Caribou area From our Files – Week of July 5, 2023

11 months ago

115 Years Ago – July 2, 1908

Building begins on a new barn — C. H. Merrill, proprietor of the Vaughan House, has commenced the building of a new barn, replacing the one which was burned a few weeks ago. The new building, which will be set back farther on the lot, and will have a basement 32 x 40 feet, will be 60 x 80 feet. 

New sidewalk put in — A new concrete walk was laid in front of the post office during the past week. This walk, which was made by the Caribou Hydraulic Stone Company, has already received many compliments as being a substantial, permanent one.

Buildings being raised — Workmen are now busy raising the building of W. C. Spaulding and H. D. Collins on Sweden street on a level with the new street grade. The Cary block is also being raised, and it is expecting the Jones building occupied by F. L. Oak will also be raised.

100 Years Ago – July 5, 1923

Accepts a new position — Miss Marion Currier of Fort Fairfield has accepted a position  as stenographer with the Maine Potato Growers’ Exchange, being secretary to G. Herbert Foss, president of that organization. Miss Currier graduated two weeks ago from Nasson Institute.

Resigned position to go to take a course — Miss Gladys Maher, who has been the efficient stenographer and typewriter in the office of A. B. Donworth, Esq., for the past two years, resigned her position last week and left on Monday of this week to attend the Maine School of Commerce for a two year course. She will be accompanied by Miss Beatrice Connors, who has been the competent stenographer in the law office of W. P. Hamilton, Esq,. for some time and who will also enter the Maine School of Commerce.

75 Years Ago – July 1, 1948

Parkin’s Grocery purchased by Johnston — Eugene Johnston has purchased the Ash Parkin Grocery store on Sweden Street. Johnston, since 1933, has been a salesman and clerk with the C. P. Hussey Confectionery Company. WIth the purchase of the store he also acquired the home and will move sometime during July. He is married and has three children, Gene, in his congenial way, has made a host of friends during his 16 years with the Hussey Company who wish his success in his new undertaking. Ash Parkin, former owner, has been forced to sell due to ill health.

Increase in construction shows town’s progress — G. I. ‘s industries influencing boom. – Caribou is undergoing a building boom with at least 69 new buildings, some completed this year and others still under construction, having been placed within a mile radius of the town’s center. Houses comprise the main part of the construction work with a bank, store, funeral parlor, and two potato warehouses completing the total. Building sites have been localized, to an extent, to four sections of the town. These are Pioneer Acres, Caribou Heights, Valley View addition, and the Gagnon-Larkin addition. Tibbetts Terrace on the West side, is another potential building site. The construction boom here is not directly attributable to the Limestone airbase, according to Town Manager William B. Burns. 

25 Years Ago – July 8, 1998

Job Corps graduates first class at Loring — The first Loring Job Corps graduates got their diplomas Thursday in a ceremony marked by people who shared how the program has turned their lives around. ‘I have started to become- I have started to become me,’ said student speaker Teresa Baker as she addressed the 40 other graduates beside her and other audience members. ‘We’ve all come here to become who we want to be, not who we were,’ she continued

Store to open — County Quick Stop on Route 1 is preparing to open this week. The store will be open from 4 a.m. to 11 p.,m. And gas will be available 24-hour a day with a card. The store will have a drive-through window and will employ two full-time and up to eight part-time employees.