120 Years Ago – Oct. 7, 1904
In town for a demonstration — C. J Cummings, inventor and manufacturer of the Cummings potato diggers, has been in town this week demonstrating his machine.
Ice business is steadily increasing — Henry A. Soucia has purchased the interests of his partner, E. J. Fenderson, in the ice business, and will hereafter conduct the business alone, the firm name , however, remaining the same. Fenderson & Soucia. Mr. Soucia will cut nearly double the number of tons of ice the coming winter over last season’s operations; and next season will enlarge his cart and put on two horses, thus being able to meet the demands of his steadily increasing business.
115 Years Ago – Oct. 6, 1909
Great openings despite the weather — The millinery openings of Mrs. K.B. McLellan and Miss Evelyn Fisher occurred last Saturday, and notwithstanding the unfavorable weather conditions they were quite largely attended. The displays of trimmed and ready-to-wear hats were very fine, eliciting many words of praise from those who attended. Surely, no one needs to go out of town for their millinery when Caribou has two such up-to-date and modern milliners.
Getting all set up — The rooms in the Holmes block, formerly occupied by the New England Telephone Company as the central, are being fitted up this week preparatory to their occupancy by F. J. Laffaty & Co. as a display room for their harnesses, robes, whips, etc., being connected with their main store under Garden’s grocery store.
100 Years Ago – Oct. 2, 1924
Making a move for business — Paul E. Wilcox of Woodstock has moved his family to Caribou, and will live in the house of his sister, Mrs. Ada Ward. Mr. Wilcox has rented the shop back of the Grange store and will open a blacksmith shop.
Now that’s a lot of potatoes — While driving from Presque Isle to Caribou Monday forenoon, a Presque Isle man counted 77 trucks and wagons hauling potatoes, the former predominating, there being 4 trucks and 36 wagons. He also counted 57 automobiles of many different makes, although not equal to Heinz’s ‘57 varieties.’
75 Years Ago – Oct. 6, 1949
Here’s one picker who really moves — Picking 210 barrels of potatoes in 10 hours is the record claimed by Walter Sirois, 33, of Caribou. Sirois accomplished the feat this past week while picking for Harry Richardson on his Limestone Road farm. He said no one emptied his baskets or placed his barrels, ‘but I had to move fast all the time.’ In seven days picking this year, Sirois said he picked a total of 1071 barrels or an average of 153 barrels per day. He claimed this as a record for himself. Sirois said his last best record was in 1941 while working for Ray Dow when in one day he picked 174 barrels and in 19 days he picked 2678 barrels or an average of 141 barrels per day.
Canadian planes visiting the airport here Saturday — Caribou Municipal airport this Saturday will be the scene of unusual air activity when at least 25 planes from New Brunswick land here in the first stop of a three-day air tour sponsored by the Moncton Flying club, John McKinnon, airport manager, reported. The planes from Canada and possibly others from Southern Aroostook are expected to land in the afternoon. Preparations at the airport are now underway for parking the air visitors as they fly in. Some 60 to 70 persons will be welcomed by McKinnon and several officials, including CAA directors from the Portland office. Among those expected to land here is the Canadian Dept. of Transport head. McKinnon said that arrangements are being completed for housing the flyers at the Vaughan House. They will be feted upon arrival and transported by a fleet of cars to the hotel. After checking in, the group will be entertained with a program being arranged by the airport manager and local V.F.W. The Moncton Flying club has been sponsoring such tours before, but this is the first time the ari troupe will make a visit to Caribou.
25 Years Ago – Oct. 6, 1999
Control Devices renamed — For employees at Control Devices on Route 89, day-to-day work will be the same, though a new sign greets them, and the company changed its marketing strategy since the March acquisition by First Technology. ‘It’s easier, and more recognizable to identify ourselves to automotive suppliers as First Technology,’ said Jeff Woods, vice president for Control Devices. As an automotive supplier, the larger the company is, the better you can market to companies like Ford, General Motors, or Mercedes, said Woods. The name changed from Mecon to Control Devices in February 1995. The company began in 1979 as Elcon. Plant manager Richard Griffin said that the daily operations of the plant haven’t changed with the name. Griffin says it’s business as usual.
Caribou man tops funds — Two years ago, Jim Curless of Caribou raised $8 for the American Diabetes Association walkathon. This year he topped $11,000. Curless stunned the volunteers at the check-in booth as he handed over a half inch thick pile of pledge sheets Saturday morning, filled with names from Fort Kent to Houlton. Most of the pledges were $1 or $5. ‘I’ve got a lot of friends with diabetes,’ he said. HIs wife’s aunt also has diabetes and his grandmother died from complications from the condition. The first year he participated in the walk, he couldn’t work up the nerve to ask people for money. ‘I was so embarrassed. I swore I wouldn’t go back if I couldn’t do better, ‘ he said. He prayed for guidance and courage, and the following year, he raised $3,700. This year he started going door to door and asking for donations is a piece of cake.
