120 Years Ago – Oct. 14, 1904
A new building going up — The B & A. is building a pumping station and tank near the round house. Water will be taken from the Aroostook River.
Moved to a new location — M. L. Hutchinson moved last week from Sweden street into a rent over his laundry on Main street. This building has been entirely remodeled and undergone many changes during the past few months. Besides having a nice rent overhead, Mr. Hutchinson has one of the best appointed and modern laundries to be found.
115 Years Ago – Oct. 13, 1909
Restaurant renovated — The Caribou Oyster House in the Donworth building, corner Main street and Vaughan avenue, has been leased by Wilber Roberts, who will conduct it in the future. The rooms have been thoroughly renovated and painted, and a new stock of goods throughout has been added. There are two dining rooms, one of which can be used for private parties. Mr. Roberts will conduct the restaurant in a thoroughly up-to-date manner.
Improving the grocery store — F. Riles has been making some decided improvements in the interior of his grocery store on High street this week. Several new additions in the way of conveniences have been added and the ceiling and sides painted white.
100 Years Ago – Oct. 9, 1924
New fire pump here — The 750-gallon LaFrance fire pump ordered by the selectmen and chief of the fire department for Fort Fairfield last March arrived in town Friday morning, accompanied by the 350-gallon pump ordered by the Mapleton fire department. Mr. Phelps, engineer and expert, is with the machines. The Mapleton machine was at once taken to that town, where a highly satisfactory test was held. A private test of the Fort Fairfield pump was also given here this Wednesday morning, at the Pattee brook, the machine throwing 825 gallons of water a minute, the distance covered being nearly 290 feet, partially against the wind. The machine looks to be worth the money, if appearance and performance count.
A trip to Florida — Floyd F. Smiley and Scanlon Barrett start Saturday of this week for Vero, Fla. They will go by automobile, one driving an auto, and the other a truck, probably taking turns. On the truck will be loaded a bed and cooking utensils, proposing to take their time going, probably a month. Mr. Smiley informs the writer that if he finds Vero spelled with a ‘z’ he will take the first train for home.
75 Years Ago – Oct. 13, 1949
Memorial gate constructed at New Sweden Thomas Park — As a memorial to all military veterans of New Sweden, that community has constructed a monument gate at the entrance of Thomas Park there which stands as a vivid reminder of indebtedness to that war group. Military symbolism is the theme of this newly constructed tribute of concrete portals and overhead truss which supports a fitting plaque. Henry Anderson of New Sweden drew the approved sketch and pastors of the town’s three churches, Wallace Cedarleaf, Funnar Lindahl, and Robert Nelson composed the plaque inscription. For several years New Sweden citizens agitated for such a structure and at the 1946 Town meeting the suggestion was made to erect the proposed gate as a veteran’s memorial. One year later New Sweden selectmen approved the proposal. When sufficient funds are available lights will be added to enhance the beauty of its simple architectural lines.
Gets record 226 barrels spuds in day’s picking — ‘Believe it or not,’ and not by Ripley, but the truth remains that Hervery Farley of Carson siding Monday broke all previous potato picking records when he chalked up 226 barrels in a 10 ½ hour day. Farley, who recently set a record by picking 202 barrels in 10 hours, saw this ‘busted’ last week when Walter Sirois of Caribou tallied 210 in the same working day last week. Out to break all records the hustling Farley, when picking for Sands and Wardwell, Tabor rd., Washburn Monday, asked and received permission to try breaking the new mark. Given plenty of barrels and potatoes, alone on one side of the field, the former ski marathoner coupled up the new grand total. When asked how Farley accomplished the remarkable feat, the answer from the potato growers was, ‘We don’t know but the evidence was there and we are forced to pay the man a ‘good’ day’s wages.’
25 Years Ago – Oct. 13, 1999
American Legion earns national award — What do you get when you hold a bake sale that funded money to buy teddy bears for traumatized children, a bingo event that brought in money to buy winter clothing for grammar school children and an art contest for sixth-grade children? If you’re the local American Legion Auxiliary, you win first prize in a national contest. Mary Ellen Field of Caribou, currently serving her first term as chair of the children and youth program, said while she hoped to give the members of CALA recognition for their efforts, she did not expect a national award. This is the first time in the history of UNIT 15 CALA, that they have won a national level award. In June, the State department of the American Legion announced Unit 15 as the winner of ‘Most Outstanding Unit Children and Youth Program Report.’
An abundance of pumpkins — A bumper crop of pumpkins has left several local growers with tons of pumpkins and have given consumers a choice of the best. Frank McElwain, a local pumpkin vendor, said this year’s season was amazing. For a crop that usually doesn’t ripen until September, the fields were dotted with orange pumpkins in August. Stranger still, was that almost all of the pumpkins turned orange. McElwain’s pumpkin stand on Route 161 is lined with rows of the traditional fall crop. The scene is the same at Goughan’s Farm on the Fort Road in Caribou, where they plant about three acres of pumpkins. Gloria Goughan said she thinks there are more pumpkins but the size is the real big difference. According to Goughan, pumpkins are much larger than they have been in previous years. Even the color was enhanced.
