Caribou area From our Files (week of August 22, 2018)

6 years ago

115 Years Ago – Aug. 25,  1903

Old adage An accident which occured in Caribou the other day is an illustration of the old adage that the course of true love does not run smoothly.  A young man and a lady were out boating just above the big dam in the Aroostook River and had rowed down to the edge of the dam where the logs had jammed and formed a sort of barricade.  The man left the boat and went out on the logs and before he knew it, the current had caught the craft and swept it, with its fair occupant over the dam, the boat overturning. The young woman would have been drowned had not part of the boat caught her.  Both boat and young lady swept on to shore or sand bar below the dam. The gossips are now wondering if the young woman will venture to set out on the stream of life with that young man in the boat.

No summer The year of 1903 will have to go on record as the year without any summer.  Perhaps we may have some fine weather in September.

100 Years Ago – Aug. 28, 1918

Reckless driving — According to all accounts, reckless driving still continues to be the bane of the Presque Isle-Caribou Road.  Sunday, as Beecher Swaim of Caribou was driving from Caribou to Presque Isle, when near the Charles Hussey place he met two cars racing at top speed.  He was obliged to get of the road into the ditch without standing on the order of doing so and the result was that his machine fell off the end of the culvert at risk of his life and causing considerable damage.

Increase H.B. Hitchins announced that after September 1, the price of milk will be advanced to fourteen cents per quart.

75 Years Ago – Aug. 25, 1943

Master rotary speaker — Approximately 1,500 Caribou Rotarians and guests heard an interesting and informative talk by Hon. Ardine Richardson, Maine’s Speaker of the House and Republican candidate for Governor.  Speaking on topics of present day agriculture problems and the farmer, representative Richardson expressed faith in the future of Maine and Aroostook County. The speaker was introduced by Senator George V. Brown.

50 Years Ago – Aug. 28, 1968

Just try again — Caribou police are on the lookout for thieves who carried away $100 worth of tools after breaking a lock on a steel box on a city-owned gravel screen on Oxbow Road sometime Saturday night or Sunday.  Taken were miscellaneous tools, including wrenches, hammers, pliers and jacks. But what is galling to Bernard Lynch, supervisor of the local highway department, is the fact that the thieves made a return visit Monday night to take the replaced tools, this time from a Michigan loader.  Both local and state police have been alerted.

Farm labor office The Aroostook Farm Labor Association has opened an office in Caribou where orders may be placed for Canadian workers for the harvest period.  The office is located in the Hackett Building, corner of Main and Sweden streets, and is manned by Robert Chapman. Hours will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

25 Years Ago – Aug. 25, 1993

DARE The Caribou Police Department will be conducting the national anti-drug program called the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program for grade 6 students.  Known as Project DARE, Caribou Police Chief Arthur Gorney appointed Patrolman Steve Michaud as the department’s Project DARE officer.

Barney JC Penney of Caribou donated a giant stuffed life size Barney toy as a fund raising project for the Caribou Fire and Ambulance Department’s Toy for Tots program.  Tickets are available this weekend during the Caribou Cares About Kids celebration and will be offered at the fire department until Nov. 26, when the winner will be announced.