From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

Compiled by Karen Donato
Special to the Pioneer Times
100 Years Ago-May 31, 1911
Aroostook Times
    Not welcome here — A gypsy caravan struck town Friday p.m. It was the largest band of gypsies ever seen in these parts, consisting of seven teams. A reception committee composed of officers, Lawlis and Hogan, met them and asked them to keep moving and after some persuasion they left the village via the North Road.
    Public Park — The cannon for the Public Park arrived last week and has been assigned a place near the Soldiers’ Monument. It has been surrounded by crowds of school children ever since it was put in place and is a great curiosity to most of them; many children never seeing a cannon before.
75 Years Ago-May 28, 1936
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Houlton Band — After a lapse of one year during which time they did not perform locally, the Houlton Band will resume its annual weekly concerts. The band is under the leadership of Bert Wetmore.
    Hodgdon — A special town meeting was held at the Town Hall Monday afternoon at which Shirley Benn was elected moderator. It was noted to allow the selectmen to make a loan of $1,100 for the W.P.A. Bridge Building Project. This project is to build a new McIntyre Bridge over the Meduxnekeag River on the McIntyre Road and will employ 30 men.
    Monticello — The citizens of the town want to express their appreciation to the towns of Houlton and Bridgewater and to the members of the fire department for the excellent work done in saving their village from a disastrous fire, when the home of the late William J. Wiley burned.
50 Years Ago- June 1, 1961
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Thank you — Mrs. Jack Chapman, Poppy Day chairman thanked many volunteers including Sandra Albright who won first prize for selling poppies. Other winners were, Jane Hogan, second prize; and Judy Worthley, third prize. Also selling poppies were, Barbara Kirk, Judy Wolhaupter, Barbara Ward, Colleen Coleman, Jane Stewart, Mary Lou Carton, Debbie Hannigan and Terri McNutt.
Houlton Pioneer Times File Photo
FIRST AMBULANCE — Clyde Hiltz retired May 31, 1986 from the Houlton Ambulance Service after serving as its Director since inception in 1969. In this 1969 photo, he stands in front of the first ambulance acquired by the Town, a 1966 International.
    Kindergarten — The 33rd annual closing day exercises of Mrs. Ralph Porter’s kindergarten class was held with more than 80 guests. Students sang songs and recited nursery rhymes.
    Jackpot Night — Donald Scott of Linneus was the first recipient of $25 cash from the J.J. Newberry Store of Houlton, when the first in a series of Jackpot Nights was held.
25 Years Ago-May 28, 1986
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Drive-in Church — The Drive-in Church at the Borderland Theatre on the North Road will open, marking its 29th consecutive year the service has been given to the public. It was started about 1958 by Lewis Webber when the Rev. Robert Decker was pastor at the Military Street Baptist Church.
    Hodgdon’s Hawk — Students at Hodgdon Elementary School recently voted to name their mascot Hawkins. Chet Anderson and Sherry Little submitted the winning name.
    Soviet stamp — The face of Samantha Smith now graces a Soviet Union postal stamp. A letter brought Samantha in to world headlines when she asked the late Soviet leader Uri Andropov for world peace. He in turn invited her to the U.S.S.R.