From our Files: Headlines from 100 years of local news

100 Years Ago-Sept. 4, 1912
Aroostook Times
    Houlton’s First Fair — The first annual fair held by the Houlton Agricultural Society in their new $50,000 park has been “an unqualified success.” The attractions offered were numerous, consisting of trotting, baseball, airship flights, vaudeville, fireworks and music by the bands.
    Baseball’s demise — At the close of this week the Maine and New Brunswick baseball league (Fredericton, Houlton, St. John and Woodstock) will have ceased to exist except in memory. The season has been a hard one, most unfavorable for out of door sports.
75 Years Ago-Sept. 9, 1937
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Potato promotion — Newspaper, magazine and radio will combine to promote Maine’s estimated 18 million barrel potato crop to the consuming public this fall. The crop will be all dressed up in the distinctive, trademark red, white and blue containers ranging from six big bakers in a box to 100-pound sacks.
Pioneer Times 1937 file photo
NEW TEACHERS — Hired by the Houlton Public School District to take classroom assignments during the 1937-38 school year are Audrey E. Bishop, Linwood A. Abbott, Rena Adams, Rachel Fowles, May Kitchen and Helen Melville.
    Church services — The churches of Houlton whose hours are listed here, cordially invite you to worship with them: Houlton Methodist Episcopal, Congregational Church, Military Street United Baptist Church, Alliance Gospel Temple, Christian Science Church, St. Mary Catholic Church, The Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist Church and Full Gospel Tabernacle.
50 Years Ago-Sept. 6, 1962
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Better bowling — The Houlton Bowling Center, operated by Elmer and Gladys Smith for the last eight years, is now open every day from 1 p.m. until midnight. They’ve recently added all new plastic pins, guaranteed not to split and cause bowlers to waver back and for forth waiting for that “wabbling” pin to fall.
    Books on wheels — On Monday, the Bookmobile will provide free public library services at the following locations, Orient at the school, Weston at the Million Dollar View, Brookton at Knight’s Store. Eaton at Neal’s Store and Danforth at the Town Hall.
25 Years Ago-Sept. 9, 1987
Houlton Pioneer Times
    Sen. Mitchell visits students — Senator George Mitchell paid a visit to Katahdin High School this week where he told students he preferred to field questions rather than make a speech. Their questions covered a variety of topics including acid rain, nuclear waste disposal and the appointment of Robert Bork to the U.S. Supreme Court.
    Historic Buildings — Five Southern Aroostook building have recently been entered into the National Register of Historic Places. Those deemed worthy of preservation and protection are the Unitarian Church, Cary Library and the Edward L. Cleveland house, all in Houlton, as well as the Oakfield Station and Union Hall in Danforth.
Pioneer Times 1987 file photo
PRESENTATION — State Representative Carl Smith, left, of Island Falls, presents Murray Putnam with a framed picture of the special resolution by the Maine Legislature recognizing the Southern Aroostook Community School Class D state baseball champions. Putnam, the SACS baseball coach, accepted the gift during an assembly at the school.