Caribou area From our Files – Week of June 30, 2020

Beth Lacombe, Special to The County
4 years ago

115 Years Ago – July  5,  1905

New industry A new industry has been in operation the past two weeks at King’s Grove, Mars Hill, it being the distillation and manufacture of cedar oil from cedar boughs.

75 Years Ago – July  5, 1945

New Sweden — The 75th anniversary celebration of the founding of the town of New Sweden was held at Thomas Park, July 22.

Plant may bring million-dollar industry to Caribou — Expectations of a new million-dollar industry in Caribou, arose this week as H.H. Hatfield, president of The Maine Potato Products Company, revealed in a telephone call he had sold the plant to a New York company who will convert the factory for the manufacturing of industrial alcohol and starch from potatoes. This will be the first industrial alcohol plant in Maine.

50 Years Ago – July 8, 1970

Thar’s gold in that lake — Trafton Lake in Limestone may not be a gold mine, yet, but it nevertheless yielded $100 in cash Monday. It made one man happy — Jeff Durepo, who lost his wallet while water skiing there last Friday, and one youth happy — 13-year-old David Forrest, who went swimming and found it. David got a $20 reward.

Citation of merit A award from the Department of Maine VFW Auxiliary for publicity cooperation was accepted for the Aroostook Republican by Margaret Smith. The presentation was by Mrs. Verna Johnston, a past president of the local unit who has served as the Department of Maine’s public relations and publicity chairman. 

25 Years Ago – July 5, 1995

Family farm Natalie Bragg of Knott-2-Bragg Farm in Wade recently decided to open her farm to tours on a commercial basis. Bragg has been making her own butter and soap and has been tending barnyard animals in a traditional manner for 25 years at the site.

Year-end activity As a special treat to all students, Woodland Principal Phil Caverhill kept his promise and had a “Jello Bath” in front of the entire student body. The event was so special that it was covered on local television. Caverhill’s “Bath” was a reward for students meeting his challenge to read and report on a targeted number of books. The students were delighted with the spectacle.