YESTERDAY …
10 years ago — March 26, 2005
(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)
BANGOR — The costume mistresses rummaged through a large Tupperware box filled with jewel tone choir robes and queen-size knee-high stockings.
It was the first rehearsal last week of Columbia Street Baptist Church’s biennial performance in downtown Bangor of a play inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s painting, “The Last Supper” — and Jesus and the Apostles needed to get dressed.
The men of the cast milled around the sanctuary with photocopied scripts in hand and swaths of fabric draped over their T-shirts, flannel shirts and jeans.
Costume mistress Heather Koch was not distracted by the activity that was around her.
WINTERPORT — Three men wearing life jackets walked a small boat across the soft Penobscot River ice pack in a futile attempt to rescue a small mixed breed dog that had fallen through a crack into the frigid water.
The incident occurred shortly after 10 a.m at Bald Hill Cove, which is near the Hamden line and visible to drivers on Route 1A.
The dog, a well fed 45-pound black, brown and white collie shepherd mix without a collar or tags, had been seen chasing deer on the ice at the cove.
25 years ago — March 26, 1990
BANGOR — Share Your Heart is the name of Hillhaven Corp.’s Adopt-A- Resident program. The program was initiated recently at the Bangor Convalescent Center and encourages staff members to “adopt” a resident and be a special friend. At the first group social, participating residents and staff held an ice cream social to kick off the program. Patty Parson, a certified nurse’s aide, and Etta Clark, a resident, shared small talk over ice cream. The staff has responded strongly to the program and most residents already have been paired with special friends.
BANGOR — Sister Mary Norberta is tough, smart, energetic and efficient. And as president of St. Joseph Hospital in Bangor, she is a busy administrator and one of the more visible leaders of Maine’s health care industry.
Sister Norberta is a member of the Felician Sisters, the order that started St. Joseph Hospital in 1947 and still runs the hospital.
As an elementary student in South Boston, Sister Norberta attended Catholic schools and idolized the nuns. After finishing nursing school, she worked for a while and decided to enter the convent. It wasn’t a decision that her family thought appropriate.
50 years ago — March 26, 1965
BANGOR — Bangor faces the end of this decade and deactivation of Dow Air Force Base in good company.
The highly publicized economy axe Defense Secretary Robert McNamara wielded last November touched six other cities with major Air Force bases in or near their perimeters. All six municipalities probably will find themselves in possession of Dow-type installations by the year 1970.
They stretch from New England to the Rocky Mountain states in almost geographic distribution. The Air Force did not discriminate against any single section in its deactivation plans.
BANGOR — Kenneth Wilson of 326 14th St. settled down for a nap in the noonday sun after a brief tussle with a storm window that kept out the bitter cold. Some persons believe that it’s still a bit early to be taking off the storm windows, especially with the cold of the past few days. Thursday’s high temperature was 41 degrees with an early morning low of 19 recorded. The same general weather conditions are expected to prevail today.
The Pine Tree Chapter of B’nai B’rith installed officers at its annual Donor Dinner at the Jewish Community Center. An entertainment feature of the evening was a fashion show presented by the B’nai B’rith Girls. Taking part in the event were Mrs. Max Cohen, president, and Mrs. Martin Cantor, district past president.
100 years ago — March 26, 1915
BANGOR — There has been a good deal of discussion in the past few days concerning the enlarging of the school board and placing two women thereon, the data being presented and argued in joint convention of the city council, at which time action was delayed until the next regular meeting. It was stated in the discussion that Bangor should be up-to-date and follow the example of other cities by adding women to the school board.
A prominent citizen who has been interested in Bangor schools points out to a NEWS representative that Bangor has led in this respect, although this seems to have been temporarily forgotten by many. As a matter of fact, Bangor was the first city or town in the state to have a woman on the school board and chosen as superintendent of schools, Miss Mary S. Snow having served in that capacity for a number of years. She was chosen as a member of the school board in the administration of Mayor Edward H. Blake in 1890, it being necessary at that time that she be a member of the board in order to be elected superintendent of schools. Miss Snow is remembered as one of the most capable officials in that capacity ever known in Bangor. She was called to Brooklyn and later to Chicago to fill much more responsible and honorary, not to say lucrative, positions.
BANGOR — The military meeting held in the armory of Co. G is a great success in every way, demonstrating the deep interest taken in Bangor in the new machine gun company in Co. G, which latter is now in a high state of efficiency since the weeding out process instituted by Capt. Gould and the enlistment of a fine class of young men.
The armory was filled to capacity and much interest was manifested in the proceedings. Major W. E. Southard gave a fine lecture on military mapmaking and interesting speeches were made by Capt. Ashworth. Outlining the work of the machine gun company was Capt. Gould and Lieut. H.L. Bryant. Co. G in full uniform gave a close order drill with splendid precision.
One result of the gathering was the enlistment of nine men in the new machine gun company, three being sworn in, and the statement by a number of others that they would enlist in a day or two. Co. G also took in two new men, the company being now recruited beyond the minimum peace strength.
It is evident that Bangor will have a crack machine gun company, and with this and Co. G the city will have two of the best military organizations in the state. The third military organization of Bangor, the Second Maine Regiment Band, under the direction of A.W. Sprague, is too well known to need praise.
Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin