YESTERDAY …
10 years ago — May 21, 2005
(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)
BANGOR — Clad in a black academic robe, Linda Anne Hatch stood in the center aisle of the First United Methodist Church in Bangor gently cradling a bouquet of flowers.
In one hand she clutched a gift bag, and in the other, a diploma that declared her a master of divinity.
Hatch, 58, of Corinth was one of 16 students who graduated from Bangor Theological Seminary during its 186th commencement ceremony. The ceremony was expected to be the last graduation held on the historic campus before the seminary’s planned move this summer across town to the Husson College campus.
25 years ago — May 21, 1990
BANGOR — On sunny spring days, Sprague’s Nursery and Garden Center is the site of a shopping frenzy that would do Filene’s Basement proud. Homeowners flock to the Bangor business to buy vegetable and flower seeds and seedlings, trees, shrubs and garden supplies. But Sprague’s is more than a retail center. It also provides landscaping services and serves as a wholesale supplier to landscapers and other nurseries and retail establishments.
Harvey Sprague Sr. started the business in 1947. His sons, Harvey Jr. and Dan, grew up tending nursery stock and catering to customers. When Harvey Sr. died in 1971, his sons and wife, Mildred, took over the operation. Today, Harvey Jr. serves as president and Dan is vice president.
Sprague’s nursery stock is planted on a 40-acre site on the Kenduskeag-Levant border. Each spring, Harvey Sprague’s crew plants hundreds of new young trees and gathers hundreds of others that are ready for transplanting to local house lots.
ORONO — Michael Hutchins, a Brewer High School teacher and master mathematics teacher with the Upward Bound program at the University of Maine, has received a competitive Christa McAuliffe Fellowship for 1990-91.
The national award, given to a selected individual in each state, is designed to reward excellence in teaching by encouraging teachers to pursue a year of innovative and scholarly work that will improve the knowledge and skills of teachers and the education of students.
Established three years ago, the annual award commemorates the Concord, New Hampshire, teacher who was killed when the space shuttle Challenger exploded in 1986.
As Maine’s Christa McAuliffe Fellow, Hutchins, who also has taught in Orono and Madawaska high schools, will be a consultant to Upward Bound at the university where he will focus on developing and raising student aspirations, and writing computer curriculum and assessment tests for high school students served by the program.
ORONO — Orono’s Tom Harper has chili in his blood. Hopper, who grew up in a small town near Seattle, had a transplanted Texan for father.
Harper took pains to point out that what Mainers think of as chili is actually chili con carne with beans. Chili by itself is just a sauce.
The right blend of spices and the heat they generate are what sets apart good chili, Harper said.
Harper got his basic recipe for chili from John Peirce of Orono, then made some minor modifications. He said the Knorr’s chili seasoning mix is the key.
BREWER — Brewer Day organizers said they would hold the fourth annual Brewer Day, come rain or shine, and rain it did. Although the morning parade was canceled, visitors’ spirits apparently were not dampened and the rest of the entertainment may have benefited from the rainy day. From an early morning fun run to the evening concert featuring Maine humorist Tim Sample and Devonsquare, the crowd remained steady.
Kay Allcroft, chairman of the Brewer Business Council, said the rain probably encouraged people to visit the yard sale inside the auditorium. She said that business council organizers were pleased with the sale and that all table space had been sold out.
Although the parade had been canceled, clowns who would’ve been in the parade visited the auditorium and helped entertain children.
50 years ago — May 21, 1965
HAMPDEN — The well-known Arlene’s Restaurant on Route 1A in Hampden Center will hold its official reopening under new management, Thomas Mourkas Jr., formerly of the M&M Coffee Shop in Bangor. The restaurant’s kitchen has been completely remodeled, and the downstairs portion has been redesigned under the name, “The Copper Penny.” The restaurant seats 140 persons in both levels, and was entirely remodeled two years ago.
BANGOR — The gardening techniques of Judson Lord, 61, have given the Fruit Street School the look of a tropical beauty spot. Lord, a real hand at gardening, having been in the business for many years in Herman, has growing at the school elephants ears, date palms and Mexican flaming vines. Also adding color to the setting is geraniums. Lord has been a custodian at the school since its opening in 1954.
BRADLEY — A reception in honor of Mrs. Marjorie Mann Hilliker will be held at the Bradley Town Hall.
Mrs. Hilliker is retiring from teaching after 46 years of service, mostly in the Bradley school system. All friends, former pupils and associates are invited to attend the reception.
100 years ago — May 21, 1915
BREWER — A great many parents and friends of the pupils have already shown their interest in the school work by attending the exhibitions of drawing and manual training held for the past two afternoons in the South Brewer and Sargent schools.
The exhibit included drawing, sewing, manual training and writing, and showed much skill on the part of pupils in all the grades. Much attention was given to the Japanese sand table arrangement done by Miss Hope Robinson’s pupils and also to the miniature freight yard, station and cars constructed from paper by the first-grade pupils.
BREWER — On Monday afternoon the marriage of Miss Georgia Verrow of South Brewer and Eugene W. Graves of Brewer was solemnized. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. C.W. Collins at the rectory of St. Teresa’s church. The couple were attended by Miss Christine Goodwin and John Geagan, both of this city. A reception was given to Mr. and Mrs. Graves at the home of the groom’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Graves on Monday evening. A large number of friends and relatives were present to extend best wishes to the young couple. They will reside in Brewer.
Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin