10 years ago – Dec. 27, 1991

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

When you hear of the John Birch Society, you might think of the old hard-line, right-wingers, “searching for a communist under every bed.”

But like the Cold War, and even communism itself, the society has changed, and tucked away in homes and offices in Maine, a few chapters have cropped up over the years. Nationally, the society was formed in December 1958 by Robert H.W. Welch Jr., a retired Boston candy maker who created the Sugar Daddy, and named the group after John Birch, an American Baptist missionary and Army intelligence officer killed by Chinese Communists in 1945.

The Bangor-area chapter was created in 1990, and the seven or so members now meet monthly in a Brewer home.

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Four children who might have had a barren Christmas were surprised Christmas morning to find a tree loaded with presents, including a new BMX bicycle, a tricycle and a doll house.

It was a Christmas a Milford family will never forget, a Christmas that was made possible by donations from people around the state who read of the family’s financial problems, caused in part by a child’s debilitating disease, Tourette’s syndrome.

25 years ago – Dec. 27, 1976

The Hermon Hawks, Old Town Indians, Hampden Academy Broncos, Orono Red Riots and Brewer Witches make their first Bangor Auditorium appearances of the season Monday night as they join the Bangor Christian Patriots, John Bapst Crusaders and host Bangor Rams at the first annual Greater Bangor Holiday Basketball Tournament.

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Acting Bangor City Manager John Flynn said Wednesday that Bangor business establishments may use the Sawyer landfill site at Hampden for rubbish disposal.

But trucks of under 11/2 tons will not be allowed to use the Hampden site unless special arrangements are made through the city manager’s office, Flynn said.

50 years ago – Dec. 27, 1951

Potato growers would be wise to buy their Maine “Blue Tag” Certified seed for 1952 planting at once, said Oscar L. Wyman, Extension Service crops specialist of the University of Maine.

“The need for ordering early is especially important this winter. There’s less certified potato seed available because of the smaller acreage planted in Maine in 1951,” he explained. “Also, the acreage in the South is increasing considerably over last year and this is making for a much greater demand on Maine potato seed.”

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Plans are already under way for a gala New Year’s Eve in Bangor, and this year the parties will be in progress until 2 a.m. Wednesday. In addition to numerous public parties there will be scores of parties in private homes as families and friends gather to watch the old year out and welcome 1952.

100 years ago – Dec. 27, 1901

With a back constantly aching. With distressing urinary disorders. Doan’s Kidney Pills will cure you and Bangor people endorse this claim.

“I learned about Doan’s Kidney Pills and took a box. The treatment greatly benefited me and my son got me two boxes more,” said Mrs. Sarah Douglass of Ohio Street. “The result of their use was most gratifying. The pain in my back and bladder disappeared and I am as near being cured as a person of my advanced age could expect.”

Price 50 cents a box.

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Those frightful noises which occasionally rend the midnight air in Brewer should cause no alarm. It is only the Algonquin Club soloist practicing for the Old Bachelors Convention.

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J.N.V. Lane, who has the contract for the wiring of the new fire alarm system, has a crew at work stringing the wires. The Public Works company’s poles are used. While all the boxes are on practically one circuit, arrangements will be made to cut out the South Brewer line in case of trouble on that line so that there can be no conditions which would cripple the entire system.

Compiled by Mark Haskell