100 Years Ago: Oct. 5, 1911
• The open season for shooting deer, guides and intimate friends began last Monday. If you see something that looks like a deer, wait until it proves that is a deer before you put your gun to your shoulder.
• Efforts are being made by some of the high school scholars to start a gymnasium and a paper was passed around among the business and professional men this week securing subscriptions for that purpose.
• Dr. S.D. Little has sold his fine residence on High Street to Thomas Whitten, who will occupy the same after Dr. Little’s departure for the west.
• From 14 acres planted to potatoes W.Ç. Leavitt harvested 2,072 barrels, an average of 148 barrels per acres. A good yield.
• George P. Hamilton and Miss Elsie E. Thompson, both of Limestone, were united in the holy bonds of matrimony, the single-ring service being used, at the Methodist parsonage by the Rev. J.H. Gray, Oct. 1.
75 Years Ago: Oct. 1, 1936
• The teachers of Aroostook County will meet again for their annual convention in the town of Caribou Oct. 13-14. This will be the first gathering of Aroostook teachers since 1934, when they met for a one-day session in Fort Fairfield. As this is to be a two-day sessions, it will mean that those teachers who come from towns in Aroostook too far to permit them to commute will have to remain in Caribou overnight on Tuesday. As hotel and rooming house accommodations are somewhat limited, it is anticipated that there will be a demand for the citizens of Caribou to extend their hospitality to some extent again and give the visiting teachers rooms for Tuesday night. Oct. 13.
• The local state dispensary of cures for snake bite and preventative of pneumonia, heaves and athlete’s foot did a rushing business Saturday evening, so much so that a long line was formed on the street by those awaiting their turn at the counter. One would-be purchaser, who arrived too late to qualify, very seriously asked one of the local police officers if he knew any bootleggers. The officer had his suspicions, but declined to divulge them, explaining to him who was thirsty that the state store was the only legal oasis.
• One Caribou farmer is using an incentive to his pickers to use in handling the crop, He is paying 10 cents per barrel for picking with the stipulation that the first two baskets be dumped with the barrel laying on its side. While this is a bit slower, the pickers are making more on account of the bonus and the farmer has considerable less bruised stock.
• The recently incorporated Long Island Crop Dusting Co. takes over the management today of the Caribou Airport on a sub-lease from Mike Corey, who is the lessee.
• A new sport for girls is being introduced at the Aroostook State Normal School this year. Soccer is causing many enthusiastic participants to turn out to learn the game.
50 Years Ago: Oct. 5, 1961
• A full scale adult program will be part of this recreation program it was announced by Allan Cousins, recreation director. Cousins said that the recreation department will attempt to furnish many activities for the adults and if enough interest were shown, the program will be continually expanded. Listed among the activities to be offered are square dance lessons and dances; bridge lessons and tournaments; canasta tournaments, ping pong and pool tournaments; archery lessons; men’s basketball and women’s volleyball.
• Peter Kidney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Kidney of Caribou, has been home on leave after graduating from the Great Lakes, Ill., Naval Training Station. He has reported to Norfolk, Va., where he will attend radio and radar school for 16 weeks.
• The street topic in Caribou Wednesday was the potato harvest and its relation to the school recess. The rain of the last two weeks had seriously curtailed the digging and picking. In its wake was the danger of frost. The Extension Service reported that “a little more” than 50 percent of the crop “is in” in this section of the county. There schools were scheduled to reopen Monday. The newspaper was told that there was pressure on the School Committee to reopen on schedule in the interest of education but that in the hard economics reasoning of others this would not be practical. Because of the weather, the harvest paychecks were small last week. For the same reason they are going to be small this week. The potato harvest is a big thing in this county money-wise.
• The building of 100 blast and fallout shelters, in addition to those already in existence, is imminent in Caribou, Civil Defense Director Jack Lancaster said Tuesday morning at a Chamber of Commerce Congressional Action Committee meeting with U.S. Senator Edmund S. Muskie.
• A number of changes in the Sweden Street business district have taken place in recent days. In the former location of Currier Furniture, the Sports Center, formerly on Herschel Street and Freme’s Jewelers, have combined for one showcase. In the former Freme’s store, the Little Folks business has gone into operation.
