Caribou area From our Files (week of December 5, 2018)

5 years ago

115 Years Ago – Dec. 8,  1903

Warmth A new furnace has recently been placed in position in the basement of the Episcopal church.

Move The Caribou National Bank has moved from the Irving and Ricker office into its new quarters in the new brick building.

100 Years Ago – Dec. 11, 1918

Frozen church Being unable to get any hard coal, the Methodist church was compelled to put in a supply of the famous Minto fuel with the result that the heating plant in the church froze up Sunday night.

75 Years Ago – Dec. 8, 1943

Scrap — Lions Club members and the Caribou Fire Department have been busily engaged the past two Sundays moving 75 tons of scrap iron from the town park to the local scrap depot on Limestone Street.  Proceeds from the scrap, which has been collected by the Lions Club over a period of two years, were used for the community swimming pool on Spring Street.

Spud-picking record — Walter Sirois, 28, of Caribou broke the record for potato pickers this fall when he picked 174 barrels of potatoes in one day, it was disclosed this week.  Sirois’ record for the nineteen days he picked totalled to 2,678 barrels. During this time, he consistently averaged 141 barrels a day. Mr. Sirois picked on the Dow farm, East Presque Isle Road.

50 Years Ago – Dec. 11, 1968

PD cries for candy — Striped candy, peanuts by the pound, popcorn, candy kisses — that’s what the Caribou Police Department wants, and lots of it.  They want it to fill mesh bags for about 1,500 young callers they expect at the police station at Christmas time, but in order to acquire it, and not disappoint any of the youngsters, they need more funds.  Approximately $500 is needed for the police department’s annual project, “Kandy for Kiddies,” and, to date, only about $120 has been received.

Hoofers holding dance Caribou Hoffers Square Dance Group is holding a square dance Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Intermediate School in Caribou starting at 8 p.m.  Cliff Long of Presque Isle will be the caller.

25 Years Ago – Dec. 8, 1993

Earmarked About $1 million in defense dollars has been earmarked for the proposed state math and science academy in Limestone, James Morse, superintendent of Limestone schools, said Thursday.  U.S Sen. George Mitchell, D-Maine informed the Limestone School Department Dec. 2 that $58 million, passed under the fiscal 1994 National Defense Authorization Act, is designed to help school systems crippled by base closings.  The funds will assist Limestone and the state in its common objective to create the Maine School of Science and Mathematics.

Decorating night Sleeper’s has announced plans for its annual Gingerbread Decorating Night set for Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 6:30 p.m.  The event, started in 1989, has grown each year in popularity. Last year more than 200 children and their parents took part in the contest.  The event is open to children of all ages and is free of charge to all participants.