Caribou area From our Files (week of October 31, 2018)

5 years ago

100 Years Ago – Nov. 6, 1918

Completed The new Ritchie brick block at the corner of Main and Water streets is completed on the outside and workmen are rushing work on the interior.

Sold — H.D. Collins, who has conducted a large automobile business in Caribou for several years, having the agency for the celebrated Ford automobile, has sold his interests to W.L. Ook, who has been associated with them for a number of years.

75 Years Ago – Nov. 3, 1943

New book — Former Aroostook Republican editor William L. Robbins has recently published a collection of editorials from his paper in a new book, entitled “From My Window,” a fitting name since most of his editorials are written about the things he sees through the window of his newspaper office.  Robbins is now publisher of the Deer Isle Messenger.

Banquet — The first annual banquet of the Northern Maine Camp and Hospital Council will be held at the Vaughan House on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. with Captain John B. Osmun, base legal officer at Presque Isle Army Air Field, as principal speaker.  More than 100 persons, representing 48 organizations from throughout Aroostook County, will be presented at the dinner, according to C. Milton Jockson, field director of the Red Cross.

50 Years Ago – Nov. 6, 1968

Halloween fete — The annual Caribou Recreation Department Halloween Party was attended by about 230 Caribou youngsters, with more than 50 of those who registered winning prizes.  Games and a contest were the program, with apple bobbing, musical chairs, and drop-the-napkin being played. The party concluded with a gala parade of costumed contestants and the presentation of Halloween surprise bags to all in attendance.

‘Wets’ in big gains There may be beer in Caribou’s hotels, clubs and restaurants, water and spirits in Caribou’s first class restaurants.  But there’s still no tavern. That’s the way the liquor referendum went here Tuesday in what was considered the key voting questions in the referendum locally.  The “yes” vote for beer in hotels, clubs and restaurants represented changes and reverses in liquor voting trends for the first time in many years. In other liquor referendum questions, Caribou voted “yes” as usual, to the question on State Liquor Stores, to that on wine and spirits to be consumed in hotels and clubs, and to that on beer to take out.  As to taverns, local voters again rejected them, although the margin was slim, 1,219 against and 1,140 in favor, a difference of 79.

25 Years Ago – Nov. 3, 1993

Traffic signal A new traffic signal at the Fort Bridge intersection on the Caribou Bypass is currently being installed by the Maine Department of Transportation contractors A.D. Electric Inc. of Monmouth.  The lights are tentatively scheduled to be operational today.

First snowfall The season’s first major snowstorm Monday set records according to the National Weather Service in Caribou.  Meteorologist Chuck McGill said 6.7 inches of snow was recorded at the weather service office at the Caribou Municipal Airport.  McGill said Monday’s snowfall which continued until tapering off to flurries early Tuesday morning topped the weather service’s 2.5 inch record set for Nov. 1 in 1954.