Houlton area From our Files – Week of March 15, 2023

1 year ago

75 Years Ago — March 11, 1948

Elks Women Bowlers In Win Over Caribou Six – In a five-string match here Saturday afternoon between the women howlers of the Houlton Lodge of Elks and a team from Caribou known as the Elite Six, the hostesses turned back the visitors by a margin of 131 pins, the outcome being determined not on points but on total pinfall.

Feature performances of the afternoon was the 540 pin total rolled by Bouchard of Caribou. Mrs. Leigh Cleveland was high for the Elks with 524. Following the match the visiting bowlers were entertained at a supper.

Work Starts Immediately On Rebuilding of Jackins Block After $150,000 Fire – The coals had hardly cooled in the Paul Jackins building on Kendall street, housing the A & P Supermarket, nine families and two offices, which was badly damaged by fire Sunday night, when work was started to rebuild the structure and restore it to its original condition. Mr. Jackins, who estimated the total loss in the neighborhood of $150,000, moved promptly Monday morning and announced later in the day the reconstruction would be completed in the shortest possible time. 

50 Years Ago — March 14, 1973

Houlton High Earns Spot In One-Act Play Finals – The cast and crew of the one act play “interview”, directed by Virginia Osgood will represent Houlton High School in the State one- act play contest scheduled for March 23 and 24 at Hauck Auditorium on the University of Maine Campus. Regional one-act play contests were held Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings for Souther, Central and Northern Aroostook County, respectively. From the 11 high schools entered in the contest, two, Presque Isle and Houlton, were selected to represent. The judges also chose a best actor and best actress. Fritz Robertson, a Houlton High senior, received the honor of being named the best actor. 

Sally Albert Is Crowned May Mt. SnowBall Queen – The annual dance sponsored by the May Mt. Ski area was held Saturday evening at the Island Falls gymnasium which was decorated with shamrocks and snowflakes. Music was Bobby Simpson’s orchestra from Millinocket. The highlight of the evening was the crowning of the SnowBall Queen, Sally Alber, a senior from Katahdin High School, First runner-up was Vicky Curry, sophomore from Island Falls; second runner-up was Carol Heath, junior from Katahdin High, and third runner-up was Kim Dunphy, senior from Island Falls High School. 

25 Years Ago — March 25, 1998

Oakfield approves budget – Oakfield residents approved a $258,608 municipal budget for 1998 at their annual town meeting held Monday night. Town Manager Cindy Roy said the budget was approved as presented with very little discussion. Roy said the county tax has been set at $23,632, which is down from last year by $626. The education budget has been estimated at $250,000, which is up slightly from last year. Roy said the education budget won’t be known until late June or the first of July.

Lodge of Elks announces winners of essay contest – The Houlton Lodge of Elks holds an annual essay contest entitled “The American Flag – Why I love and respect it,” for all interested area sixth grade students. The top male and female contest winners are determined by the content  of the essays, and they also receive $50 from the Houlton Lodge of Elks, as well as a personal American Flag. The top essays are submitted to be judged at the state level with a winner yet to be determined. The sixth-grade girl’s winner was Heidi Sattler of the Greater Houlton Christian Academy, and the sixth-grade boy’s winner was Jacob Callnan of Houlton Southside school.