Houlton area From our Files – Week of May 11, 2020

4 years ago

100 Years Ago – May 19, 1920

     Leaving for convention Mrs. Cora Putnam will leave Wednesday for Boston where she will attend the Red Cross convention. On her return she will stop at Portland where she is a delegate to the Grand Chapter O.E.S., which convenes next week.

     Gone for several months Miss Eva McGinly left Monday night for Boston to take a special course in violin teaching and will be gone several months.

75 Years Ago – May 17, 1945

     First in Maine The town of Limerick has again demonstrated its patriotism by being what is believed to be the first town in Maine to go over the top in the Seventh War Loan campaign.  With arrangements made in advance, Chairman Clarence Willette was able to announce the sale of more than $6,300 of war bonds right after midnight Monday morning. Mr. Willette, assisted by his committee of Herman Estabrooke and Loraine Anderson, clearly led the field in Aroostook County, according to area Chairman Lester Baker. 

     Resigns from hotel — Alberic Mercier, who has been connected with The Northland Hotel here for 13 of the 15 years it’s been in operation, most of that time as active manager, last week severed his connection with the institution. Prior to his association with the Northland, Mr. Mercier was for many years co-owner of a popular restaurant here and also was manager of the Snell House prior to its purchase by the former Aroostook Hotels, Inc. Mr. Mercier has no immediate announcement to make of his plans for the future.

50 Years Ago – May 20, 1970

     Red Carpet awards — Mrs. Richard Lycette, R.N., and Mrs. Ralph Hall, Dietary Department, were presented with certificates last week in conjunction with the National Hospital Week observance at Madigan Memorial Hospital. These two employees of the hospital were chosen for giving special “Red Carpet” treatment to unidentified persons entering the hospital and approaching employees in several departments of the hospital. Making the presentation was Sister Mary Corinne, hospital administrator, and Sister Mary Quinn, chairman of the National Hospital Week observance.

     Direct distance dialing — Alterations are now being made to the telephone central office building at 35 Court St., Houlton, to provide space for Direct Distance Dialing equipment.  Direct Distance Dialing, (DDD) will be introduced to the Houlton area in December. The total cost of the alterations and the equipment will be about $245,000. Stuart W. MacKinnon, local New England Telephone manager, said, ‘DDD will mean that Houlton customers will be able to dial directly to any of more than 100 million telephones in the continental United States, Canada and the Virgin Islands.

25 Years Ago – May 17, 1995

    Contest winners Six Houlton High students recently placed in the regional Business Education Association of Maine contest, earning the right to advance to the state competition at Husson College. Participating in the chance to earn scholarships up to $2,500 are: Angela Taylor, who finished third in office procedures; Kezia Bowie, second in advance accounting; Elizabeth Fitzpatrick, second in business math; Tara Kelly, an alternate in the keyboarding I category; Sarah Toman, who placed first in keyboarding II; and Mellissa Guay, an alternate in business math.

    Honored — Madigan Estates recognized its nurses during National Nursing Home Week. Brenda Brown-Habrle honored Jan Nickerson, who received the new title of assistant director of nursing. Carol Swallow, director of nursing, was also on hand.