Houlton area From our Files – Week of March 22, 2023

1 year ago

75 Years Ago – March 18, 1948

Peabody  Is Named Council Chairman – Arnold Peabody was named chairman of the Houlton Town Council at the organization meeting held following the town meeting Tuesday after the new members were sworn in. He replaces Albert G. Merritt, who declined to serve for another term. Miss Helen Mitchell was elected secretary, replacing George W. W. Shean, who was not a candidate for re-election.

Remember When – Butter was 35 cents a pound, large eggs were 65 cents a dozen, two lb bag of carrots .21 cents, five lb bag of gold medal flour .49 cents. 

50 Years ago – March 21, 1973

Two Achieve 4.0 Grade At UMPG – Two students from Southern Aroostook were among the 179 who achieved a 4.0 (straight A) academic rank for the fall semester at the University of Maine at Portland-Gorham. Included were Annette M. Michaud of Island Falls, and Maitland A. Stevens of Sherman Mills. 

Two HS Seniors Gain Experience in FHA Office – Miss Deborah Carson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kendall Carson of Houlton, and Miss Gloria Shaw, daughter of Mr and Mrs. Harley Shaw of Littleton, are working at the Farmers Homes Administration office under the work Experience program at Houlton High School. This program is set up for seniors in the Business Course. The girls work four hours a day, two days a week, for four weeks. This gives them a chance to work in an office and observe how a place of business is operated. They receive no wages for their work but they do gain valuable office experience by actually participating in office procedure.

25 Years Ago – April 1, 1998

Murray receives MPA Principal’s Award – Principal Steve Fitzpatrick has announced that Darren Murray, son of Ronald and Mary Murray of East Hodgdon, and a senior at Hodgdon High School, has been selected to receive the 1998 Principal’s Award. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement and citizenship. 

Cushman paddles to first place – For the third time in the last four years, Kenduskeag’s Kenny Cushman, formerly of Hodgdon, has finished the six-mile St. George River Race first overall. Cushman paddled the lower-water race in a time of 37 minutes, 19 seconds, shaving 21 seconds off last year’s time. With a low-water condition, organizers of the event thought it may hinder the racing field, but in the 20th running of this annual river race, with temperatures hovering around 70, 166 racers in 96 canoes and kayaks (41 off the 1992 record) lined the river banks of the St. George. Finishing second to Cushman in the men’s kayak division for the second straight year was fellow Kenduskeag racer, Jeff Sands, with a time of 40:31.