Houlton area From our Files – Week of December 12, 2018

5 years ago

100 Years Ago – Dec. 11, 1918

   Left for work Wilfred Burdon left Friday for Monticello, where he will be employed by the Great Northern Paper Co. during the winter.

  Golden wedding The evening of Nov. 29 was a pleasant occasion for those who attended the reception held in the First Baptist Church for Mr. and Mrs. Kendall S. Jackins. Rev. J.L. Wilson and the pastor, H.C. Speed, spoke words of appreciation and congratulated them on living happily together for the period of 50 years.

75 Years Ago – Dec. 16, 1943

    Urged to save Hillus Ingraham, chairman of the local salvage committee, this week issued a call for newspaper which, he said, is the most vitally needed of all paper at the present time. It is requested that the papers be folded quarter size and tied in bundles of 12 to 15 inches deep.

50 Years Ago – Dec. 11, 1968

    New sidewalk plow The town took delivery Monday on a new Bombardier sidewalk plow from Timberland Machines of Ashland. Equipped with the blade plow, the unit was purchased at a cost of $5,695. It has lights for night use, safety lights, directional signals, and a heated cab for the operator. Maintenance costs are expected to be low, and the new unit should be able to plow sidewalks while causing little if any damage to the walks themselves or to curbing.

    Honored at retirement Aroostook Farm Credit Service directors, employees and their respective wives entertained Mrs. Verna Niles of Houlton with a farewell party at Presque Isle Dec. 4. Mrs. Niles has served as office assistant in the Houlton Farm Credit office for a period of over 20 years. She was presented with a certificate of appreciation by General Manager Roy E. Duff of Presque Isle and a money tree by manager Earl Leavitt of Houlton.

25 Years Ago – Dec. 15, 1993

   Ringing in the season The Salvation Army is ringing bells for holiday donations and its effort is a community-wide one, according to Lt. Brian Chamberlain and Mrs. Lt. Barbara Chamberlain. Last year The Salvation Army gave out 185 baskets, and so far it has received 150 requests for baskets.

   Expand workforce — Smith & Wesson plans a 16,000 square foot expansion and may increase its work force of 114 employees by 30 to 40 more jobs. Plant manager John Fitzpatrick, in a letter to Town Manager R. Lewis Bone that was given to councilors during the regular meeting, said the Houlton facility is expected to become Smith & Wesson’s single source of .22 caliber pistols.