Presque Isle area From our Files – October 25, 2021

2 years ago

75 Years Ago –   Oct. 24, 1946

Mapleton man elected to office — In its first postwar meeting, Gamma Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity at the University of Maine elected Clifford Kierstead of Mapleton to the office of president. Cliff was active in all sports while attending Mapleton High School and was prominent in Future Farmers’ affairs.

Before entering the Army, he completed nearly three years at the University in the College of Agriculture. While in the Army, he served in the Corps of Engineers in the European Theater. During his stay in Europe, he attended the University of Basel in Switzerland. Released from the Army the previous spring after three years service, he returned to the university as a senior.

Ritamae Bouchard won Green’s Limerick contest — Miss Ritamae J. Bouchard of Presque Isle was the winner out of several hundred contestants in the Doris Dodson Limerick Contest sponsored by H. B. Green & Sons, who carried a full line of the well known Junior Dresses creation. In more than 2,000 towns and cities, similar contests were sponsored by hundreds of merchants who reported that their local contests were smashing successes, producing far more entries than had been anticipated. The contest closed Oct. 10. Miss Bouchard won in the local with the following limerick: Said Ruth to Lucy and Grace, “A girl’s only charm’s not her face. It helps, I confess, but a D. Dodson dress would help put charm in its place.” In winning the contest, Miss Bouchard became eligible as one of 12 entrants in the national contest. She was presented with her choice of a Doris Dodson dress.

50 Years Ago –  Oct. 27, 1971

Wieden elected Gould Hospital president — The corporate board of A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital voted unanimous support of the recommendations of the Brines Survey, which makes recommendations for the expansions of the hospital. The annual meeting of the board was held on Oct. 21. A motion from the floor noted the overwhelming support which means the basic health needs of A.R. Gould Hospital. Dr. Clifford O.T. Wieden, president emeritus of the University of Maine at Presque Isle, was elected president of the board. Dr. Wieden retired from the uUniversity Oct. 1, 1969, but continued to be active in youth organizational work, education and health. He was a member of the state board of the YMCA and on special assignment to the Katahdin Area Council, Boy Scouts of America. He was also active in Rotary International. He concluded a two-year term as chairman of the governor’s task force to study library services in Maine.

Ashland student elected — Jennifer Theriault of Ashland Community High School was elected regional chairman of the Future Teachers of America of the National Education Association, representing the New England States and New York State. Jennifer was elected by the high school students who represented their states at the regional FTA-NEA conference held at the Holiday Inn in Boston. She served as chairman of all regional meetings in the area and represented her region on the FTA-NEA Executive Committee meetings and other conferences called at the National Education Association headquarters in Washington, D.C.

25 Years Ago –  Oct. 30, 1996

Wildcat girls, boys XC tops in EM — The Lady Wildcats tallied 103 points, with Mt. Blue placing second with 109, and Brewer third with 114. Ten other teams also took part. The Presque Isle boys, a team which had to battle Caribou throughout the season, was forced to do it again Saturday in the regional meet. The Wildcats, which had lost in a tie-breaker to the Vikes in the Aroostook League Championship eight days earlier, came back for the win in this one. Presque Isle scored 90 points, eight better than Caribou. Bangor was third with 113. A total of 15 teams participated in the meet.

Coin collectors — Students at Pine Street Elementary School in Presque Isle collected coins for two weeks and raised $218.33 for the Presque Isle High School Adopt-A-Chair Committee. Pine Street School faculty members also contributed $100. Presque Isle High School Assistant Principal and committee chairperson Jeff Bearden was at the school to accept the donation from the following students, Amber Griffin (kindergarten), Ryan Stickney (grade one), Jordyn Graves (grade two), Jeremiah Lowe (grade three), Jeremy Sirois (grade four), and Sara Easler (grade five).