Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of April 5, 2021

SUPPORTING FORCES — The men behind the boys of Troop 171, Presque Isle, standing, left to right, Carroll B. Smith, scoutmaster; Frank Harper, Neighborhood commissioner; Philip Estey, committeeman, and advancement chairman, North Star District; and Richard Cooney, member of the executive board, Katahdin Area Council, and past scoutmaster. Seated, Reverend James Word, pastor of Grant Memorial United Methodist Church, sponsor of Troop 171; Norris Braley, Central Aroostook District Supervisor of the Soil Conservation Service which is cooperating with local scouts on Project SOAR (Soar Our American Resources) and Myron Gartley, Troop 171 committee chairman, past scout and past scoutmaster. First organized in 1927 by Rev. Hayward Thomas, hundreds of Presque Isle boys have passed through the ranks of Boy Scout Troop 171, sponsored since its beginnings by the Grant Memorial United Methodist Church. Many of those associated with Troop 171 in its infancy are well-known Presque Isle citizens. An abbreviated roll call includes Irwin Porter, Clayton Smith, Dough Dingwall, Bill Haskell, Myron Gartley, Phil Estey, Malcolm Harris and Al Weingberg. There are many more. Two of these, Myron Gartley, who was a scout in this troop in 1930, and Phil Estey, who was a scout with this troop in the mid-thirties, were still active with the troop. Both were honored for their years of service at the father-son banquet held annually by Troop 1717. (File photo 1971/The Star-Herald)

75 Years Ago –   April 4, 1946

Harley Welch heads Agricultural Association — Harley Welch was elected president of the Maine Federation of Agricultural Associations at the annual meeting March 27, held in conjunction with Farm and Home Week.

Other officers named were Clarence Parker of Sebec Station, vice president; Maurice D. Jones of Orono, secretary-treasurer; E. Carroll Bean of Kenduskeag, Fred J. Nutter of Corinna, and James Pratt of Windham, executive committee. The organization named to the Agricultural Hall of Fame Frank S. Adams of Bowdoinham, who died about 20 years prior. Mr. Adams was a prominent jersey breeder and did much to promote the development of this stock in Maine.

Presque Isle man receives Bronze Star — First Lieutenant John A. McCargar, an employee of Maine Potato Growers Inc. at Presque Isle, was awarded the Bronze Star by direction of the president of the United States. The presentation was made by Major Edmund D. White, Army recruiting officer for Aroostook County.

50 Years Ago –  April 7, 1971

Burtchell named manager — The manager of Grossman’s lumber and building materials store on Industrial Street, Presque Isle, was Donald Burtchell, who joined the company three years prior as a salesman in the store and became the manager. The announcement was made by the public relations department for Grossman’s in Braintree, Massachusetts. Before assuming his position, Burtchell served as assistant manager under Shirley Tidd, who started managing Grossman’s store in Houlton. Burtchell had represented the Presque Isle store at  Grossman’s two-day managers meeting at the Colonial Hilton Hotel in Lynfield, Massachusetts. Ninety-seven managers of branches from Maine to Pennsylvania attended.

Star City ranked ninth in state taxable sales — The most recent figures available from the state Bureau of Taxation indicated that Presque Isle’s taxable sales for the month of October 1970 were $2,736,436, nearly $300,000 ahead of October 1969. According to Chamber of Commerce officials, January through October totals were $22,302,093; this figure represented an increase of $2,232,648 over a similar period a year prior. A review of returns from other communities in the Central Aroostook area indicated that Presque Isle recorded just under 60 percent of the taxable sales for the month of October and 49 percent for the year to date. Presque Isle ranked 9th in the state for October while September reports indicated 10th place.

25 Years Ago –  April 3, 1996

Wolves capture league — The Cunningham seventh-grade boys basketball team completed its season with a 13-3 overall record and a league mark of 5-1, good for first place in the Aroostook League. Leading the Wolves in scoring was Nick Casavant, who tallied 17.2 per contest. Josh Gale tossed in 7.5 per game. The Wolves averaged 52 points as a team while allowing an average of just 40 per contest. The season was highlighted by a 12-game winning streak and the fact that all 12 players on the team reached the scoring column.

Students, businesses recognized at FFA banquet — Several students, businesses and members of the community were recognized at a Future Farmers of America awards ceremony held at Presque Isle High School. Over 375 people attended the ceremony to see students, all enrolled in the agriscience and natural resources program of the Presque Isle Regional Technology Center, receive recognition. Students enrolled in the agriscience program automatically become FFA members. Among students recognized were 100 first-year FFA members, who all received pins for earning Greenhand Degrees, the first which can be achieved in the FFA. Thirty students received Chapter Degrees, the second that can be achieved, and 10 received State Degrees, the third level that can be earned.