75 Years Ago March 31, 1949
Elks Essay Contest Won By Miss Byrna Mae Porter – Miss Byrna Mae Porter, a Houlton High School junior, won the $25 first prize for the best essay written in the contest “Why Democracy Works” sponsored by the local Elks lodge, retiring Exalted Ruler S. Earl Pierson announced today. The award was made at the high school yesterday morning. Byrna’s essay has been entered in the statewide competition for cash prizes offered by the State Elks Association. The state winner will compete for national prizes of 2,000.
R.C.I. Squad Feted at Banquet – The Ricker Classical Institute Basketball Squad and their coach Hunter Cotton, were honored at a banquet Tuesday night in the Ricker dining hall by the faculty. The faculty men were cooks and waiters. Following the dinner principal Roy A. Bither expressed appreciation to Coach Cotton and his team.
50 Years Ago April 24, 1974
Hospital Will Break Ground Thursday – Groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Houlton Regional Hospital will be conducted this Thursday morning at 11:30, with actual construction of the facility expected to start immediately. The ceremony is to be brief, and informal, with several individuals to turn over symbolic spades full of earth. Taking part will be Justice James P. Archibald, chairman of the hospital’s board of trustees: Michael Slater, president of Stewart and Williams, the general contractors for the project; Jan Wilson, representing the architectural firm of Payette Associates.
Tracey Completes Basic At Ft. Dix – Private Michael E. Tracey, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. Beecher Tracey of Houlton, has completed eight weeks of basic training in the U.S. Army Training Center, Infantry, Ft. Dix, N.J.
25 Years Ago April 7, 1999
Anderson named Citizen of the Year – Community involvement is something that Houlton’s Robert Anderson has been doing for more than 30 years. And while he never sought recognition for his work, he was honored as the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the year for 1998. He was the seventh recipient of the honor. Established in 1992, the board of directors saw the need to recognize a chamber member who had greatly contributed to not only the chamber, but the community as a whole.
New apartments offer residents the best of both worlds – People in the southern Aroostook area who are generally independent, but may need a little assistance periodically, now have a new housing option. Madigan Assisted Living Apartments in Houlton will give residents the opportunity to live in either a studio, one or two- bedroom apartment and still maintain their independence. “We saw that a lot of people living in private residences in the area needed access to services, not only planned services, but intermittent ones,” said Brenda Brown Habrle, owner and administrator of Madigan Estates.
