YESTERDAY …
10 years ago — Jan. 29, 2005
(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)
HAMPDEN — Approximately 300 times a year, a star explodes somewhere in the universe with cataclysmic energy and produces enough light to be visible through a telescope on Earth.
The event is called a supernova, and Doug Rich of Hampden just discovered his third one in two years. Rich’s powerful 12-inch reflector telescope took a snapshot of the supernova on Dec. 30, and professional astronomers confirmed his discovery of a couple of hours later.
Located in spiral galaxy UGC12663, Rich’s supernova was spotted inside the square of the Pegasus constellation. Its light has been traveling for approximately 350 million years and is just now reaching this planet.
The supernova event produced the same amount of energy as if all of the energy the sun will produce in its 10 billion year lifespan were multiplied by 100. It showed up in Rich’s photograph, however, as a small, dim dot.
25 years ago — Jan. 29, 1990
BANGOR — Florence Miner of Bangor celebrated her 95th birthday. The daughter of Thomas and Mae Trenholm, Mrs. Miner married the late J.J. Miner in August 1915. They had five children, 16 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Mrs. Miner lives with her daughter, Marie Maidlow in Bangor.
BREWER — In celebration of Boy Scouting’s 80th birthday week, Feb. 4-11, Cub Scouts from Den 4 Pack 4 in Brewer painted the windows at State Farm Insurance Agency at 231 North Main St. in Brewer. The young artists doing the painting were Curtis Carter, Ryan Hatch, Darren Cook, Jerrod Renquin, David Long and Jason DuFour. Their den leader is Linda Hatch, and the assistant den leader is Lyndia Renquin.
50 years ago —Jan. 29, 1965
DIXMONT — “They are too young to have any fear, so it’s a good time for them to learn.”
“If they do tumble they don’t have far to go, but just get up and start again.”
These are but a few of the reasons that parents give for starting their children out early in learning the art of skiing. Many parents are members of the Ski Horse Lodge in Dixmont, have started their youngsters out as young as 3 and 4.
Mr. and Mrs. Andre Cushing Jr. of Bangor are starting their tiny daughter, Laura Ann, 1½, on skis this winter. Their son, Andrew 3rd, 5, has been skiing since he was 3½. A fine skier, he seldom falls and does some great maneuvering on the children’s slopes at Ski Horse.
BANGOR — The city of Bangor, fighting an apparent losing battle against Dutch Elm Disease, has turned to the private property owner for help.
Dutch Elm Disease, unless it is sufficiently controlled, could mean the loss of all American elm shade trees in Bangor within 10 to 20 years. There is an estimated 6,000 such trees here.
Bangor has conducted a program against the disease on city-owned trees, but elm trees on private property remain almost wholly untouched, hundreds of them susceptible to the disease and potential spreaders of it.
Rolland Perry, forestry division head in the Public Works department, announced a new program that calls for private contractors working in the program at reduced costs to property owners anxious to promote or remove diseased American elms.
Under the plan, the owners pay only half the cost of pruning or removal, the state foots 30 percent of the cost and the city the remaining 20 percent. Perry estimated that removal of a large elm runs $200 on the average. Pruning will average $35 a tree.
100 years ago — Jan. 29, 1915
BANGOR — At a largely attended earnest and enthusiastic caucus of the Republican voters of Bangor held in City Hall, Bernhard M. Kirstein was nominated as the candidate of the party for mayor. Although it was known that there would be no contest for the nomination, and that therefore the proceedings would be more or less formal, there was a very large attendance of the representative business, professional and laboring men of Bangor, demonstrating the deep interest taken by the voters in the spring campaign, which will be one of marked importance to the welfare of the city.
BREWER — One of the best proofs of the popularity of any book is the extent to which it is read. The Brewer Free Public Library cookbook in its second improved edition is widely read and used, as the fact that an order was received from Tacoma, Washington, just a few days ago, will indicate. This book has been one of the most useful ones ever used in the city and its popularity has extended across the continent.
STETSON — A party of young people attended a social given by Ivan Friend’s school on Ash Hill in Carmel. The carriage in which the party went was a very ancient one and they created considerable sport as they drove along. On arriving at the schoolhouse they were greeted with cheers and they furnished a part of the program for the evening, after which dancing was enjoyed and all returned home at a late hour. The party was composed of Frank Graves, Alva Graves, John Friend, William De Mille, William Moore, Winthrop Friend, Earle Friend. Julian Croxford and Herbert Whitehouse of Newport were guests of Earle and Winthrop Friend.
BUCKSPORT — All are looking forward to the basketball game which will be held in the gymnasium at the Eastern Maine Conference seminary. The game will be played by the “Sem” team and the team from the Shaw Business College of Bangor [now Husson University]. It is thought that the game will be a fast one, and all are looking forward to an enjoyable evening.
BANGOR — The Bangor Water Board has taken action to prevent the dumping of potatoes on the ice of a tributary to the East branch of the Penobscot River at Smyrna Mills, a matter of precaution against possible contamination of Bangor’s water supply, although many miles distant.
John Goldthwait, secretary of the Bangor Board of Health, has received a letter from the State Board of Health stating that the state board had been notified that 24,000 bushels of potatoes, damaged in the fire at the Smyrna Mills potato houses recently, were to be disposed of by dumping them on the ice of the river at Smyrna Mills.
The state board wrote to the Smyrna Mills Board of Health to warn those who are responsible not to take such an action, and to tell them of the danger of doing so, as Bangor and Old Town both derive their water supplies from the river.
STETSON — The icehouse is about completed for the creamery and business is rushing at the receiving station.
Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin