100 Years Ago: Dec. 22, 1910
• J.A. McNeal, A.J. McNeal and Reuben McNeal left Monday for Harvey’s Siding where they will work in the woods this winter, having a contract to cut for Brown & Sawyer.
• The Aroostook Valley Railroad Company will apply to the next legislature of Maine for the right to extend and build a line of street railroads from its railroad station in Washburn to and through the town of Woodland and thence into the town of New Sweden.
• Arthur Ricker returned home Wednesday from Edmundston, N.B. While there he was riding in a public carriage which was run into by a runaway horse. Mr. Ricker was thrown out and sustained several bruises and cuts but escaped, fortunately, without serious accident.
• An exciting horse race took place on the Madawaska River one day this week between horses owned by George Gabriel and Fred Willett, the former winning.
• Potatoes are bringing 85 cents a barrel.
75 Years Ago: Dec, 18, 1935
1938 — Caribou citizens were thrilled when the Flying Santa Claus dropped greetings and cards granting free gifrts from local merchants when presented at their respective stores. An estimated crowd of 1,500 people gathered on Sweden St. and in the square awaiting Santa’s return from a goodwill flight to Limestone, Fort Fairfield, Presque Isle, Washburn and Sacred Heart where greeting and gift cards were dropped.
• Preparations have been made to keep open during the winter of 1935-36, the highways from Ft. Kent to Bangor and other points. This will be done under the direction of the State Highway
Commission. A two-car wide land will be provided. Officials of truck transportation units, as well as members of the State Highway Commission, feel that the matter of snow removal, under conditions to be met in Aroostook, has progressed far beyond the experimental stage and that with the improved equipment now available, will become an accomplished fact.
• Misses Barbara Leighton, Galena Davenport and Susan Getchell, all of Limestone, who are attending Aroostook State Normal School at Presque Isle are home for the Christmas vacation.
• In connection with the school WPA project which has recently been started, a most interesting feature is the work which is being done under the direction of Olof Nylander in the making of cabinets, trays, display racks, etc. for his marvelous assortment of Maine and Aroostook natural history specimens. This collection is one of the most valuable in the state and is now housed at Prof. Nylander’s home in Woodland. It will soon as practical be housed in a permanent location in town.
• An announcement of much interest to local lovers of horses and horse racing is that plans are being made for a winter’s program of ice racing on Collins Pond to be under the auspices of the Caribou Riding and Driving Club. The ice is being scraped for a quarter mile track the length of the pond.
• That there is considerable more money in circulation this year is evidenced by the fact that by Monday evening of this week the stores were practically cleaned of the more expensive toys. There were still fair amounts of the 25-to-50-cent range, but sleds, tricycles, better grade dolls, and the more expensive carriages were a scarce article.
50 Years Ago: Dec.22, 1960
• Mrs. Roy Boone entertained at a party honoring her daughter, Elizabeth, on her fourth birthday. Guests were Nancy Collins, Linda Collins, Laura Jean Lupo, Cheryl Currier, Pamela Hayward, Christopher Lowrey, Sam Hamilton and Kirk Tibbetts.
• Danny Brewer, a student at American International College, in Springfield, Mass., is spending the holidays with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Brewer.
• Mrs. Whitcomb Shaw entertained at a party honoring her daughter, Karen on her sixth birthday. Guests were Ricky and Lisa Vogell, Dani Nisbet, Cheryl Currier, Pamela Hayward, Kim Tibbetts and Candy Cianchette.
• Linda Quist, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sigward Quist, was chosen to reign as Santa Lucia of Trinity Lutheran Church in Stockholm.
• Trailer park owners in Caribou have organized and have become affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce.
• Wilfred Bell, chairman of the Caribou Board of Trade, announced today that Caribou stores will close at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 24, in order that employees may prepare for the observance of Christmas. Thus all Caribou area shoppers are urged to complete their shopping early.
