From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

100 Years Ago-April 24, 1912
Aroostook Times
    Houlton Savings Bank — Organized in 1872, President E.L. Cleveland and Treasurer L.O. Ludwig reported that the bank held $1,141,082 in deposits, $49,250 in reserve funds and $26,430 in undivided profits.
    Development — Fred Smart is building a warehouse on his lot on Kelleran Street for the display of wagons and carriages. W.J. Thibodeau will soon commence the erection of a brick block on the corner of Main and School streets.
    Promising ballplayer — Leland McElwee, who played with the fast ball team, the Socials of Halifax, Nova Scotia, last season, has had an offer to play again with them as soon as school closes.
    Specialist — Dr. Newell of Boston was in Houlton to perform an operation for appendicitis upon Mrs. F.H. Jackson.
    Future grandstand — After careful examination of the several plans for a grandstand submitted to the building committee of the Houlton Agricultural Society, they have decided to accept those drawn by architect John G. Chadwick of this town.
    Titanic Disaster — It has been 10 days since the Titanic, greatest maritime achievement in the history of the world, sank in mid-ocean. The number of dead will probably never be exactly determined, in as much as the complete passenger list went down with the doomed vessel. The narratives gathered piecemeal from the liner’s 705 survivors pay a tribute without precedent to the bravery of the men and women on board — steerage passengers, stokers and millionaires alike.
75 Years Ago-April 29, 1937
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Top speaker — Austin Freeley Jr. of Houlton, who won the Spear Contest at Houlton High School, will compete in the state contest in Augusta.
    Honors — Clayton Reed and Phyllis Corey were named co-Valedictorians of their graduating class at Hodgdon High School.
    Reappointed — Dr. Frank H. Jackson continued his longtime service as Medical Examiner for Aroostook County.
    Fishway needed? — Houlton residents gathered near the Iron Bridge to watch the salmon try to jump over the dam. When the excitement subsided, it was learned that the “fish” were actually carelessly discarded metal barrels caught in the undertow caused by the swift moving water.
    Lettermen elect — Lloyd Niles, for the football team, and Robert “Bob” Ruth, for the basketball team, were chosen by their HHS teammates to be captains for the upcoming 1937-38 campaigns.
50 Years Ago-April, 26, 1962
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Bus has parking space — The Houlton Town Council voted 5-1 in favor of granting entrepreneur Don Savoy permission to park his lunchwagon on the Millitary St. end of Broadway St. Councilors George McGillicuddy, Lawrence Burleigh, Ken Carson, Joseph Robinson and John Rogers voted ‘Yes,’ while Don Edwards was in opposition. The application had been challenged by three neighboring churches.
    Dealership hires — Kenneth Butler, service manager at V.J. Thompson Buick and Pontiac Co., announced the hiring of Donald Thompkins, formerly of Houlton Motors, as part of the mechanics crew.
    Rec Center champs — Taking top honors at the annual Spring Tournament were; Mike Gildart, Alwyn Gallop and Bob Hunter, table tennis; Wayne McGinley and Clem Joslyn, pool; Lynn York, chess; and Cliff Conlogue and Bob Fournier, checkers.
Houlton Pioneer Times file photo/1987
GRADUATION — A graduation ceremony for the Story Hour children was conducted at Cary Library. Gifts were presented to participants by “Story Hour Lady” Jane Million. Receiving diplomas were, from left, front row: Erin Edkins, Ryan Sylvain, Nicolle Audette, Sarah Carriero, Melissa Turner and Jeremy London. Back row: Andrew McPartland, Ashok Surapaneni, Shaun Sylvain, Michael Wallace, Emily Rutledge and Stephanie Ivey.
25 Years Ago-April 29, 1987
Houlton Pioneer Times
    East Grand elite — Earning honor parts in the East Grand High School Class of 1987 were Sarah Mitchell, valedictorian; Stacy Doan, salutatorian; Rolly Crawford, first honor essay; and Tina Gray, second honor essay.
    Retirement — E. Pauline Cotton, R.N. was honored for 45 years of service in the Houlton hospital system as a nurse. Attending a reception for Miss Cotton were her brothers and their wives, Mr. and Mrs. David H. Cotton and Mr. and Mrs. Medley Cotton.
    Young artists — Dallas Henderson of the Dallas Henderson Insurance Agency presented pens to all the Lambert School students who participated in the “Design an Ad” contest. Earning individual recognition were Tom Wells, Mark Winship, Sasha Blood and Rachel Mersereau.