Presque Isle area From Our Files – Week of August 21, 2019

Compiled Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
5 years ago

101 Years Ago – August 22, 1918

Installation of a new linotype — Mr. H. J. Hutchins, of Bangor, the linotype expert in charge of the commercial plant, was in town superintending the installation of a new model 14 linotype in the Star-Herald office. The new machine, which was the most modern and varied in efficiency of any, turned out by the Mergenthaler Linotype Company, was more fully described in the weekly issue.

75 Years Ago –  August 24, 1944

Harris chairs War Chest — Dr. Malcolm D. Harris was appointed finance chairman, Central District Aroostook War Chest Drive. He was assisted by Donald Sweeney and Sam Collins. The appointment was announced by Arthur G. Vose, Houlton, county finance chairman. The following list of towns were included in the Central District: Ashland, Caribou, Castle Hill, Chapman, Caswell, Connor, Easton, Fort Fairfield, Mapleton, Mars Hill, Masardis, Limestone, New Sweden, Oxbow, Presque Isle, Portage, Garfield, Nashville, Stockholm, Woodland, Westmanland, Wade, Washburn and Westfield..

Merchant Marine graduate — Cadet Midshipman Dana Elmer McGlauflin, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. F. McGlauflin of Presque Isle, graduated  from the United States Merchant Marine Academy. He received a license as third officer in the Merchant Marine, a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve and the rank of ensign in the U.S. Maritime Service.

50 Years Ago –  August 20, 1969

Gift of $25,000 — Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital received a $25,000 gift from the estate of the late Mrs. Marie Gould Wildes, according to Robert J. Waldron, president. The daughter of the late Arthur R. Gould resided in Dallas, Texas. She stipulated that the money be used for equipment purchases. With this contribution, the Wildes family had given the hospital $135,000 in gifts and had established a Wildes Foundation valued at $200,000. Major contributions included a $100,000 payment toward the cost of the current building, and a $10,000 urology table. A $35,000 cobalt therapy unit was purchased with interest received from the foundation which also subsidized teh $25,000 cost of a radio-isotope laboratory.

Sweetser Club Champion — Steve Sweetser was the club champion for 1969 at the Presque Isle Country Club. He defeated Dewey DeWitt in the final 36-hole medal round, 147-148. Other titlists included Bryce Jordan, A Flight; Dick Maynard, B Flight; and Peter King, C Flight. Jordan had to go into sudden death before eliminating William O’Brien. The two finalists each carded 167 totals in regulation play, forcing the round into sudden death. 

25 Years Ago –  August 24, 1994

1995 snowmobile campaign — Aroostook County Tourism Inc. was awarded a $12,000 grant for a 1995 Snowmobile Aroostook campaign. The grant was funded by the Maine Tourism Partnership Program (MTPP) through the Department of Economic and Community Development, Office of Tourism. Snowmobiling pumps thousands of dollars into the area creating a significant impact on the economy during the winter. The previous year through the assistance of an MTPP grant, ACT conducted a promotional campaign in the county. 

Area children at Camp Sebago — The Salvation Army’s Presque Isle Service Unit sent eight children from the area to the Army’s Camp Sebago in Standish during the summer. The youngsters were selected by members of the local service unit, volunteers in the area who also serve need families throughout the year. The Army thanked those who supported the mail appeal which enabled local kids to enjoy a week’s stay at camp. During the summer, over 1,400 children from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont attend the camp.