Houlton area From our Files – Week of August 2, 2021

Beth Lacombe, Special to The County
3 years ago

100 Years Ago – Aug. 4, 1921

Federal building under repair Contractor C.E. Savage has been at work doing extensive interior repairs on the Federal Building. The interior is also being painted, papered and the window grills will be changed out also.

New sidewalk — The new concrete sidewalk around the courthouse was finished by contractor A. L. Cotton Thursday night. It shows that Mr. Cotton is an expert in his line of work as the job shows and the record time he completed the job in.

75 Years Ago – July 31, 1946

Former Houlton boy is designer of new bridge — Houlton residents will be interested to know that the new bridge that will be erected over the Meduxnekeag River on Highland Avenue is being designed by a former Houlton boy, Arnold Porter. 

Free movie to give tips on bean picking — The Bird’s Eye Snider Division of General Foods Corporation of Houlton is sponsoring a free movie with free ice cream tonight at Houlton High School. One reel of this movie has instructions on bean picking and the remainder of the movie contains comedy. At this event recruiters were present to look for children between 10-18 to help harvest the beans. 

50 Years Ago – Aug. 4, 1971

Fishing success — The restocking program at Cary Lake in Littleton appears to be proceeding well. Ollie Doyle of Houlton recently pulled a 6-pound rainbow trout from the lake.

Expanded store Day’s Jewelers and Appliance Store on Main Street has enlarged its facilities for a second time in recent months. The newest addition is a one-story building which will house a furniture storeroom. The expansion encompasses the former Newberry Store and the Old Fisherman’s Store, and more exterior work is planned before the grand reopening. 

25 Years Ago – July 31, 1996

Best of luck On Sunday evening, the Northern Maine Soap Box Derby Committee held a supper so derby participants and community members could wish Brandon Carmichael the best of luck as he heads to Akron, Ohio, for the 1996 All American Soap Box Derby.

Unsinkable project Peter Blood, tech algebra teacher at Houlton High School, recently enjoyed the “maiden voyage” of his student-built canoe. He entered the canoe in the Potato Blossom Canoe Race held during the annual festival in Fort Fairfield. According to Blood, students Daniel Duprey and Joe King started a small group of students who devoted six months to construct the canoe out of cedar strips. It cost about $250 for the materials to build the canoe and Blood deemed it most river worthy.