115 Years Ago- Dec. 23, 1897
• Potatoes were $1.35 per barrel today.
• Commencing Friday of this week, the C. P. R. (Canadian Pacific Railway) will have a warm car service. Cars will leave Boston every Friday morning, take freight at Portland and Bangor and arrive in Caribou at 4:45 p.m. Mondays.
100 Years Ago-Dec. 19, 1912
Railway rules — The Bangor and Aroostook have recently promulgated the following rules for their trainmen which include: “Tan shoes worn with the blue uniform must not be worn on duty. To chew gum or toothpicks is against the rules, and whistling, humorous remarks and talkativeness is tabooed.”
Skating update — The skating on Collins Pond, while not of the best and finest caliber ever known, is “not too bad,” to make use of expressive ‘Billingsgate’ and has been improved during the past week by a number of our young people.
75 Years Ago-Dec. 23, 1937
Power companies seek merger — The Maine Public Utilities Commission today took under advisement a petition seeking consolidation of the Caribou Light & Power Co., the Colby Light & Power Co. of Woodland, and the New Sweden Power Company.
A Swedish tradition — At twelve o’clock midnight Christmas Eve, the members and friends of the New Sweden Lutheran Church, M. L. Nelson, Pastor, will gather at the church for their annual “Julotta” service. Ushering in Christmas Day in this way is an old Swedish custom that has been celebrated for many generations.
50 Years Ago-Dec. 20, 1962
Home for the holidays —Miss Patricia McGrath, who is employed in Boston, is spending Christmas week with her grandmother, Mrs. Ruth McGrath and father M. D. McGrath. Richard Bubar and George Doak, who are employed in plastics factories in Bridgeport and Springfield, Conn., were home for the Christmas holiday.
Storewide clearance — Penney’s department store advertised the following clothing specials in their full-page ad this week: men’s and boy’s jackets, $6 – $12; men’s broadcloth and oxford dress shirts, $2 each; a “Famous Collection” of women’s side-zippered tapered slacks, $1.99 to $4.88; and junior boy’s flannel lined jeans, $1 per pair.
25 Years Ago-Dec. 23, 1987
Caribou’s calf named — The Caribou Chamber of Commerce reports Caribou’s Christmas present to itself and the state of Maine’s “adopt a caribou” program is a male caribou calf named Lyndon. Lyndon Settlement was the first name given to the town that has become the city of Caribou.
Doing it backwards — Jerry and Betty Drake of Caribou hosted a “backwards” supper and Christmas party recently. Guests received invitations written backwards and dessert was the first course. Mark Jones received a first prize for wearing a complete suit backwards, including vest and tie.
