YESTERDAY …
10 years ago — Aug. 4, 2001
(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)
The velvety gray shape slipped silently into the waters of Pushaw Lake as a small crowd gathered to watch. It was Bill Terra’s battleship — a model so large that, from a distance, and without landmarks to compare with it, some might mistake it for the real thing.
Terra, who piloted the 28-foot Admiral Graf Spee effortlessly along the shoreline, was hailed at just about every private dock on the lake, so it took a long time to make the circuit back to Gould’s Landing. At each dock, Terra said, he was plied with drinks and questions about the model, and even was invited to join an exclusive club for lake dwellers.
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BANGOR — County officials and employees from Fort Kent to Kittery will be in Bangor next month when Penobscot County plays host for the Maine County Commissioners Association’s annual convention, a role it last played 11 years ago. The theme of the convention is “Stronger Counties for a Stronger Maine.”
Hot topics to be addressed during panel discussions are “E-911: Past, Present, Future;” “Jail Population: Overcrowding, Underfunding;” and “Feng Shui in Your Workplace.”
25 years ago — Aug. 4, 1986
BANGOR — Beyond the open door, tires hiss along Garland Street and headlights poke shafts of yellow light through the rain. When the schoolchildren arrive, their feet slap on the wooden steps that lead up to MacDonald’s Market.
A little boy walks into the store, leading a younger sister by the hand. “Mister, how much do your ice creams cost?” he asks Mike Strang, the young man behind the counter.
Quickly the store fills up with customers. Strang is courteously friendly to the older ones and he jokes with the teenage boys who bring in wet bags filled with empty bottles.
Strang worked as a marine biologist before coming back to this place of low ceilings, creaky floorboards and shadowy aisles. His father, Dick, has owned the store for 10 years, and Strang plans to buy him out one day to keep the business in the family.
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BANGOR — Painted Pony, a gift shop located at 99 Center St., opened last week. Owner Susan Price sells a variety of gift items, including hand-blown art glass, antiques, crystal, dollhouse furniture, soaps, quilts and jewelry.
50 years ago — Aug. 4, 1961
BANGOR — The Penobscot County Commissioners have informed the Commissioner of Education that they are “very much interested” in locating a state vocational school in the county.
On July 28, the Bangor Chamber of Commerce sent letters to Commissioner Hill and state Gov. John H. Reed, asking that they take into consideration Bangor as a location for the school.
When the Maine Legislature approved the new school it was believed by many that Presque Isle was the designated place for the facility. It has since been pointed out that the location has not been announced, but will be decided by the State Board of Education.
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ORONO — Wives of the players participating in the Paul Bunyan Golf Tourney at the Penobscot Country Club are wearing a variety of sports clothes. Shorts and sweaters, usually the most comfortable, are prevalent, but would be more so if the weather were a trifle warmer. One sees toreadors, tapered slacks and the conventional spectator cottons.
One of the most exotic gals at the tourney is Merna Breno, wife of Jack Breno, pro at the Hill View Country Club in North Reading, Mass. She was wearing tapered slacks in a brilliant orange hue and her over-blouse was figured and also featured orange.
Barbara Marcussen, wife of Herbert Marcussen of Detroit, Mich., was wearing a dress of violet with a light violet sweater piped in deep violet, and she complemented her ensemble with four strands of pearls.
100 years ago — Aug. 4, 1911
BANGOR — Manager Field of the Eastern Maine State Fair has introduced a distinct innovation in engaging Bonnette to make ascensions every day in his aeroplane, The Vermont No. 1.
Thus, for the first time in the state of Maine, a bird man will fly and people of this section will have the opportunity of witnessing a remarkable sight. Bonnette has agreed to make five flights or forfeit his salary so that it readily can be seen that he means business. This attraction is expected to be the means of bringing many to the fairgrounds.
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EAST EDDINGTON — Alonzo Gray, a boy of 12, who lives in the family of John Goodell on the Holden Road, took it into his head that he wanted a vacation with adventure and hair-breadth escape of the “yellow literature” sort.
Without consulting anybody he gathered his belongings together and, putting them in his little wagon, wheeled them in the early morning, before the family was up, to a remote corner of a back field. Being missed soon after his departure, he was tracked to his hiding place and Alonzo fled to the woods, leaving his goods and chattel behind. Later that day, he was seen in Clifton and still later it was found that he was at the home of an acquaintance on Rebel Hill, enjoying his visit to the utmost and was very reluctantly induced to return home.
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EAST EDDINGTON — Interest is centered at present on the Centennial celebration of the organization of the town. The committee has spared no pains to make it the event of years and it is expected and hoped that the town will be filled with residents of former years and with all those who have been interested in the place and its prosperity.
A dinner will be served in the town hall, after which there will be music and speeches by celebrated, famous and talented townspeople. For the evening’s entertainment, Pullen’s orchestra and the Apollo quartet of Bangor have been engaged. After the concert there will be dancing with music by the same orchestra.
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BUCKSPORT — George W. O’Dea will sell his power speed boat Wasp, which is a fast one, and first class. The only reason for selling is that he is having a large one built for him. It will be 40 feet in length, fitted with a 200-hp engine.
COMPILED BY ARDEANA HAMLIN