Houlton area From our Files – Week of November 20, 2024

Compiled by Breanna Maples, Special to The County
3 weeks ago

75 Years Ago – October 4, 1949

Houlton Air Show To Be Held Sunday At Airport; Spud Queen To Appear — An Air Show packed with many events that will feature an hour-and-a-half air show act will be held beginning at one Sunday, October 9, at the Houlton Airport under the joint sponsorship of the local Rotary Club and the Civil Air Patrol. A highlight of the show as announced by the committee, who are rapidly concluding plans for the event will be the appearance of Miss Mickey Conlett, of Caribou, Miss Potato Blossom Queen of 1949. Like others that have been held here, this Air Show will be the only show of its kind in Northern Maine. It will include a flight of four jet planes from the National Guard at Dow Field and another flight of four Army jets.

Over 500 Take Part In Folk Dance Festival — The Folk Dance Festival, which was held at the Recreation Center, proved to be a successful undertaking. Over 549 people participated in this Festival. The group consisted of 5th and 6th graders, Junior and Senior High School students, Ricker College, and adults. Very few from these groups had done any folk dancing before, yet they learned between 25 and 30 dances quickly and did them well.

50 Years Ago – November 20, 1974

Rush Is Named Mine Geologist In Manitoba — Philip Rush, son of Mr. and Mrs. James Rush, of the White Settlement road has recently been appointed to the position of Mine Geologist, Thompson Mine area, of the Mine Exploration department of International Nickel’s Manitoba Division in Thompson Manitoba. Mr. Rush joined Inco in 1970 as a geologist. Prior to this appointment, he was senior geologist at the Thompson Mine “T-1” area. Mr. Rush is a graduate of St. Mary’s Parochial School, Houlton High School, St. Francis Zavier University, Nova Scotia and has had one year of post graduate work from McGill University in Montreal.

Marciniak And Jordan To Head Potato Feast — Philip Jordan and William Marciniak have been named as co-chairmen of the annual Potato Feast that will be conducted in July by the Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Robert Matthews made the appointments during a regular meeting Tuesday noon of the Board of Directors. The co-chairmen will be assisted by several of the Chamber members in developing the many phases of the Potato Feast.

25 Years Ago – November 24, 1999

875 Students Attend Smokescream — Take 875 students, put them outside and have them shriek at the top of their lungs and what do you get? The Great American Smokescream. Sponsored by the Southern Aroostook Tobacco-Free Outreach Project, the second annual event was held last Thursday in Houlton’s Monument Park. Erica Shaw, STOP community community coordinator, said this year’s smokescream was even more successful than last year’s. Shaw said the purpose of the event was for students of all ages to scream out against tobacco use.

UMO Coach Shawn Walsh To Conduct Hockey Clinic — John Miller had one dream already come true this month when the ice rink opened at the new civic center, which is named after him. Today, Miller, along with many young hockey skaters, will see another dream realized in Houlton. Shawn Walsh, head hockey coach for the University of Maine at Orono Black Bears, returns to the Shiretown for a one-day hockey clinic for players ages five-18. Several years ago, Walsh held a similar clinic in Houlton in the former Millar Arena. After the new civic center was constructed, Millar coordinated setting up a clinic with Walsh.