Presque Isle area From Our Files – Week of June 17, 2019

5 years ago

101 Years Ago – June 20, 1918

Red Cross notes — Through the generosity of C.E. Strout, Biddeford, ME, Presque Isle Chapter Red Cross received 400 carnations. Mrs. D.A. Stevens kindly opened her house as headquarters for the sale, from which place young ladies with baskets of carnations sold them on our streets, while others in automobiles canvassed the country. Attractive posters made by the Training School girls were placed in the drug stores, where the flowers were also sold. Effective posters were also made by Fred Stevens. Everyone wanted a carnation, some buying four or five dozen. The result was $295.94 was netted for the Red Cross.

75 Years Ago –  June 22, 1944

Harley Welch — Harley D. Welch of Chapman became the first man to represent his legislative district as a state senator when he placed second in the Aroostook state Senate race, a five-cornered battle, in the primaries. George Brown, Caribou veteran, and Lee Good of Monticello were also victorious. The final vote count was Brown 3,247, Welch 2,895, Good 2,813, Bragdon 2,684, and Day 2,028. Aroostook  voters gave Horace Hildreth, the winner, a 2-to-1 majority over his two rivals, Fernald and Richardson. The Northern Aroostook count gave Hildreth 1396 votes, Richardson 1236 and Fernald 745.

GOP committees — Two Aroostook County residents were appointed to posts on subcommittees of the Republican State Committee, Lloyd B. Morton of Farmington, chairman, announced. Bernard E. Esters of Houlton served on the Budget Committee, while Mrs. Sarah Briggs of Caribou was a member of the committee to assist Mr. Clifford Carver in Finance. These committees composed of State Committee members laid the groundwork for the state and presidential campaigns.

50 Years Ago –  June 18, 1969

Dr. Boone honored — Storer W. Boone of Presque Isle was one of four medical doctors recognized for 50 years of service by the Maine Medical Association at its annual session at the Hotel Samoset in Rockland. Others receiving 50-year pins were Dr. Forrest B. Ames of Brewer and Drs. Sallie H. Sauders and C. Harold Jameson of Camden. Dr. Boone, a native of Presque Isle, had practiced in this city since 1921. He graduated from McGill University Medical School in 1919, interned at the Montreal General Hospital and took post-graduate courses at Poly Clinic, New York City, and the New York Post-Graduate Hospital. He was a staff member of the Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital and the Cary Memorial Hospital of Caribou.

Camping bound — Robin Grass, treasurer of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, presented a check for $50 to Tina Small and Milford Williams of Presque Isle so they may attend one week each at the Aroostook County Conservation Education Camp, Kamp Karawanee, on Mud Lake in Sinclair.

25 Years Ago –  June 22, 1994

Met with governor — Terrance “T.J.” White, a student at Zippel Elementary School, was named a first-place winner in his age group in a poster contest sponsored by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Recreation and the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. For winning in the 11-year-old division, White and his family met Gov. John R. McKernan at a June 2 ceremony and received a family pass for free admission to all state parks, as well as a free week of camping at the state park of his choice. Joining White at the ceremony were his sisters, Melissa and Crystal, and his mother, Remedios White. His father, Terry, was unable to attend.

Gagnon honored — Presque Isle City Manager Tom Stevens and Presque Isle Police Chief Jim Ferland honored Assistant Chief Naldo Gagnon with a letter of commendation for his efforts in administering a pre-service school for the Maine Criminal Justice Academy in conjunction with the University of Maine-Presque Isle. Gagnon devoted many hours of his own time into making the program a success and also served as a mentor to the Criminal Justice Club at the university.