115 Years Ago – Aug. 18, 1903
Accidents — The past week has been filled with automobile accidents, none of which, however, have been a serious character. One of them, what might have proved a far more serious accident, occurred on Tuesday morning when Mrs. Zoa Baird, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. N.A. Baird of Collins Street, lost control of the car she was driving on Sweden Street. Miss Baird, screaming for help, became too frightened to stop the car. Just as the car had passed the Grange store, she managed to jump out and the automobile ran into another car that was taking in gasoline at Shaw and Bailey’s. Both cars were somewhat damaged. Miss Baird was slightly injured and was taken to the Caribou hospital. It was said at noon she is resting comfortably.
Present — 45 veterans of the Civil War were present at the soldiers’ reunion at Aroostook Valley Park last week. The encampment next year will be held at Fort Fairfield.
100 Years Ago – Aug. 21, 1918
Frightened — A.V. Goud’s horse, while standing in front of W.C. Spaulding’s hardware store last Friday, became frightened and started on a dead run up Sweden Street, turning in at Mr. Goud’s residence and doing no damage other than running into a small shade tree.
Potato house — Alexander Pelkey, the well-known contractor and builder of Caribou, has just completed two fine potato houses not too far from the village. One is 36-by-40 feet and possesses all the modern improvements, the other is 40-by-60 feet.
75 Years Ago – Aug. 18, 1943
Largest in County — Alterations at the M.N. Landau Store involving the enlargement of the ladies’, misses’ and children’s ready-to-wear department, are being announced this week by Robert Derrick, manager of this Caribou Department store. Carpenters and workmen have now completed attractive display racks, shadow boxes, five dressing rooms, and the laying of 1,536 square feet of linoleum in the southeast corner of the spacious department store.
Presented — Harry W. Lunt of Rochester, N.Y. who frequently visits Caribou, has just presented to the Caribou Public Library 72 copies of the newspaper Stars and Stripes, which was published in Paris during the first World War for the A.E.F. This file is complete with the exception of one issue and is quite rare. The papers cover the years 1918-1919 and it is said there are only four or five complete sets of The Stars and Stripes in the country, those being owned by the great libraries.
50 Years Ago – Aug. 21, 1968
Frost? — Record low temperatures were reported by the U.S. Weather Bureau at Caribou Airport for Monday and Tuesday mornings this week. On both occasions, the mercury dropped to 40 degrees. Reports of frost in low-lying areas were not confirmed by the Weather Bureau, but a spokesman said it was “entirely possible.”
Hunter appointed — The appointment of Dwight Hunter as athletic director for Caribou High School has been confirmed by Superintendent of Schools Richard F. Crocker. Hunter replaces Eldon Giles, who served in the capacity for six years, and recently resigned. The new director holds a BS degrees from UMO (1960) and has handled every phase of athletics since he came here in 1961. Hunter will also teach health and U.S. history courses to high school students.
25 Years Ago – Aug. 18, 1993
Reopening — Yusef’s Restaurant on Bennett Drive is being purchased by William D. Forrest of Kennebunk, a management consultant with experience in the hospitality field. The new owner said he hopes to reopen the restaurant by the end of September. Yusef’s has been an institution in The County for many years and he looks forward to welcoming back the restaurant’s many loyal patrons. Forrest said he will keep the restaurant’s former name.
Traffic signal — The Maine Department of Transportation is planning to install a new traffic signal at the intersection of U.S. Route 1 and Route 161 (Fort Street) and repair existing signals in the intersection of Route 1 and 89 in Caribou. Bids on the two projects are scheduled to be opened Wednesday, Aug. 18, in Augusta. Plans for the Route 1/Fort Street intersection call for the existing flashing beacon to be replaced by a new traffic signal, activated by traffic, with signal sequences responding to traffic movement over detector loops buried in the pavement on approaches to the intersection. Plans call for the push-button activated “Walk-Don’t Walk” signals to direct pedestrians through the intersection.
