From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

Compiled by Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
100 Years Ago-Dec. 20, 1911
Aroostook Times
    Delivery — Ralph Berry, the local agent of the Ford automobile, received a carload of automobiles last week.
    Farm — H.E. and B.D. Tingley have purchased the Samuel Mooers farm on the McIntyre Brook Road and will run it under the name of Tingley Bros.
    Turkey story — Last Friday afternoon while T.V. Holdaway was unloading a wagon load of turkeys in the rear of his store, one of them escaped and flew to the top of a nearby building. No amount of coaxing could persuade him to make any move. One of the crack rifle shots of our town volunteered to bring him down. A shot was fired, a rush of wings and “Mr. Turk” was again on his way and the laugh was on “Mr. Sharpshooter.”
75 Years Ago-Dec. 17, 1936
Houlton Pioneer Times
    License plates — Your 1937 automobile number plates will be white on green. Attach yours as early as Christmas Day. Owners will be prosecuted beginning New Year’s Day. Save time and embarrassment, act today, don’t delay.
1936 File Photo
GOOD CHOICE — T.V. Holdaway was the high bidder of a beautiful bay gelding named “Bud Wenger”. at a Topsfield, Mass. auction last spring. Once in Houlton he was sent to the farm of James Longstaff in Ludlow. After much training the horse entered his first race at Woodstock in June. He set several new track records and the success of the horse is due in great measure to the careful schooling and driving of Earl Avery.
    Christmas pageant — “There Was One Who Gave a Lamb” will be presented at the Unitarian Church. It is directed by Mrs. Olin Porter, Mrs. Mabel Harrison being in charge of music; organist, Bernard Archibald. Following is the  cast of characters: Mary, Miss Mary Peabody; Joseph, Fredrick Donald; the wise men, Otis Putnam, William Stantial and Paul Oliver; shepherds, Richard Hatch, Charles Wood and Robert Titcomb; boy with bag of grain, Joe Putnam; boy with bag of gold, Mellon Putnam; girl with flowers, Marilyn Moody; boy with lamb, Leland Porter.; choir of angels, Ruth Peabody (reader), Hannah Putnam, Lois Ann Perry, Barbara Perry, Betty Anne Willey, Janette Small, Joyce Farrar, Jane Terrio, Mary Terrio, Marjorie Moody, Francis Ann Cates; and cherubs, Janette Cates and Judith Little.
50 Years Ago- Dec. 21, 1961
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Winner — It has been announced by the reunion committee of the Houlton High School Class of 1952, that the drawing for the television set sponsored by the group was won by Michael Clark.
    Construction — Ricker College negotiations are under way for the financing of a 177-unit dormitory which will be constructed on college owned property adjoining the Taylor house on Kelleran Street.
    Orono students — Linda Hartz and Mrs. Dawn Harvey, both of Houlton and Marion Perkins of Patten have been honored at the University of Maine for academic achievement. Five students have been elected to sing in the 109-voice University Chorus. They are Linda Ellis, Jeanne Joslyn, Lynne Joslyn, Karen Milner and Robert Clark.
25 Years Ago-Dec. 17, 1986
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Restaurant — Linda’s, a new restaurant has opened in the Fishman Mall. The owner of the business is Linda Craig of Mt. Chase.
    Church decorations — As a part of the Christmas decorations at the Military Street Baptist Church, two 6-foot poinsettia tree forms were built by Freemont Hand and Don Scott. The trees will display 43 plants.
    Swearing-in — Clerk of Courts, Robert Rush officiated at the swearing-in of the new County Commissioner, Paul Adams of Houlton.