Caribou area From Our Files (week of July 19, 2017)

7 years ago

115 Years Ago – Jul. 15,  1902

Narrow escape Dr. C.F Thomas had a narrow escape from a bad accident Saturday evening. The streetlights for some reason were lacking on High Street, making it very difficult driving.  The doctor was in front of E.G. Farrell’s residents when he heard a team coming at a rapid rate and pulled his horse well off the road into the grass.  The doctor was thrown out on his face, breaking the dasher on his wagon.  No bones were broken, but it was a remarkable escape.  It turned out to be a drunk man on the team not knowing what he was doing.

100 Years Ago – Jul. 19, 1917

Cars 7,850 more machines have been registered this year than in the same time of 1916 and 10,836 more operators’ licenses issued.  Dealers in motorcycles are eight less.  A large part of the increase in the number of automobiles comes from Aroostook County.  Over 200 new cars have been sold this season by Caribou dealers.

Draft — It is expected that the draft drawing for the United States Army will be made Friday.  

75 Years Ago – Jul. 15, 1942

Canning center –Final plans for the opening of the Caribou Canning Center, Monday, July 20, were announced this week by Miss Natalie Chandler, supervisor of the project.  The purpose of the project is to primarily can as much as possible for the surplus of food for community use; to encourage home canning; to learn latest approved methods of canning, and to contribute to the school lunch program.  The local center will serve a surrounding area including the towns of Acadia and Colby.

Croquet tournament — A croquet tournament won by Frank Ouellette was the feature event of the summer playground course during the past week with over 40 contestants.  Due to the enthusiasm over the tournament and games another croquet set has been purchased and plans are now being made for a similar tournament during the last half of the year.

50 Years Ago – Jul. 19, 1967

Impossible to estimate — Citations have been issued from the Caribou Police for two 11-year-old boys who were apprehended while still uninvited visitors in a Pioneer Avenue home.  Damage caused to the house was “impossible to estimate” according to police.  Upon a call at the house Monday at 5 p.m., they found the drawers of the chests and bureaus dumped, the boxes upside down, cupboards ransacked, and clothing/personal possessions strewn everywhere.  The vandals will appear in court to answer for vandalism.

Let go — The Cyr Brothers, Caribou, tractor-trailer went off the Fort Fairfield road after the breaks let go while the driver, Norman Woods, was closing the rear doors.  It went across the highway and ended up in a ditch.  Little damage, only  broken oil line, was caused to the trailer, but it was necessary to unload the cargo of 10lb. Bags of potatoes before it could be pulled back onto the highway.  The lower photo shows the re-loading.

25 Years Ago – Jul. 15,  1992

Steps City council members took prompt steps Monday night toward repairing Lombard Road by voting to solicit bids for its engineering specifications and estimated construction costs.  The action followed a three-item proposal of the city’s engineering consultant, Aroostook Engineers Inc, and the Highway Committee by combining two of the three recommended options for reconstructing the one-mile street between Washburn and Woodland roads.

Dump closure The former city dump on Ogren Road will have to be closed legally to meet state requirements.  City council members Monday night voted to proceed by engaging Aroostook Engineers Inc. to conduct an engineering study and survey and determine ownership of the 50-acre site which 12 acres was the actual dump.