Caribou area From our Files – Week of June 28, 2023

11 months ago

115 Years Ago – June 25, 1908

Busy summer for Caribou — There seems to be unusual activity in Caribou this summer along certain lines, and labor is finding ready employment. Among the projects now underway is the building of the new high school building, the rallying of Tornquist Brothers grocery store to the street grade, the building of David Caughey’s new residence on School street.

In addition it is proposed to raise to the street grade several more stores located on Sweden street, and the filling in of this street, which is now part of the state road, and covering it with crushed rock.

Work coming along on the high school — The cellar for the new High School building has been excavated, and workmen are now busy making the concrete wall. The water and sewer connections have been made through Glenn street connecting with the mains on Main Street.

100 Years Ago – June 28, 1923

Here in town for a visit — Mr. and Mrs. S. L. White of Houlton spent a few days in town this week visiting relatives and friends. They were formerly residents of this town, and Caribou people are always glad to see them. Mr. and Mrs. White have recently returned from a several months’ sojourn to the Pacific Coast, making the trip by automobile and traveling a distance of 17,000 miles. As regards tire trouble they were very fortunate, having but four punctures on the whole trip.

100% in spelling — The following pupils, grade IV got 100 percent in spelling for the week: Marguerite Bowden, Phyllis Trites, Eleanor Powers, Ethel McCarthy, Gertrude Raymond, Rita Chalout, Marjory Poland, Freda Monteith, Muriel Rouse, Pearl Sarah, Floris Gee, Oida Dionne, Roland Mockler, Jack Bishop, Phillip Haney, Earl Philbrick, George Corey, Dan McDougall, Charles Harmon and Schuyler Howe.

75 Years Ago – June 24, 1948

Lions donate $500 to field — A second $500 donation for the development of the new Caribou athletic field was voted by the Lions Club members Wednesday during their regular weekly meeting at the Vaughan House. Fortunately, the donation was in no way influenced by Stuart Noyes, a magician from Limestone, who entertained the Club. His Sleight-of-hand conversion of five one-dollar bills into eight was confusing but not acceptable by the Lions club. Connie Espling, the Lions Club candidate for the Caribou Potato Blossom Queen, was a special guest at the meeting.

Nate Currier retires from business life — Nathan A. Currier, who two weeks ago sold the Pattee Company to Robert Crane of Skowhegan, has announced his retirement from business after completing more than 50 years of mercantile activity in Caribou.  Currier began his career here when he was 12 years old. At that time, he started working for the Tornquist and Riley grocery store, which was then located on the site of the B. O. Noyes Jewelry store. After working at Riley’s Market for 11 years, Currier left to become manager of the Caribou Grange store. One year later, he accepted a position with the Pattee company and was thus embarked upon the dry goods business with which he became so familiar. 

25 Years Ago – July 1, 1998

Donation — The Maine Vietnam Veterans Foundation recently donated  a check to the Maine Veterans Home for the landscaping project. Present for the presentation was Rick Tauer, Phil Howard, Resident Activity Assistant Joan Tardiff and John Wallace.

Office to add staffing — Daily decisions about clothing, travel and work are dependent on an accurate weather forecast. As early as this fall people of northern Maine will be able to count on weather predictions made from Caribou as the Caribou Weather Station begins to upgrade the facility. The facility has been given the go ahead to begin the upgrade. Meteorologist-in-charge Tom McClelland at the Caribou office said they will start hiring additional personnel and adding equipment this fall. Currently, the weather station is in a building leased from the city. Keeping the weather station open has been an important goal of city officials.The 15 jobs that will be added come with a payroll of about $1 million and most of the personnel will be moving to the area.