120 Years Ago – Dec. 9, 1904
Going to school — Miss Grace Denton, who has been stenographer and bookkeeper for the L.J. Sherwood Co. for the past two years, has resigned her position with them and entered the Aroostook State Normal school at Presque Isle, Maine.
Changing shops — J.A. Swanton has closed his tailor shop in the Cary building on Sweden street and entered the employ of the Combination Clothing Company. A finely appointed room over the store has been fixed up and will be used as a tailor shop.
115 Years Ago – Dec. 8, 1909
Thanks given on Thanksgiving — Mrs. Wm. Fox of Caribou enjoyed a reunion of her sons with her on Thanksgiving Day, the first time in 22 years they had been able to meet together. Present were; Theo. J. and Calvin L. Fox of Houlton, T.M. Fox of Presque Isle and Howard A. of Caribou, the two latter being managers of the branch stores of Fox Bros. in the respective towns.
One claim sold — One of the claims of the Caribou Gold Mining Company was sold during the past season by Messrs. Sutherland & Reynolds for $75,000 to Chas. O. Lane of California, one of the best known mining experts in the country.
100 Years Ago – Dec. 4, 1924
Sharing entertainment with friends — Harold Brown was calling on friends in Woodland Sunday. He has purchased a graphophone and will give entertainment at his home.
And the job goes too… — There were 16 bidders for the contract to carry out-going mail from the post office to the station and incoming mail from the station to the post office. The successful bidder was Louis Maxwell, who entered upon his duties Monday.
75 Years Ago – Dec. 8, 1949
Santa and helpers to get an official welcome Saturday — A parade next Saturday, December 10, starting at 1:30 p.m. at the swimming pool, will usher in Santa Claus aboard his sleigh towing a string of sleds ridden by elves, the Caribou Retail Trade Bureau farm committee declared yesterday. The route of march will be along Sweden street to the town square, where Santa and his crew of little workers will park their sleds and sleigh and occupy the Workshop in preparation for receiving children and distributing gifts and candy. A string of 1950 car models will fill out the parade along with members of the Caribou high school band who, weather permitting, will play appropriate tunes for Santa and those in the sidelines. At the square, a ribbon strung across the entrance to Santa’s Workshop will be cut by chairman of the town council, Hal C. Cushman, who will also act as official greeter. Miss Norma Collins, 1949 Caribou Winter Carnival Queen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Linwood Collins, and Robert Crane, Santa Claus Committee chairman, will be present with Cushman to welcome ‘Kris Kringle’ and his entourage of elves.
25 Years Ago – Dec. 8, 1999
Program helps foster children have a brighter holiday — Foster children will have new toys under the Christmas tree thanks to the state Department of Human Services. The agency has been collecting funds to buy new toys for foster children for five years. There are 150 Central Aroostook children in foster homes this year, and human services wants to give each of them a new gift for Christmas. ‘Some of these kids have been getting hand-me-downs all their lives,’ said Jennifer MacNeil, the project coordinator. That’s why MacNeil doesn’t want second-hand toys or games from families. This way there will be a brightened look on the faces of the kids as they open new gifts that they may have never had before.
The National Guard repair shop rolls along — The National Guard has helped crisis situations in America for years, but bringing economic growth isn’t their specialty. That’s why the booming business in military vehicle repairs at Loring Commerce Center is unique. A Maine National Guard business puts hundreds of thousands into the pockets of County residents every month, and taxpayers are saving money on the deal. General Manager Gary P. Cleaves runs Maine Readiness Sustainment Maintenance Center, the repairs operation that has expanded from 17 employees this time two years ago to 78 now. He’s hiring 30 more in the near future to tackle the flourishing number of new contracts. The center rebuilds High Mobility Multi-purposed Wheeled Vehicles, HMMWV — pronounced ‘hum-v.’ Vehicles are repaired at one quarter the cost, $15,000, of buying a new one, $60,000. The cost-efficient system is saving taxpayers’ money, and doubling the production line at the Loring repair shop.
