Caribou area From our Files (week of February 27, 2019)

5 years ago

115 Years Ago – March 2,  1904

Fox run James Menther of Green Ridge followed a fox track 39 miles on snowshoes in a snowstorm the other day only to find the fox to be a pretty badly fagged dog.

100 Years Ago – March 5, 1919

Shiny new Mrs. Lillian Dow of Lincoln, formerly of Caribou, has purchased a Pierce-Arrow Touring car.

Home talent play — A home talent play entitled “The Private Secretary” will be given for the benefit of the Caribou Public Library in the near future.  The entertainment will be under the direction of Charles B. Margison of Caribou. The other members of the committee in charge are Mrs. Henry Soucie, Mrs. J.C. Briggs, Mrs. O.T. Pierson, Mrs. F.S. Doyle, Mrs. Marison Weston and Mrs. Charles Gammon.

75 Years Ago – March 2, 1944

Float and Jeep — Pupils of the Westmanland School, Emma Kierstead, teacher, have raised their total sales of War bonds and stamps to $1,600.  At a meeting at the school last Monday evening, Anton Storm gave a speech, dedicating a balsa wood float and a Jeep to the Westmanland boys in the service.  Both the float and Jeep were purchased with the bonds and stamps sold in Westmanland Plantation, which has less than one hundred inhabitants.

New chapter — Fourteen Woodland citizens met in the Peterson Brothers’ store at Colby on the evening of February 24 to discuss American Red Cross matters and to form a Woodland Red Cross Chapter, operating as part of the Caribou Chapter.  Citizens present were Frank Thomas, H.L. Crouse, Ray Philbrick, Bert Sands, Samuel Everett, Herbert Hanson, Alfred Margison, Williams Bergman, Merle Russell, Verner Peterson, Mrs. Ray Philbrick, Mrs. Cous, Mrs. Verner Peterson and Axel Lindgren.

50 Years Ago – March 5, 1969

New cinema, restaurant — A large First National Store building covering 16,000 square feet and a W.T. Grant store covering 52,000 square feet with an acre and a quarter of ground under one roof were described by porter.  A cinema is planned at the rear of the center and parking pace for 650 cars, room for further expansion if called for. W.T. Grant had checked out the City of Caribou and felt it was a thriving area and believed the shopping center would draw patrons from many miles around, according to developer for the Caribou Plaza Shopping Center Henry Porter.  Porter said his company builds about four shopping centers a year. Just finished is one at Houlton, another in Weymouth, Mass., and another in Newburyport, Mass.

Heroes The current six-day period to Sunday has been proclaimed “Vikings’ Week” by Mayor Gilman Albair in recognition of the success of the Caribou High School hoop team.  This is in recognition of the achievements of the CHS basketball team of this season, culminating with its being crowned Eastern Maine LL champion.

25 Years Ago – March 2, 1994

Junior Miss Caribou Fourteen-year-old Jessica Bouchard was crowned 1994 Junior Miss Caribou following last Saturday evening’s pageant at the Performing Arts Center in Caribou.  She is the daughter of Brian and Sandi Bouchard of Caribou. Jessica is an eighth-grade student at the Woodland Consolidated School. Other contestants were Jill Walker, Amy Hammac, Jennifer Jose and Lora Neilander.  Serving as escorts were Ryan St. Peter, Joseph Carter, Shawn Lynch, Lance Belanger, Jacques Bouiler, Chris Thomas and Nick Morrill.

Best float The Caribou recreation entry was the second hottest float in the 1994 Caribou Winter Carnival Parade, Feb. 19, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce.  Other winners were Ames Department Store, first place theme float; First Citizens Bank, second; Boy Scout Troop 186, first place hottest float; and Little Miss Caswell, best decorated snowmobile.