From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

Compiled by Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
100 Years Ago-Jan. 18, 1911
Aroostook Times
    New Limerick — A number of young folks here attended the dance at Henry Hanson’s in Ludlow and reported a pleasant time.
    Linneus — Most of the farmers in this vicinity have finished putting in their annual supply of ice.
    Improvements — Owing to the rapidly increasing business at the Hotel LaFayette, many improvements are being made. This week a crew of plumbers are installing five bathrooms connected with suites. Landlord Thibodeau intends making this one of the best hotels in this part of the state.
75 Years Ago-Jan. 16, 1936
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Berry and Benn — $25 a month now buys a new Ford V-8, any model.
    Monticello — The Ladies Aid is getting up a play, “The Man in the Green Shirt” to be given January 31, at the Grange Hall. The cast is a strong one and the play will be well worth seeing.
    Island Falls — Your correspondent has been given a branch of pussy willows this week, new ones that have just opened. Not so cold in Aroostook after all.
    Green’s — The family clothier is having a sale, ladies jackets, $1; children’s all-wool coats, $1; children’s ski-suits, $2.88; ladies silk dresses, $1.88; munsingwear pajamas, $1.39; and ladies and girls’ fancy all-wool mittens, 49 cents.
   
50 Years Ago- Jan. 19, 1961
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Cloakroom office — Operating in emergency quarters in the 7-foot by 12-foot former cloak room of the Putnam Gymnasium, the Ricker business office is presently handling a half-million dollar gross business in the space hardly larger than a corner newsstand. Plans are under way to move the office to the Old Dorm that is currently being remodeled.
    Seeking book — The Hayes Library at Ricker is seeking help in locating a copy of a book written many yeas ago and containing the personal recollections of Dr. Joseph Ricker, a Baptist minister and resident of Augusta for whom Ricker Classical Institute was named in 1887.
    Top forward — Dick Felker, a senior at Houlton High School has scored 138 points for the 1960-61 season in eight games. Felker is in a scoring race with Dick Nason, a center who has scored 139 points.
   
25 Years Ago-Jan. 15, 1986
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Seeks office — Margaret Ludwig of Houlton has announced that she is a candidate for nomination for State Senate in the Republican Primary to be held in June.
Houlton Pioneer Times 1986 Photo
NURSERY RHYMES — The Sonshine Nursery School had a nursery rhyme characters day with students arriving in costume. Attending are, left to right: first row, Galen Nason, Garrett Nason and Gabriel Lane; second row, Ryan Vose, Ben Anderson, Ben Lynds, Michael Wallace, Jaime Dupont, Luke Jones and Sam Matthews; standing, Charles Long, Joanne Condon, Janelle Evans, Stephanie Avery, Sarah King, Holly Golding, Casie Miller and Christine Hills with Miss Nancy.
    Spanish custom — Several homes in the Houlton area this year followed an old Spanish custom of using votive candles as a part of their home decorations on Christmas Eve. Candles are placed in brown paper bags along driveways and walkways. They burned brightly well into the night. Those participating on Pleasant Street were, Doug and Jan Kruhm, Pam and Frank Thompson, Janice and Rod Palmer and Diane and Francis Grant.
    Hill Top Lanes — The first taping of Northern Maine Candlepin Association TV Bowling will be at the Astro-Bowl Lanes in Presque Isle. The first bowler from Houlton participating will be John Fraser, bowling against Phil Beaupre of Van Buren.