WASHBURN NEWS
by Christie Cochran
One very special birthday wish goes out to the town of Washburn who will officially turn 150 years old on Friday, Feb. 25.
Those celebrating birthdays this week include: Parker Corey, Betty Wilson, Carla Pendexter, James Lavway, Bobbi Jo Plummer, Mackensie Harpine, Connie Markham, Mark Bragg, Robin Haynes, Jim Wilson, Haley Howlett, Mark Doody, Evelyn Woodman, Shannon Olson, Connor Howe, Ron Powell, James Johnson, Chris Pesut, Lyn Gresham, Travis White, Velda Buckingham, Steven Hobbs, Eric Brown, Beth Veeneman, Bill Sargent, Bob Clayton, Kyle Corey and Jean Wain.
Anniversary wishes go out to Wayne and Barb Churchill.
Washburn officials held their annual Budget Committee meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 14, at the Civic Center.
There were 16 attending the Budget Committee meeting. After reviewing each municipal department, all budgets were voted on and passed. The final budget cannot be determined due to not knowing the official outcome of the budget for SAD 45 and what the state funding will be until June or July. Copies of the budget voted on during the meeting will be available at the Town Office during regular business hours.
Following the Budget Committee meeting, the regular Washburn Town Council met with a call to order and Pledge of Allegiance being followed by public participation.
The Council reviewed financial figures through Jan. 31, and approved the minutes from the Jan. 10 Council meeting, a special Council meeting and a special town meeting.
Other business items included a review of documents regarding the Washburn Water and Sewer District and the setting of the interest rate for delinquent taxes for 2011.
An agenda item discussing election workers and counters was approved by the Council.
Members of the Council noted a special thank-you and appreciation to retiring Councilman Jeff Wark who was a councilor through four town managers and accumulated a total of 12 years of service to the town of Washburn.
There are two positions for three-year seats on the Washburn Town Council; those running include incumbent Fred Thomas, Daren Churchill and Joseph Lemieux.
There are three positions for three-year terms on the SAD 45 School Board, and incumbent Barb Caron is running.
The municipal election will be held at the Civic Center on Monday, March 21, with the polls open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and the annual Town Meeting is set for Tuesday, March 22, at 7 p.m. at the WDHS.
Town-wide notes
A final reminder for dog owners that all dogs 6 months old or older must be registered in the municipality where the dog is kept by Jan. 1 of each year. Washburn is allowing owners until March 1 before assessing the late fee, and licenses issued after are subject to a $25 late fee. When you come in to register your dog, please bring last year’s dog license, a rabies vaccination certificate and the spaying or neutering certificate. The fees are $6 for spayed or neutered dogs, or $11 for those dogs that are not.
Ice skating champion
Samantha White competed in the Smiles on Ice Competition at the Forum in Presque Isle recently, competiting in the elements where she placed first for her level. She also competed in a program competition where she skated to the faster-paced song “Stuck Like Glue” by Sugarland, tying for first place in her level. She is a grade 4 student at Washburn Elementary School.
Rec Center schedule
Several events occurring during the school’s February vacation break include a Hot Shots competition at the Caribou Rec Center starting at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 23.
Also on Wednesday, Feb. 23, there will be movies at the Caribou Cinema for grades K-8 from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m.
On Thursday, Feb. 24, there will be lunch at McDonald’s and ice skating at the Presque Isle Forum from noon to 3:30 p.m. This is open to students in grades 3-8.
On Friday, Feb. 25, there will be a special Winter Fun Day at the Aroostook State Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is open to students in grades 3-8.
On Monday, Feb. 28, there will be cross country skiing from 2:45 to 4:30 p.m. There will also be Zumba time at the Washburn Elementary School from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by men’s basketball from 7 to 9 p.m.
Please note that there will be indoor soccer held during March and April for grades K-8. Times and dates will be announced in the near future.
Remembering Washburn’s history
Lodge 112 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Hall, an outstanding landmark, purchased in 1969 by the Washburn Potato Growers, is being torn down.
The Lodge hall was built in 1896 and was located in the center of town on Main Street, right in the center of what is now the municipal parking lot. Prior to the new building being erected, Lodge members met in the Farnham building which is now occupied by the Washburn Potato Company apartments. Some of the charter members of the lodge — George and Arthur Umphrey, Owen K. Story, C. L. Stoddard, Turner Willey and others — cut the lumber for the building on a woods lot in Wade. This lot was later to become the mill owned and operated by Floyd Cunningham. These men hauled the lumber by horse teams to the sawmill in Washburn, a distance of five to seven miles. The same men also helped put up the building.
In lodge rooms on the second floor, the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs met, and a few years later, Masonic Lodge 193, as well as the Order of the Eastern Star, used the hall.
A dining room was located on the third floor, while at the street level the first store was the Wellington Brothers, opening a hardware outlet. Also hardware stores occupying the first floor included those operated by Leslie Smith, Rideout and Wilder and the Owen K. Story Company.
After the O.K. Story Company moved to a different location, the store space was divided into two sections. One side was rented as a federal post office, with David L. Duncan being postmaster. He was followed by postmasters Mary Freeman and Matthew W. McManus.
Henry Russell and Gordon Hay each had grocery stores on the other side, and after they vacated, Arnold Ballard opened up a lunchroom.
In 1968, the post office moved to their new building and Donate Rossignol’s barber shop filled the vacancy.
The store space was finally converted into a dining room and kitchen, as the first one had been closed.
The Washburn Rotary Club held their meetings there until the new owners came along, and they met at the Washburn Grade School cafeteria. The barber shop moved into a building owned by H.A. Learnard and Sons on Main Street.
The Lodge building and its tenants were a center of activity for Washburn area residents and a great place for social gatherings for many years and served as an integral part of Washburn’s Main Street.
(Sites for this writing include: Ray Carter’s history, Phyllis’s scrapbook and Jeff Allen, along with Maine Register.)
Library ‘bookmarks’
The Maine State Library received a large monetary award and is sharing it with 106 libraries in the state. The Washburn Memorial Library will be receiving a total of six new computers which will be much faster than the current one and will include the addition of another work station. These computers and software will increase public access to technology and benefit our citizens who are unemployed, elderly and low income.
The Board of the Washburn Regional Health Center generously donated $400 to the library, and it will be used to purchase new books for both adults and children.
The library has also been set up for a new circulation system that will be quicker, more user-friendly and offer easier check out time at the circulation desk.
Destination Imagination
A fund-raising event for the Destination Imagination teams will be a Bingo Supper at the Trail Runners clubhouse on Tuesday, March 1. The supper menu will include beans, chili, rolls, hotdogs, fries, drinks and desserts and will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with Bingo following from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Student of the Month
Carmen Bragg has been chosen as the Washburn District High School student of the month for February. She is a freshman and participates in all sports, including soccer and basketball. She came in second behind her teammate, Carsyn Bragg, at the Eastern Maine Cross Country Tournament. In March, Carmen will be participating in a free throw contest during the senior basketball tournament.
Christie Cochran is the correspondent for Washburn, Wade and Perham. She can be reached at 455-8034 or gramchristie@yahoo.com.
