Presque Isle area From Our Files (week of June 20, 2018)

6 years ago

101 Years Ago – June 21, 1917

Dr. Thomas — The Governor appointed to succeed Hon. Payson Smith, as head of Maine’s educational system, Dr. Augustus O. Thomas of Lincoln, Neb. Dr. Thomas, one of the most able and distinguished educators of the middle west, to succeed Glynn W. Starkie of Augusta, who received a temporary appointment.

Relocating — Mr. H. J. Roderick, H. J. McGuire and Co’s expert meat cutter left for Bingham to make arrangements to move his family to Presque Isle. He was accompanied by his son, who planned to enter employment of the McGuire Company.

75 Years Ago –  June 24, 1943

Garden Club — Mrs. Arthur W. Higgins of Presque Isle was elected regional director for the Aroostook Regional Garden Club Federation of Maine at the annual meeting held at the Congregational Church in Houlton. Mrs. Harold McIlroy of Bridgewater was re-elected treasurer.

Legion head — Sheriff Jasper Lycette was nominated for county commander of the American Legion at a meeting held at the Vaughan House. Other nominees were Dave Garceau of Fort Kent, vice-commander; Herbert Manchester of Fort Fairfield, adjutant; and Hugh Friedman of Presque Isle, finance officer.

50 Years Ago –  June 19, 1968

Outstanding lodge — The Presque Isle Elks Lodge was selected the outstanding lodge in the state in youth activities and scholarship awards, representing Maine in the Elks National Best Lodge Contest. The local Elks’ brochure containing the story of the Lodge’s youth work was submitted to the Grand Lodge Committee chairman for judging in the Elks’ national contest. They also received a letter from the State Department of Education commissioner, William T. Logan Jr., and a plaque from the Hi Neighbor Awards Council.

Head of recreation — Lydia N. Dennis, executive director of the local Community Action Agency, announced the appointment of Eugene Drost as head of the Central Aroostook Action Program Summer Recreation Program. Drost is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Drost of Washburn, a 1966 graduate of Washburn High School and a student at Springfield College. Majoring in geology, he was on the dean’s list during the previous two years.

25 Years Ago –  June 23, 1993

AKC show — The Central Aroostook Kennel Club held its second American Kennel Club sanctioned dog match at the Forum in Presque Isle. There were 40 dogs entered in the match, with four dogs from New Brunswick and 13 dogs from central and southern Maine. High scoring in obedience, with a score of 195 out of a possible 200, was Sunfire’s Sir Cevey John, a Golden Retriever owned by Kathy Hoppe of Portage. “Best in Match” was Sidney, a Labrador Retriever owned by Philip and jane Mattei of Hampton. “Best of Opposite Sex to Best in Match” was Legends A Night in Heaven, a Shetland Sheepdog owned by Catherine McDivitt of Freedom. “Best Puppy in Match” was Christylee’s K.C. At-The-Bat, and American Cocker Spaniel owned by Gerald Levesque of Grand Falls, NB, “Best Junior Handler” was Meagan Thomas of Freedom, handling a standard longhair Dachshund, Deardox Sara’s One Mo’ Time.

Two to play — Two basketball players, Matthew Townsend of Blaine and Randy Libby of Mars Hill, were part of the Maine Event team that won the state competition and earned a berth in the national, traveling to Kingsport, Tenn., to participate in the 15-year-old division of the 1993 AAU National Basketball Championship.