Caribou area From Our Files (week of December 13, 2017)

6 years ago

115 Years Ago – Dec. 9,  1902

Wood  — Quite a large amount of wood has been hauled into town recently and good, dry stove wood has been selling at $4.50 and $5 per cord, with two-foot wood bringing $4.

First snow Friday was the first real snowstorm of the season throughout the New England states and it brought with it a very forceful reminder of winter.

75 Years Ago – Dec. 9, 1942

Get your license –Temporary offices for the issuance of operator’s licenses will be open in Caribou for one day, on Monday, Dec. 21, according to an announcement issued this week by Acting Secretary of State, Harold L. Goss.  Persons living adjacent to these localities will find it a convenience to secure their driving license on these dates and at the temporary office named.

Open evenings — Caribou stores will be open evenings beginning Friday, Dec. 18, through to Christmas, according to an announcement issued this week by W.W. Raymond, president of the Caribou Chamber of Commerce.  Stores also will be closed New Year’s Day as has been the general practice in the past.

50 Years Ago – Dec. 13, 1967

Off the beaten track — How a freight train could be derailed in the town of Caribou and no one in the official circles apparently know anything about it until more than 24 hours later, is a question which is puzzling.  The incident occurred sometime Monday morning on the Aroostook Valley Railroad tracks at York Street behind the Bearce Carter Oil Company storage tanks there.  It seemed evident that the AVR train personnel notified their own offices, but not the police and other local officials.  The point of the accident is on the south side of Caribou Stream and off the town’s “beaten track.”

In the red Despite appeal to the Caribou public the local police department’s Christmas candy for kiddies fund is still “in the red.”  With candy on order for their Saturday-before-Christmas gifts to Caribou children amounting to $428, the department’s treasury contains only $84.  A substantial mount will be needed if the department is to balance its books and not disappoint the children.

25 Years Ago – Dec. 9, 1992

Pearl Harbor Day Local veterans remembered the men and women who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, at a ceremony held on the Aroostook River Bridge in Caribou last Sunday morning.  Carroll Saunders, left, post commander of Henry B. Pratt Jr. American Legion Post 15 and Louis Belanger, commander of Lister knowlton VFW Post 9389, tossed floral wreaths into the river as a memorial gesture during the ceremony.

McKernan to visit Gov. John R. McKernan will be in Presque Isle Saturday morning for a public meeting to publicize state budget problems and solicit citizens’ advice.  The forum is scheduled to be held in the Presque Isle High School auditorium Saturday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. McKernan will be accompanied by budget chief Sawin Millett.