The quest to become incorporated as a town began with pirates on the Barbary Coast of Africa in 1805. As a reward for a heroic victory over the Barbary pirates, Capt. William Eaton, in 1808, was deeded 10,000 acres of land in what was then the northern Massachusetts wilderness.
In 1820, Maine separated from Massachusetts and became the 23rd state in the Union and the Eaton Grant became a northern Maine land grant and one of four townships that would eventually become Caribou. On April 5, 1859, Lyndon was incorporated by the Maine legislature. In 1877 the name of Lyndon was changed to Caribou and as it is said — the rest is history.
On Sunday, April 5, 2009, at precisely 2 p.m. the bell tolled in the steeple at the “Union Hall,” now known as the Unitarian/Universalist Church and the ceremony, officially proclaiming that day be designated as Caribou’s 150th anniversary, began.
After months of planning, the Sesquicentennial Committee members dressed in period clothing, opened the doors to the original meeting house and welcomed Caribou residents to the ceremony. As with anything, the anticipation of success is always in question, but there was little doubt as to the results of this event.
As citizens entered the small foyer of the church and stopped to sign the 150th guest book, others waited patiently in line, some dressed in the style of 1859 and the atmosphere within the small church was one of excitement and pride. As the guests took their seats, Caribou High School talented musician, Kellie Moody, added to the ambience with soft violin music.
At 2 p.m., as if on cue, the last person passed through the doorway and John Swanberg, co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Committee, tugged on the bell pull and the old Union Hall steeple once again, announced a meeting was in session.
Following welcoming remarks offered by Rev. Maury Landry, Caribou Mayor Kenneth Murchison, Jr., opened the proclamation ceremony by welcoming everyone to the 150th birthday celebration and quoted from Carl Sandburg’s “Preserving Our American Heritage,” stating, “A nation which has no regard for its past will have little future worth remembering.”
Murchison continued, “With this sentiment in mind we are entering into our year of remembrance reminding ourselves of Caribou’s rich history, a history marked by adventurous pioneers that settled in this fertile valley to start a new life and build an economic future on an extractive economy that still sustains us today.”
Mayor Murchison called the special meeting of the Caribou City Council to order following special musical entertainment provided by the Caribou Middle School grade 6-8 chorus, under the direction of Vicki King. The soft but confident voices of these young Caribou citizens, rising from the front of the church, further accented the feeling of pride in Caribou’s history and it’s future.
Prior to the signing of the proclamation by council members, Katelyn Flick, a senior at Caribou High School read a historical summary of Caribou, followed by Sesquicentennial Committee co-chairman Jim Cyr who related excerpts from the actual minutes of the organizational meeting at which Lyndon was incorporated and the job of organizing a governing body and appointments of municipal officers were addressed.
Distinguished guests participating in the afternoon event included Sharon Campbell, representing Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office; Phil Bosses, representing Sen. Susan Collin and Barbara Hayslett of Rep. Michael Michaud’s office.
Dignitaries who were present were Rep. Peter Edgecomb, who read a legislative proclamation recognizing Caribou’s 150th birthday and later stated,” 50 years ago, I was a senior in high school and we all dreamed about the future expecting that there would be a cure for cancer, a magic pill that would make you loose weight and pictured a backpack that everyone would be using to fly around from place to place. But we never though there would ever be a man on the moon, that there would be such a thing as a cell phone. In those days we bought soft drinks called “Pop”, for 10 cents, we certainly never dreamed we would ever pay a dollar — for a bottle of water.”
Mayor Murchison continued with the order of business at hand by stating, “Now, in honor of this 150th birthday of the City of Caribou, I wish to share a proclamation acknowledging this important date. I would entertain a motion from the council to support his proclamation encouraging Caribou residents to celebrate this milestone throughout this year of 2009
Caribou City Council member Christopher Bell motioned to support the proclamation which was seconded by Councilman David Martin. Following the signing of the Proclamation by each council member, the Caribou Middle School Chorus once again sang.
Diana Rauch, committee member and a member of the Crown of Maine Quilters announced the presentation of the Sesquicentennial Quilt. The quilt is a collection of squares depicting a number of “Women’s First in Caribou.” The quilt will be on display through the sesquicentennial year.
Mayor Murichson, quoting Robert F. Kennedy, stated, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”
“We look forward,” continued Murchison, “to working with all of you to continue to write the history of this and future generations.”
With a motion to adjourn called for by the mayor, City Councilwoman Carla Bell motioned the adjournment and Councilwoman Mary Kate Barbosa seconded.
A tea, hosted by the Ladies Aide of the Unitarian/Universalist Church, was held immediately following the ceremony.
For more on the city’s special proclamation ceremony, including an in depth look at the Sesquicentennial Quilt, more on the remarks from state dignitaries please see next week’s edition of the Aroostook Republican and News. There will also be more photos from the event in that edition. It’s Caribou’s 150th birthday — Be a part of it.
In 1820, Maine separated from Massachusetts and became the 23rd state in the Union and the Eaton Grant became a northern Maine land grant and one of four townships that would eventually become Caribou. On April 5, 1859, Lyndon was incorporated by the Maine legislature. In 1877 the name of Lyndon was changed to Caribou and as it is said — the rest is history.
On Sunday, April 5, 2009, at precisely 2 p.m. the bell tolled in the steeple at the “Union Hall,” now known as the Unitarian/Universalist Church and the ceremony, officially proclaiming that day be designated as Caribou’s 150th anniversary, began.
After months of planning, the Sesquicentennial Committee members dressed in period clothing, opened the doors to the original meeting house and welcomed Caribou residents to the ceremony. As with anything, the anticipation of success is always in question, but there was little doubt as to the results of this event.
As citizens entered the small foyer of the church and stopped to sign the 150th guest book, others waited patiently in line, some dressed in the style of 1859 and the atmosphere within the small church was one of excitement and pride. As the guests took their seats, Caribou High School talented musician, Kellie Moody, added to the ambience with soft violin music.
At 2 p.m., as if on cue, the last person passed through the doorway and John Swanberg, co-chair of the Sesquicentennial Committee, tugged on the bell pull and the old Union Hall steeple once again, announced a meeting was in session.
Following welcoming remarks offered by Rev. Maury Landry, Caribou Mayor Kenneth Murchison, Jr., opened the proclamation ceremony by welcoming everyone to the 150th birthday celebration and quoted from Carl Sandburg’s “Preserving Our American Heritage,” stating, “A nation which has no regard for its past will have little future worth remembering.”
Murchison continued, “With this sentiment in mind we are entering into our year of remembrance reminding ourselves of Caribou’s rich history, a history marked by adventurous pioneers that settled in this fertile valley to start a new life and build an economic future on an extractive economy that still sustains us today.”
Mayor Murchison called the special meeting of the Caribou City Council to order following special musical entertainment provided by the Caribou Middle School grade 6-8 chorus, under the direction of Vicki King. The soft but confident voices of these young Caribou citizens, rising from the front of the church, further accented the feeling of pride in Caribou’s history and it’s future.
Prior to the signing of the proclamation by council members, Katelyn Flick, a senior at Caribou High School read a historical summary of Caribou, followed by Sesquicentennial Committee co-chairman Jim Cyr who related excerpts from the actual minutes of the organizational meeting at which Lyndon was incorporated and the job of organizing a governing body and appointments of municipal officers were addressed.
Distinguished guests participating in the afternoon event included Sharon Campbell, representing Sen. Olympia Snowe’s office; Phil Bosses, representing Sen. Susan Collin and Barbara Hayslett of Rep. Michael Michaud’s office.
Dignitaries who were present were Rep. Peter Edgecomb, who read a legislative proclamation recognizing Caribou’s 150th birthday and later stated,” 50 years ago, I was a senior in high school and we all dreamed about the future expecting that there would be a cure for cancer, a magic pill that would make you loose weight and pictured a backpack that everyone would be using to fly around from place to place. But we never though there would ever be a man on the moon, that there would be such a thing as a cell phone. In those days we bought soft drinks called “Pop”, for 10 cents, we certainly never dreamed we would ever pay a dollar — for a bottle of water.”
Mayor Murchison continued with the order of business at hand by stating, “Now, in honor of this 150th birthday of the City of Caribou, I wish to share a proclamation acknowledging this important date. I would entertain a motion from the council to support his proclamation encouraging Caribou residents to celebrate this milestone throughout this year of 2009
Caribou City Council member Christopher Bell motioned to support the proclamation which was seconded by Councilman David Martin. Following the signing of the Proclamation by each council member, the Caribou Middle School Chorus once again sang.
Diana Rauch, committee member and a member of the Crown of Maine Quilters announced the presentation of the Sesquicentennial Quilt. The quilt is a collection of squares depicting a number of “Women’s First in Caribou.” The quilt will be on display through the sesquicentennial year.
Mayor Murichson, quoting Robert F. Kennedy, stated, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation.”
“We look forward,” continued Murchison, “to working with all of you to continue to write the history of this and future generations.”
With a motion to adjourn called for by the mayor, City Councilwoman Carla Bell motioned the adjournment and Councilwoman Mary Kate Barbosa seconded.
A tea, hosted by the Ladies Aide of the Unitarian/Universalist Church, was held immediately following the ceremony.
For more on the city’s special proclamation ceremony, including an in depth look at the Sesquicentennial Quilt, more on the remarks from state dignitaries please see next week’s edition of the Aroostook Republican and News. There will also be more photos from the event in that edition. It’s Caribou’s 150th birthday — Be a part of it.
