75 Years Ago – September 6, 1949
Patten Labor Day Events Draws Crowd — Galen Libby of Chester won first prize in the horse pull and was awarded a $75 cash prize at the all-day Labor Day celebration in Patten before an estimated crowd of 3,000. The horse pull contest was based on double of the team’s weight. His pull was 178 feet five inches. Second was won by Wes Kinney of Houlton with a pull of 171 feet six inches and third by John Libby, also of Chester, with a pull of 160 feet three inches. Classed as the biggest Patten Labor Day celebration ever, it got underway at 9:30 a.m. with a one-half mile parade. The VFW was awarded $10 for the best float. Decorated in yellow and white, it carried Miss Katahdin Valley.
26,000 Youngsters Attend First Supervised Playground Events — The Director of Recreation and Parks, Harold Bubar, states that the department has completed the finest summer recreation program since its beginning approximately four years ago. The big innovation in the summer program this year was the opening of a full time supervised playground at Community Park, with another playground at Bridge St. opening late in the summer. The total attendance for the summer at all supervised activities was 26,076 compared to 17,497 of the previous summer. The director further states that the success of any recreation program depends entirely upon the staff leaders who are on a working level with the young people.
50 Years Ago – September 25, 1974
Ricker Awarded $650 Grant — The Maine Arts and Humanities Commission has announced the approval of 59 grants, totalling $136,350 to art projects throughout the state of Maine. Included is a $650 grant to Ricker College, for a Cooperative Cultural series.
Jane Anderson Excels In Riding Competition At Eastern States — Jayne Anderson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bud Anderson of Houlton, recently was awarded the largest number of blue ribbons in the Junior hunt seat division, while participating on the Maine 4-H riding team at the Eastern States Exposition at West Springfield, Mass. Jayne was riding her own horse “Andy Jack,” a six-year-old half Arabian and half quarter horse in the Hunt Seat Junior Division which included boys and girls 12 years through 15. She competed in a class of 42.
25 Years Ago – September 29, 1999
Citizens Support Meduxnekeag River Project — Beautifying the banks of the Meduxnekeag River in Houlton was the topic of a public meeting last Wednesday night. About 15 residents braved the rain to tell town officials and landscape architect Samuel Coplon of Coplon Associates how they would like to see the riverfront project develop. Coplon said community members’ input was critical in the planning process.
Police Department’s Radio Equipment To Be Upgraded — The Houlton Police Department will have a new and improved radio dispatch center by the end of the year. At the Sept. 13 Houlton Town Council meeting, councilors accepted Presque Isle’s Aroostook Communications’ bid of $14,355 for the department’s new radio equipment dispatch console. Houlton Police Chief Darrell Malone said the money will be used to upgrade current technology. “This will upgrade the present equipment that we have which is now wearing out. It’s been in place since 1985 and its life-use is gone,” said Malone.
