Caribou area From our Files – Week of October 25, 2023

6 months ago

115 Years Ago – Oct. 22, 1908

A new store brings music to our ears — Scates & Co. expect soon to open a music store in the store formerly occupied by the Singer Sewing Machine Company’s office, and will sell music and musical instruments.

 Attracting attention —  A large oil painting in the window of Scates & Co.’s drug store is attracting considerable attention and elicits many favorable comments. The picture was painted by Mrs. O. Hastings of this town and plainly shows that she possesses a real artist talent. This picture was exhibited at the Presque Isle fair in September and captured first prize.

100 Years Ago – Oct. 25, 1923

Smart potato pickers — Leo Nadeau of Van Buren, who has been picking all this fall for Eddie Toner, made a record of 135 barrels in one day and picked 675 barrels in six consecutive days, setting and helping load all barrels on his section. The same day on which Nadeau picked 135, George Bernard, son of Alexander Bernard of this town, picked 106 barrels, which is very good for a young fellow.

Trip from Michigan to Caribou — Rev. F. Cousins and wife and two sons arrived in Caribou Saturday morning from Michigan, coming all the way by auto. Mr. Cousins is the new rector of the Caribou Episcopal church.

75 Years Ago – Oct. 21, 1948

Republican adds news coverage of Van Buren — Starting with this issue the Aroostook Republican will carry news off Van Buren under a section headed ‘St. John Valley News.’ Eventually, other towns in the valley will receive similar coverage. Mrs. Bernard E. Dionne is the Aroostook Republican’s correspondent for Van Buren.

Van Buren’s new $60,000 auditorium nears completion — The American Legion Auditorium and War Memorial, now being built in the town at an approximate cost of $60,000, is fast nearing completion, with a large gym and dance room already in order and only a kitchen and lounge remaining under construction, said Donald LaPointe, chairman of the building committee.

Stockholm couple celebrate 25th anniversary — Relatives and friends called on Mr. and Mrs. Fritz Anderson. The occasion being their 25th wedding anniversary.  Mr. and Mrs. Anderson received a combination electric waffle iron and toaster, silver pitcher, silver candle holders and also money.

25 Years Ago – Oct. 28, 1998

Sitel marks a successful year at Loring — In the year since the Sitel Corp. announced their decision to create a call center at the Loring Commerce Center, they have become one of the company’s leading centers. The 165 employees have moved up to third in production of 13 Sitel sites that offer insurance direct services, said Margie Elsberry, facility manager. The facility was recently given permission to hire an additional 125 people and will conduct weekly training of 15 to 20 people until they are hired, said Elsberry.Foster settles in at a new job — After a month on the job, Dan K. Foster is enjoying his time in the town office. Foster was hired as Fort Fairfield’s town manager at a Sept. meeting of the town council. Since then, he said he has been quite busy, with lots of issues to deal with and things to learn about municipal government. Foster replaced Eugene Conlogue who resigned in June.