115 Years Ago: Oct. 15, 1896
• The potato market is improving. Fifty-cents per barrel is the price paid today.
• The Caribou Walter & Electric Light Co. has purchased a large engine and boiler and expects to furnish power for electric lights from the new electric light station (now being built) by Nov. 1. When the dam is completed the steam power will be held as a reserve in case of need.
• Some lucky hunter recently shot eight partridges in the woods back of Fremont Small’s residence.
100 Years Ago: Oct. 19,1911
• Miss Ethel Lovely, while in Bangor last week, purchased a new Steinway vertigrand piano.
• Wages for the woods the coming autumn and winter are from $24 to $30 and the prospects for lumbering seems poor. M.F. Dorsey, the well known Fort Fairfield employment agent, has already sent in two or three good-sized lots of men, beyond Patten and Norcross, and will send another in a day or two.
• Fred T. Giberson closed quite an extensive deal of real estate last week, purchasing the Louis Brissette property, including the mill and 300 acres of land just across the boundary line at Limestone.
• Earl Lombard hauled in a load of potatoes one day last week which would come pretty near equaling the entire product of a Waldo County farmer. There were 70 barrels on the load — which was hauled with one pair of horses.
• Charles T. Bishop has moved into the A.M. Glidden house on York Street.
75 Years Ago: Oct. 15, 1936
• Two cars came together on Sweden Street at the Elite Restaurant corner Saturday afternoon with considerable damage to the fronts of both cars. One operator was driving east on Sweden Street and the other was coming into Sweden Street from the side street. A car parked directly on the corner in front of the Elite obstructed the vision of both drivers. No one was hurt but the damage to one of the vehicles was at least $150. The owner, however, swapped his car at the Caribou Motor Co., for another and drove home in that.
• Moose are reported to be returning to the vicinity of Van Buren. It is said that no moose have been seen in that locality for some time. Not so very many years ago both moose and bear were quite plentiful in the vicinity of Black Brook and the old Half-way House.
• Mrs. Ruby Arsenault, who has been living in New York for the past few years has received her diploma from the Chicago School of Nursing in that city and is now a registered nurse. She has accepted a fine position at the medical center there. Mrs. Arsenault was formerly Miss Ruby Ward of this town and has many friends here who will extend best wishes for her in her chosen profession.
• A snowstorm and heavy gale winds struck in the town of Limestone Monday forenoon. The wind blowing down several large trees around town.
• A severe wind accompanied by thunder and lightning, hail and snow visited the Sweden Road section of town about noon on Monday. The cupola on Osborne Robertson’s barn was blown off, also one of the shade trees on his lawn was broken off.
50 Years Ago: Oct. 19, 1961
• Remember Herve Farley? He was the “world champion” in those days of highly competitive potato picking sorties 10 to12 years back. Farley was the “ king” in an era that had such great challengers as Carlton Harris of Washburn and Walter Sirois of Caribou. On one October day in 1950, Farley picked 254 barrels of Katahdins in 10 hours and he is probably right in his belief that the record still stands. Farley is still at it. A Republican cameraman found him picking away on Charley Pangburn’s farm the other day. Herve admitted that his pace had slowed over the years, but his style was still professional. It was in 1949 that Farley first made the headlines. His 226 barrels in 10 and one-half hours, 21.5 per hour, was recognized as an all-time record. Pickers earned 18 cents per barrel at that time.
• Ballet classes for all students of Caribou will begin Oct. 7 at the Caribou Hotel. Class I members include: Tana Frost, Tryna Hayward, Lynn Hayward, Beth Carter, Marjorie Philpot, Eloise Philpot, Kathleen Collins, Linda Currier, Nancy Norton, Mary Siegars, Nieca Caltrider and Stephanie Dunbar. Class II members are Christine Gregory, Libby Siegars, Lyn Martin, Margaret Jaeger, Pamela Hayward, Cheryl Currier, Lisa Vogel, Kristie Freme, Debra Hackett, Kim Tibetts, Andrea Gregory and Diane Etscovitz.
• The varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders of Caribou High School have been selected by the faculty for the coming sports year. Mrs. Hugh Hamlin is faculty advisor of the girls. Varsity cheerleaders include: Barbara Higgins, Sue Smith, Patricia Todd, Nancy Savage, Sally White, Pamela Graham, Linda Doody, Nancy Holmes and Judy Holmes. Junior Varsity members include: Terry Grindle, Jeanne Chapman, Peggy Mahoney, Sue Clowes, Judy Walton, Sybil Jaeger, Jackie Gillingham, Judy Getchell and Elaine Henderson.
• Serving in the Atlantic aboard the guided missile heavy cruiser USS Boston, operating out of Boston, is Delmer J. Cote, seaman, USN, son of Mrs. Louise Cote of Caribou.
