Presque Isle area From our Files – Week of September 11, 2024

Compiled by Yvonne Tardie, Special to The County
4 weeks ago

99 Years Ago – September 10, 1925

Scammon was hired as business manager — Mr. Frank Scammon, who for many years represented the well known firm of C. M. Rice Co., Portland, as their traveling agent in Aroostook and other counties, was hired as the business manager of the concern in its head office. He was in town introducing to the customers of the firm, Mr. Joseph T. Sewell of Bath, who took the place of Mr. George H. Tower, Portland office. Mr. Sewell came into Aroostook with very excellent recommendations as regards his business efficiency and reliability. 

50 Years Ago – September 11, 1974

Members gathered to honor area girls staters — The American Legion Auxiliary Pattee-Page Unit No. 187 of Easton was host to a Girls State Governor’s Recognition Thursday, Aug. 29. Honored guests were Dirigo State Governor, Donna Dinsmore, and Girls State delegate Andrea Cronkite, both of Easton. Also honored was Miss Dirigo, Debbie Clark, of Gardner. Both Miss Dinsmore and Miss Clark attended Girls Nation in Washington, D.C. Debbie spoke briefly to the gathering. Unit President Barbara Barnes introduced Girls State alumni who had attended from Easton. They were Helen (Trask) King, Elizabeth (Todd) Shaw, Marylee (Cumming) Keep, Barbara (Corey) Barnes, Nancy (Doak) Libby, Kathy Mahaney, Carol Mahaney and Leonna Ladner.

Festivity drew a crowd of 4,000 — An estimated 4,000 persons turned out for a county Republican Party field day Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Northern Maine fairgrounds here. Among the activities of the old-fashioned style rally were bicycle races, horseshoe and rope-pulling contests, climbing of a greased pole and chasing of greased pigs. Several Republican candidates were on hand to have their pictures taken eating corn on the cob and to mingle with and speak to the crowd. Rep. Hayes Gahagan of Caribou, who was running for a Senate seat, served as chairman of the event with former U.S. Congressman Clifford McIntire of Perham. He described the “elephant day” as “a huge success” and suggested that similar rallies might be held in the future.

Tau Chapter held its first meeting at Frederick’s — Tau Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi in Presque Isle held its first meeting of the year on Sept. 5. All members gathered for dinner at Frederick’s Motor Inn in Caribou before the model meeting conducted by President Maureen Beaulier. Members gave brief resumes of the duties of their office or committee. A new procedure for choosing the “Girls of the Year” was accepted. Linda Loftus of Presque Isle was voted on and approved as Tau’s newest member.

25 Years Ago – September 15, 1999

Presque Isle native landed a spot with The Flying Karamazov Brothers — Roderick Kimball had the World Series to thank for winning him a spot with The Flying Karamazov Brothers. Kimball, a 1988 graduate of Presque Isle High School, was the newest member of the world-famous juggling troupe. He was home visiting his parents, Richard and Carolyn Kimball, before leaving for Dallas for his first official tour with The Flying Karamazov Brothers. For the uninitiated, The Flying Karamazov Brothers were “born” in 1974, when Paul Magid, Howard Patterson and Randy Nelson performed at the World’s Fair in Spokane, Washington. They took the group’s name from the classic Russian novel by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Since that time, the troupe had performed all over the world, finding ever new ways to combine juggling and music.

A $1,000 contribution — Neil Michaud  presented a $1,000 contribution to Hospice of Aroostook for the services given to his wife, Antoinette, in the last six months of her life. 

Scholarship winner — The annual Aroostook Musterds Running Club scholarship was presented on Sept. 6 by Carol McElwee to Shawn Berry, a 1999 graduate of Presque Isle High School. Berry, who also won the year’s County Challenge road racing series, was attending the University of Maine at Presque Isle and competing on the college’s cross country team.