From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

100 Years Ago-May 29, 1912
Aroostook Times
    Titanic — Owing to the presence of icebergs in the lanes traversed by the steamships plying between New York and British and French ports, the transatlantic shipping companies have changed the route to a point 60 miles southward of the present lane. The safety-minded change will add nine hours to the journey.
    Cold cash for hot leads — John Watson & Co. was offering $1 for every name of a probable buyer of their Potato Sprayers or other brand name machine products.
    Linneus — The few remaining Civil War veterans in this town listened to a very appropriate sermon by Elder Rutter at the M.E. church on Sunday.
    Certified — Ora C. Pomeroy of the Houlton Furniture Co. has received his state certificate as a licensed undertaker and embalmer.
    Recital — The many students of Prof. J. Hollis Lindsay, who is head of the musical department at Ricker, gave a pleasing recital with the work of Miss Mae Hussey of Blaine deserving particular recognition.
75 Years Ago-June 3, 1937
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Impressive Memorial Day services — James Hayes, son of Roy M. Hayes, a World War veteran and grandson of Hiram Hayes, a Civil War veteran, placed a wreath in honor of the Civil War dead. Mrs. Thomas H. Briggs, mother of Chester L. Briggs for whom the Houlton American Legion Post is named, placed a wreath honoring the World War dead.
SINGING THE PRAISES of fertilizers in this 1937 AGRICO advertisement were Aroostook County potato growers, clockwise from top, Andrew Porter of Sherman Mills, Elwood R. Kenney of Presque Isle, James Morrison of Ashland and Willis Lowrey of Houlton.
    Named president — Miss Irene Dwelley was elected president of the American Association of University Women during their annual banquet and business meeting at the Pastel Shade tea room in Woodstock, N.B. Other officers were Mary Peabody, vice president; Isabelle Fairbanks, secretary and Muriel Hallett, treasurer.
    Horse racing coming back — Vic Holdaway of Houlton and Bob Brown of Woodstock, N.B. announced plans to resume the famous Maine and New Brunswick Mid-Summer Horse Racing Circuit.
    New job — Leroy Hogan, who has been assistant bookkeeper for the A.E. Mooers Co. has resigned and accepted a position as secretary in the office of the Aroostook Valley Railroad at Presque Isle.
    Attend K of C affair — George Rush, Grand Knight, and Edward Qualey, acting Deputy Grand Knight of Bishop Benedict Council left Benedicta Saturday for Lewiston to attend the Knights of Columbus state convention.
50 Years Ago-May 31, 1962
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Appeal to Gov. Reed — Patten Town Manager James Hannigan sent a letter on behalf of area dairy farmers who were facing a severe shortage of hay due to widespread winter kill.
    New hotel manager — Hilston Carpenter, 44, was named the manager of the Northland Hotel. He had owned and operated a local hardware store in Monticello for 14 years, before taking a post with the Rod and Gun Shop in Houlton in 1959.
    Moving on — Five faculty members resigned at Houlton High School to continue their work elsewhere — Dawn Cameron, Ronald Smith, Elizabeth Mason, H. Philip Fowler and John Hackett.
    At the switchboard — Miss Edna Cunliffe, chief operator of the Houlton branch of the New England Telephone and Telegraph Co., was honored for 30 years with the organization by Henry S. Adams, district traffic supervisor.
    Outdoor dining — The Barbecue Pit at G&P Diner, at the corner of Main and Military streets, was Houlton’s newest dining experience.
25 Years Ago-June 3, 1987
Houlton Pioneer Times
    A first for Aroostook — Chief Justice Vincent L. McKusick of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court was joined by Justices Louis Scolnik, Daniel Wathen, David Nichols, David Roberts, Caroline Glassman and Robert Clifford at the County Courthouse in Houlton for the ceremonial first visit of Maine’s Law Court to the Shiretown.
WE’RE ACCEPTED! — Julie Dickinson, left, and Sheila Quint, members of Katahdin High School’s Class of 1987, were admitted to the dental hygiene program at the University of Maine’s University College in Bangor. Both college-bound girls were from Patten.
    Choral director — Andrew Poulopoulos, who had directed the vocal music program at Stearns High School and Millinocket Middle School, was named SAD 29’s new vocal music director. He replaced Bob Bahr, who left the district to accept a management position with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra.