Caribou area From our Files – Week of September 27, 2023

7 months ago

115 Years Ago – Sept. 24, 1908

Retiring from the milk business  — H. S. Hardison, who has conducted a milk route in Caribou for the past 21 years (the last year, however, the business having been carried on by his son, Clifford) has decided to retire and will discontinue serving customers on the first of the coming month.  Mr. Hardison has a fine herd of cows and is well taken care of; his stable is a model of neatness with everything arranged on perfectly sanitary plans, with the most modern conveniences. There is universal regret expressed by Mr. Hardison’s many customers at his decision to go out of the milk business.

A partnership is formed — G. W. Thompson and J. A. Hale, blacksmiths, have formed a partnership and will have their shop in the Thompson blacksmith shop on Water Street. They will make a specialty of horse shoeing, and will have a crew of five men at work so that customers are assured of prompt attention. J. A. Hale made a trip to Boston last week, where he secured the services of one of the most skilful horseshoers in that city, Jas. McIlvoy, who is now with the new firm.

100 Years Ago – Sept. 27, 1923

Changing the mail delivery system — The city delivery of mail will soon be supplemented by the placing of boxes in different parts of the village for the depositing of out-going mail. The officials at Washington have promised ten boxes for that purpose. However, through the efforts of Senator Hale, it is very probable that this number will be increased to 20.

Visiting on their way home — Mrs. C. A. Piltz and daughter, Winnifred of Van Buren, accompanied by her son and wife, Chas. Piltz Jr. of New York, were guests of Mr. and Mrs. A. M. Sylvester Thursday of last week. Mr. Piltz  has a fine position in New York as inspector of locomotives. They left Tuesday on their return trip, and will stop off in Portland to visit his brother, Clifford, who is sales manager of the Portland Cadillac Motor Co.

75 Years Ago – Sept. 23, 1948

Cary Block gets a new face — Face lifting construction was started this week on three store fronts of the Cary estate on Sweden Street. Housed in the block is the First National Store, C. P. Hussey Company and Bell’s Luncheonette. The complete front of the two story, 80 foot block will be removed and replaced in a more modern fashion. On the ground floor new plate glass windows will replace the old panes and each of the store fronts will be aligned. On a two and one half foot wooden base, almost eight feet of plate glass will extend along the walk. Above that will be a section of glass streamers. Each business entrance will set back from the front five feet and will be reached by a concrete incline. The stairway entrance to the top floor will be moved closer to the street and a swinging door installed. The building front will be covered with insulated brick siding. Trustees anticipate reconstruction of the rear of the block in the near future — probably this fall. Trustees of the Cary Estate are Harry B. Smith, Nathan Currier, and S. W. Collins. The S. W. Collins company is doing the reconstruction and the Soule Glass company will install the plate glass.

25 Years Ago – Sept. 30, 1998

Limestone to buy a school bus — Limestone School Department has been given the go-ahead to purchase a new school bus. Limestone School principal Dave Keaton said the bus will cost $50,638.16. Keaton said the money was received from a grant from the State Department of Education. Steve Johndro, who works on Limestone School buses, said the other three Limestone buses have more than 100,000 miles on them a piece. In a fleet of 12 buses, Johndro said these buses which haul 30 to 60 kids on any given run are showing signs of wear and tear.Caribou being considered as the site of Veterans cemetery — Aroostook County who wish to be buried in a local veterans cemetery  instead of traveling hundreds of miles to Augusta may soon get their wish. County veterans are rallying for a veterans cemetery and have undertaken a study with Maine Veterans Service Officer Maurice D. Lizotte to find out whether there’s enough interest in a veteran’s cemetery. Lizotte said Caribou is the best choice for a cemetery because it’s home to places like the Maine Veterans Home and the Caribou Vet Center.