115 Years Ago-1900
• The ice left the Aroostook River above the dam Friday afternoon; a large crowd of spectators gathered to watch, although the ice left in small sections due to honeycombing.
• W.S.Webb, superintendent of schools, finished the school census and announced the number of scholars to be 1,835.
100 Years Ago-April 29, 1915
Youth movement — The meeting in the Opera House Sunday afternoon, called for the purpose of seeing what could be done toward bettering the youth of Caribou, was very largely attended. Major Atwood W. Spaulding outlined what was propsed to make Caribou’s young men “bigger, better and busier boys.” Prof. A. W. Boston, principal of the high school, said the time spent by boys as a rule, in school and out of school, clearly showed that some good, clean, healthful resort should be provided.
Liquor law violations — With the exception of one or two instances, all the clubs in Houlton have been indicted on liquid charges by the grand jury, which also returned indictments against many of the drug stores. Many drivers of truck teams here have left for parts unknown because of the action of the grand jury. The books of the Bangor & Aroostook Railway were ordered in as the amount of liquor delivered by truckmen.
75 Years Ago-April 25, 1940
“Worst Ice Jam” — Heavy blue ice to a depth of 10 feet in places covered over a mile of Canadian Pacific Railway tracks near McGraw Siding last week, causing a weeklong interruption of service. The jam was the worst in the memory of railway workers, the next worst being in 1927 which closed the line for about three days. Rains caused large washouts between Fort Fairfield and Caribou, and between Caribou and Presque Isle.
Bowling champs — The Caribou Business and Professional Women’s bowling team, composed of Miss Mildred Semple, Miss Alice Billington, Miss Helen Vincent, Mrs. Phyllis Johnson and Mrs. Martha Stevens, won the state trophy for one year at the state bowling tournament in Bangor. BPW Club member Doris Bourgoine accompanied the team.
50 Years Ago-April 29, 1965
Racing in Caribou? — The thrills, speed and spills of stock car racing may be added to the summer sports scene in Caribou. Bob Knowles of the Unity Raceway was in town this week and talked of plans to build a stock car racing track on the Caribou side of the West Gate Road near Loring Air Force Base. A meeting was slated at the municipal airport to discuss Knowles’ sports promotion.
Celebrating official opening — After nearly six years in the middle location of the Caribou Shopping Center, during which time business expanded to the point where larger quarters were necessary, Bennett’s Hardware and Appliance has moved to the recently built shopping center extension, with more than twice the space. Door prizes were offered as part of the grand opening celebration. Ivan Bennett is the store manager, while brother Philip and their father, Roy, are also associated with the business.
25 Years Ago-April 25, 1990
Young artists lauded — The artwork of Chris Duffy, a student at Connor Elementary School, will be featured in a limited-edition 1991 “My Maine Street” calendar, a joint project of Maine Street ’90, 6 Alive, WLBZ and Maine’s cable companies. Youngsters submitted drawings of their hometowns to be used in the special fundraising calendar. Meanwhile, two young artists were honored at Caswell Elementary School. Shannon Roy and Tabatha St. Pierre won a poster contest sponsored by the Soil Conservation Service.
Plant gets go-ahead — Caribou city councilors gave the green light to Maine Frozen Foods’ plans to build a vegetable processing plant in the Grimes Road Industrial Park. MFF President Andy Ayer said the plant would produce frozen broccoli products using crop grown by Ayer Farms of Caribou.
Artist produces video — Former Caribou resident and Maine wildlife artist Louis E. Page of Mouse Island, Boothbay Harbor, announced he has produced a 90-minute video, “MAJIC OF MAINE: Painting the Maine Bear.” In the video Page demonstrated his painting materials and techniques.
