Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of October 4, 2023

Compiled by Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
10 months ago

100 Years Ago – Oct. 4, 1923

The best horse won — All hail to John R. Braden, the king of Aroostook pacers and the ‘Prince of Wales’ of the world. This grand pacer negotiated a mile at Gorham on Saturday in the sweet time of 2.04 3-4 and did the same at Bangor Wednesday. Possibly Single G. may have been the King of pacers in the world but John R’s batting average was so close that it would be about .999. To the two John’s, horse and driver, congratulations to their wins. P. S. Jackson Grattan, our own pride and joy, also ran at Gorham and was among those present at Bangor. 

75 Years Ago – Sept. 30, 1948

Doctors presented a gift to the hospital — A MacEachern obstetrical table was presented to the Presque General hospital as a gift from the hospital’s medical staff. The presentation was made by Dr. Gerald H. Donahue, president of the medical staff, and Wilmot Hall, president of the board of trustees, accepted the gift on behalf of the hospital. The new obstetrical table filled a long-felt need, hospital officials said. One of the latest model pedestal-base tables, it had outstanding mechanical and clinical advantages.

New look — Members of the Presque Isle Police Department appeared, Wednesday afternoon, in their new uniforms, marking the first time the local police force had departed from the traditional navy blue uniform. The new uniforms were of a light gray-blue, somewhat similar in color to the familiar Maine State Police uniform, with a wide stripe of dark blue down the trousers seams, and were almost identical in color and style to the uniforms adopted by the Augusta police department.

50 Years Ago – Oct. 3, 1973

Winslow elected Eureka master — Alden Winslow was elected master of Eureka Grange 113 of Mapleton during the annual meeting Sept. 25 at the Mapleton Community Hall. Everett Archer was selected as overseer with Waneeta Tompkins as lecturer.Beatrice Hoffses steward and Johnnye Hoffses assistant steward. Other offices filled included: chaplain, Eva Wood; treasurer, Howard Brown; secretary, Hazel Giggey; gatekeeper, John Hoffses; Ceres, Ethel Winslow; Pomona, Lizzie Pendexter; Flora, Beulah Turner; and assistant lady steward, Vera Archer.

Lester given added duties — Arthur R. Gould Memorial Hospital announced the appointment of Robert Lester to the position of assistant to the administrator in addition to his duties as hospital pharmacist. While he had been engaged in special projects, his new activity included a responsibility for the departments of physical therapy, electrocardiography and social services; as well as attending the monthly meetings of the medical staff.

25 Years Ago – Oct. 7, 1998

Collins recognized for  the support of consumers — U.S. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, and U.S. Rep. Tony P. Hall, D-Ohio, were recognized for advancing the consumer interest in food and agriculture policy Sept. 24 at the 16th annual Golden Carrot Awards Reception of Public Voice for Food and Health Policy. Public Voice is a national research and advocacy organization focusing on food and agriculture issues from a consumer perspective. Each September, Public Voice recognizes two legislators, one Republican and one Democrat, with Golden Carrot Awards for pro-consumer work on food and agriculture policy. 1998 honorees included a freshman senator with an interest in food safety and a veteran House member who was an outspoken advocate for combating hunger. Collins, a moderate Republican, received national attention in her first term for investigating the safety of imported foods.

Durost elected president of the national association — Richard Durost, the superintendent of the Easton School Department, was a year away from becoming the president of an influential national association. In the summer of 1998, Durost was elected as president-elect of the National Federation of State High School Association for the current school year. He became the 40th president of the organization during the 1999-2000 school year.