115 Years Ago: Nov. 5, 1896
• Potatoes are at 80 cents per barrel today.
• Charles B. Lovely weighed an ox Monday and the animal tipped the scales at 1,885 pounds.
• Shaw and Mitton, the meat market men and grocers, have been compelled, by a large and increasing business, to lease the store joining their store on the east in the same block, where they will keep heavy groceries. The two stores will be connected by an archway.
• The election Tuesday, was one of the quietest ever held in Caribou. There was hardly any excitement and not a single disturbance during the day.
• The new electric light station will be completed this week and the engine and boiler placed in position so that the change of dynamos, etc., from E. P. Grimes’ Mill will be affected about Monday, after which time the electric current will be turned on early during the afternoons and will be on all night.
100 Years Ago: Nov. 9, 1911
• Potatoes reached the highest price of the season last Thursday when one load was sold for $2.01 per barrel. The prevailing price was $1.90, but one dealer wished to complete loading his car and offered the price named, especially as the load was a choice lot.
• The governor and council have announced their decision to accept the corrections on the vote of Limestone, Westfield, Athens and Matinicus, which defeats the repeal of constitutional prohibition of alcohol in Maine by 758 votes.
• Mrs. Olive Fair, one of Caribou’s prosperous milliners and her trimmer, Miss Lillian Johnson, formerly with the James sisters here, were in town Sunday by team and were pleasant callers at the home of Mrs. Forbes.
• Miss Maude Harris, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Hiram Harris, was united in marriage at the Methodist parsonage Monday night by Rev. James H. Gray to Emory O. Skillen. They will go to housekeeping at once in Mr. Skillen’s place on Sweden Street.
• Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Harmon, who went to Minnesota about a year ago, returned home Friday.
75 Years Ago: Nov. 5, 1936
• “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” was the rule this morning when cars without chains attempted North Main Street hill and other hills throughout the town. The five or six inches of wet snow that fell last night and this morning created very disagreeable traveling conditions.
• Miss Barbara Smith, Miss Prudence Piper, Miss Anna Spooner and Miss Betty Boone attended the Maine-Colby football game in Orono Saturday, returning Sunday.
• Mrs. Hazel McNeal Bennett of Houlton is visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank McNeal on Limestone Street.
• The Vaughn House was seriously threatened by fire Wednesday evening when an exploding oil tank in the basement spread burning oil over that section of the basement beneath the kitchen and the fire worked its way up to the kitchen and to the second floor. The alarm sounded at 10 o’clock from the corner of Main and Sweden streets and at that time smoke was pouring from the several floors of the ell where the kitchen is located. The smoke filled the hotel so rapidly that guests grabbed whatever they could reach conveniently and left their rooms, those who had retired even going out without proper clothing, some with only an overcoat thrown over their underclothes. Major N.E. McCluer, who with Mrs. McCluer occupies a room over the dining room on the second floor, described the explosion as a dull roar, the walls of the room seeming to expand. The 225-gallon oil tank, which was connected with the large range in the kitchen, was situated immediately under the kitchen.
50 Years Ago: Nov. 9, 1961
• Prospects for at least a million dollar hike in the Caribou valuation by 1963 are considered good at this time. Building permits to the value of $562,600 have been issued so far this year according to Don Hempill, tax assessor.
• The Buttercup Brownie Troop under the leadership of Mrs. Loren Wakem and Mrs. Nora Hitchings, held its first meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall. A get-acquainted time was held for the many new members who are Sylvia Anderson, Jean Marie Wakem, Ginny Dow, Judy Beaulieu, Connie Albair, Susan Wakem, Gail Ouellette, Colleen Cote, Christine Gregory, Kathy Richards, Sally Wakem, Colleen Bouchard and Christine Freme.
