75 Years Ago – Sept. 4, 1947
New post with Maine Potato Growers — Harold E. Bryant, General Manager of Maine Potato Growers Inc., announced that Henry Lowe of Brooks, Maine, who was formerly employed by Maine Potato Growers, as manager of the Seed Department, had been employed to take charge of building and maintaining a distribution set-up for farm supplies and farm machinery.
New press — The third major improvement in the shop equipment of the Star-Herald Publishing Co. within the previous year was being made. Representatives of the A.F. Baker Machine Co. of Boston had been at work installing a Babcock Optimus newspaper press which helped increase the output of the Star-Herald. Other important additions to equipment in the Star-Herald plant since the previous fall had been the installation of complete Addressograph and Graphotype equipment for addressing papers for mailing, and a new Blue Streak Model 31 Linotype, in addition to two job presses and modern typefaces for headlines, advertisements and job work.
Crandall Coal Company sold — Hadley P. Grant of this city purchased the Crandall Coal Co. Mr. Grant was the former operator of a tailoring and dry cleaning establishment here and well known local business man. His plan was to operate the fuel business under the name of the Grant Coal Company.
50 Years Ago – Sept. 6, 1972
Currie was awarded a check — United Rubber Workers (URW) presented Herschel Currie of Presque Isle with a check for $2,700 in back wages from Converse Rubber. The wages were awarded by the National Labor Relations Board in an April decision. Currie was discharged by Converse Sept. 2, 1971, for allegedly engaging in union activity, and had been reinstated in his former job.
Hunter-jumper show a first for Pony Club — The Presque Isle Pony Club attempted something new for this area, a specialized hunter-jumper horse show. This event was held Sunday, August 20, at the Pine and Spurs Club show ring on the Maple Grove Road in Fort Fairfield. Members began work on the outside hunt course the previous June and the last jumps were finished several days before the show. Miss Ann Ticehurst of Tallahassee, Florida, was the judge. Several times during the show, Miss Ticehurst explained to the exhibitors what was expected of the rider and his horse in a particular class. By the end of the day, improvement was seen in many of the performances of both horse and rider. Besides many local horses, riders and horses came from as far south as Abbott Village. The Presque Isle Pony Club was especially pleased to present a new challenge trophy in 1971 of its director and founder, Audrey B. Thibodeau.
25 Years Ago – Sept. 3, 1997
Flannery named MPB assistant executive — The Maine Potato Board announced the hiring of Donald E. Flannery from Fort Fairfield, as assistant executive director. He filled a position vacated when Michael Corey was named executive director in March. Flannery’s duties included marketing, grower relations, and business expansion; and doing market and grower/dealer visits promoting Maine potatoes, working with John Logan, Director of Advertising and Quality Control, in directing the marketing program for the Maine potato industry.
Washington trip — The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Upward Bound Bridge Class visited Washington, D.C., and had a quick visit with U.S. Sen. Susan Collins. Participating in the trip were Christie Burnett, Katy Bustard, Stewart Eaton, Tara King, Lisa Lenentine, Heidi McDonald, Kelly Moffatt, and staff members Holly Sands and Kisti Pierce.
Grand marshal — Merle Dickinson was 1997’s grand marshal for the annual Washburn August Festival. He appeared in the parade while riding in the comfort of a vehicle.
4-H winner — Amanda Umphrey of Washburn, daughter of Mike and Lynn Umphtrey, placed fourth in the 4-H Baby Beef Competition during the Northern Maine Fair. “Quozomoto,” a Charlais, weighed in at 1,015 pounds ans sold for $1,674.75 to McCain Fertilizer.
