is good and under sub-master Cotton’s coaching, who is an old Colby player, the boys should be well prepared for beating all corners.
No school — The no school signal was sounded Monday on account of the storm, which commenced Sunday morning and continued unabated throughout the day and part of Monday.

Houlton boy — Hazen L. Willette has signed to report to the St. Louis Cardinals of the National League at the start of the 1935 season. It marked the first time in approximately a decade that a local baseball player has made good in the ultimate sense of the word in the diamond realm.
Ricker — The geology class at Ricker accompanied by their teacher, Roy Bither motored to Grand Falls last Friday where they spent the day studying rock formations and enjoyed a picnic dinner at noon. 30 young people were included in the group.
New position — Whitney Tileston, supervisor of music at Ricker has accepted a position as organist and choir director at the Court Street Baptist Church.
Partridge season — The season opened at M.H. Fishman Store about noon today when a large bird, evidently wandered far from its usual habitat, struck a wire while flying low and fell to the street, whence it scurried into the vestibule in front of the store. It was rescued by Irvin Sanders, a Ricker student.

From Michigan to Aroostook — A strike has forced many lay-offs in the steel industry in Saginaw, Mich. and a former Deering High hoop star and his wife have returned to Maine to pick potatoes on the Louis Hogan farm in New Limerick. Dick and Beverly Tracy Billlington are staying at Cary Lake at her mother’s camp while working in the harvest.
New business — Fred Doescher has opened Toyland on Bangor Street.
Hazlett resigns — Arling C. Hazlett, Extension Service economist with the University of Maine will join P&C Food stores, Inc. He worked closely with the Maine potato industry in cooperation with the Extension.
Linneus — The Linneus PTA held their installation of new officers at the Roosevelt School for the new school year. They are, Wayne Russell, president; Mahlon Byron, vice-president; Pauline Bragdon, secretary and Marjorie Stewart, treasurer.
East Hodgdon — The Christian High School and Bible College has been established at Rockland under the supervision of Harold Duff. A large estate has been purchased by the board of trustees of which Weldon Smith is a member.
Stolen car — A 1957 station wagon owned by Houlton’s Industrial Director, Aubrey McLaughlin was taken Friday evening between 9 and 11 p.m. and later found in Macwahoc, wrecked. McLaughlin estimated the damage at $1,000.

Island Falls — The Vacationland Estates timeshare condominium project is progressing as scheduled. The first 100 by 30 foot rustic, cedar log building containing four units is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.
B&A — The announcement has been made by officials at the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad that they will move their operations from Oakfield to Millinocket effective Oct. 15.
Maine forests — According to data compiled, Maine’s forest land area, defined as land which is at least 10 percent forested and not currently developed for non-forest use, is 17.6 million acres, or 89 percent of the total land area.
Wine-maker — Don Meade, a native of Houlton is the owner-operator with his wife Alison of Down East Country Wines. They produce blueberry wine placing it in retail outlets in northern and eastern Maine. He is a graduate of Ricker Classical Institute.
New officers — The eighth grade class at Houlton High School recently elected new officers. They are, Matthew Felker, president; Valarie Coolong, vice-president; Cindy Grant, secretary and Jon Pike, treasurer.
Houlton Pioneer Times1984 File Photo
HONORED — Jack Ketch was honored with a 25th anniversary party sponsored by the Northern District sales office of the Sherwin-Williams Company at Vallie’s Steak House in Portland. Jack is a favorite of everyone, reported Joan Kennedy of the Portland office. Pictured with Ketch are daughters, Nancy, left and Ginny, center and his wife, Georgia, seated.