Caribou area From Our Files (week of March 7, 2018)

6 years ago

115 Years Ago – Mar. 10,  1903

Potatoes A train of 11 cars left Fort Fairfield on Thursday morning of last week loaded with potatoes.  This is a special train run by the Bangor and Aroostook and will go through direct to New York.

Sold It is reported that the Grange starch factory has been sold to Thomas H. Phair of Presque Isle.

100 Years Ago – Mar. 13, 1918

No mail Owing to a freight wreck near Island Falls on Thursday night, which blocked the track, no mail, except local mail, arrived in Caribou that day.

75 Years Ago – Mar. 10, 1943

Develop airport — A discussion of town finances and approval of a special committee to promote the further development of the Municipal Airport featured the regular meeting of the Matoaka Clubrooms on Tuesday night.  Town Manager Grover Hardison presented a brief summary of town finances, based on the 1942 town report, indicating that collections for the past year area 132 percent of commitments, which reflect improved business conditions and put the town on a strong financial position

50 Years Ago – Mar. 13, 1968

Urban renewal The first phase of the Urban Renewal plan for Caribou’s central business districts was unveiled this week by the Edward C. Jordan Company.  The plan for Sweden Street includes building a mall complete with green grass and trees. It would be bordered by modern, appealing shops and one larger complex.  All dilapidated and substandard buildings would be banished from the scene. Islands of grass and trees would outline circulating traffic in an elongated rectangle around the shopping area formed by Herschel Street on the north, Main Street on the east, Prospect Street at the west, and relocated Washburn Street on the south.  Prospect and Record Streets would be extended to Washburn Street to permit a ring road system, with Record Street proving re-circulation.

Hunt for funds — The fate of the regional hospital concept for Central Aroostook, which the Cary Memorial Hospital board of directors and several Caribou physicians are anxious to reactivate, hangs in the balance today a delegates from the Caribou and Presque Isle hospitals sit with the Maine Health Facilities Advisory Council to the Hill Burton construction program in Augusta to ask for federal funds.

25 Years Ago – Mar. 10, 1993

Contaminated A state official has taken steps to eliminate gasoline contamination discovered last week in the drinking water at New Sweden School.  Carl Allen, oil and hazardous materials specialist with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) office in Presque Isle, said that the source the tainted water cannot be determined until a geologic survey conducted.  He pointed out that was also an underground leak in the town garage.

Hanson opening A ribbon-cutting ceremony March 3 marked the grand opening of the law office of Alan Hanson on High Street in Caribou.  Present for the ceremony were Mayor Galen Rockwell; Alan Hanson; Linda Shaw, office manager; Vicki Smith, executive director, Caribou Chamber of Commerce; and Mark Sleeper, chamber first vice president.