Caribou area From our Files – Week of February 22, 2023

1 year ago

115 Years Ago – Feb. 20, 1908

Returned from Boston — H. H. Whitney, who has recently returned from Boston where he graduated from the Barnes’ Embalming School, has had the room on the west of his furniture store fitted for a casket room and has stocked it up with a good line of caskets.

Accepted a position — Percy Runnells has accepted a position on the road with Bower & Bartlett of Boston. He will work in Aroostook county  for a while and will then go to New York state.

100 Years Ago – Feb. 22, 1923

Employed as a traveling salesman — S. H. Sharpe, formerly a student at the Caribou high school some ten years ago, is now employed as a traveling salesman for The Procter & Gamble Distributing Co.

Vacation time — ‘Jack’ McArthur, one of C. P. Hussey’s popular clerks, returned Monday from California where he has been spending a couple of months with his daughter. He was accompanied by his sister, who is one of Biddeford’s popular and successful teachers. In fact, her services are so highly appreciated that the school board of that town granted her a two months’ vacation, with pay, in consideration of her good work.

75 Years Ago – Feb. 19, 1948

Local boy wins degree at U. of M. exercises — Richard Pratt, son of Dr. and Mrs. B. L. Pratt of Caribou, received his B.A. degree from the College of Arts and Sciences at the midyear Graduation Exercises of the University of Maine at Orono.

New fire box in Vaughan House — A new fire alarm box was installed this week in the lobby of the Vaughan House. The new box is on the left-hand side of the entrance, leaving the building and is of the ‘handle pull’ variety. Painted a bright red with the exception of the white pull handles. It is plainly visible to anyone in the lobby.

Honored with a birthday party on 84th birthday — Mr. and Mrs. Rasemusen entertained  at their home last Wednesday in honor of Mrs. Rasemusen’s mothers birthday. Mrs. Aldina Hitchcock who celebrated her 84th birthday. Present were her three sons and their families. Refreshments of sandwiches, tea and coffee were served, and there were also three birthday cakes.

25 Years Ago – Feb. 25, 1998

Cameras donated to police — Two Caribou police cruisers are now equipped with video cameras. The cameras will provide visual and audio documentation of every police encounter. Members of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary attended a presentation, with Caribou Police Chief Art Gorney, of video camera equipment they donated to the Caribou Police Department Wednesday. The equipment is one of the most useful things the department has received during his 30 years there, said Gorney.

‘Supermen drivers’ are special to RSVP — The Retired Senior Volunteer Program brings comfort to volunteers and clients. Medical transport drivers or ‘Superman drivers,’ as they are referred to by the people of Aroostook. RSVP,  are dedicated people who give their time and energy to serve and assist mostly elderly people to doctor appointments, the pharmacy or grocery shopping. Richard Ouillette has been driving clients for two years. Bernard King has been a driver for about five years. There are knitters who knit all year long, for fund-raising, for children at the area Headstart programs. These people love to do little things that benefit others.