Yesterday …

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10 years ago – June 13, 1992

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

EDDINGTON – Paul Minor of the Maine Department of Transportation met with the Eddington Board of Selectmen on Tuesday to discuss issues pertaining to Route 46, the reclassification of Route 9, and the replacement of the Bangor-Brewer bridge.

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ORRINGTON – You can bury your trash or burn it.

As long as people have wanted to get rid of things, they have done one or the other. In 1984, grappling with a seemingly endless trash crisis, the towns around Bangor decided to burn it.

Today, after eight years of political bickering, legal wrangling, performance problems and price fluctuations, those same towns are wondering if they are the ones who got burned.

In 1984, burning trash looked like the lesser of two evils, a costly, dirty, and difficult process. Nobody was excited about it – not until the Penobscot Energy Recovery Co., appeared with the answers people wanted to hear.

The towns loved PERC, because it promised to dispose of all their garbage for the next 30 years at the bargain price of $10 a ton.

The state loved PERC because PERC’s Orrington incinerator would put leaky dumps out of business.

25 years ago – June 13, 1977

ORONO – Participants in University Week at the University of Maine at Orono June 6 through 9 came from all parts of the state, but worked together on the Senior Community Service Project.

They were also all senior citizens, ranging in age from 55 to more than 80, but they were enthusiastic students who will return to their jobs Monday well versed in opportunities available in Maine and at the UMO campus.

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BANGOR – Dashing into its 118th season, it is the second oldest continuous functioning band in the United States, the Bangor Band will initiate its 1977 season on Tuesday, June 14, at 7 p.m., at the recently renovated grandstand at Bass Park.

Under the direction of Anne Simoneau, elected to the post for a two-year term, this 40-piece organization, up this year by 6 to 8 players, will entertain all comers on Tuesday nights until July 26.

50 years ago – June 13, 1952

BANGOR – Despite a sudden downpour of rain that caught everyone by surprise, thousands of people flocked to Bass Park yesterday afternoon for performances by the King Brothers and Cristiani Combined circus, which was brought here under the auspices of Norman N. Dow post, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The heavy rain showers were unable to dampen the spirits of the young and old, who turned out for the gala event and the three rings of stellar talent. The circus operators even had to bring in extra chairs to accommodate the more than capacity crowds.

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BANGOR – Marie Hersey and Gail and Judy Drummond, while picking flowers in Hersey’s Woods Thursday afternoon looked up to see a deer. The deer spied the children at the same moment, gave a leap and started off down Hammond Street.

The children, the oldest of whom is 11, were as startled as the animal.

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BANGOR – Be extra careful today, folks, it’s Friday the 13th.

Today, of all days, is when people expect the worst on the one hand and hope for the best – with their fingers crossed – on the other hand.

Most of us are extra careful on Friday, the 13th. We try not to tempt fate any more than possible and are especially mindful of the “taboos”- no breaking of mirrors, no black cats crossing our path, no three on a match, and no passing under ladders.

100 years ago – June 13, 1902

BANGOR – On Friday night in City Hall, before an audience crowding the spacious auditorium to overflowing, with the applause of admiring friends and the inspiring accessories of bright lights and elaborate decorations, sixty members of the class of 1902 will receive diplomas declaring them to be graduates of the Bangor high school and fitted to “participate in all the privileges and honors to which such graduates are entitled.” Music will be furnished, as usual, by Pullen’s orchestra, and essays have been assigned.

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BANGOR – At 7:58 o’clock on Thursday night an alarm of fire was pulled in from box 15, Exchange and Hancock streets, for a fire in the frame building at Exchange and Washington streets, owned by Mrs. Julia Sullivan of 75 Maple Street, which at one time threatened to become a serious conflagration but which, thanks to the prompt and efficient work of the firemen, was extinguished without a great loss of property.

The building was occupied on the ground floor by P.H. McNamara, cigars and tobacco, Will B. Smith & Co., clothiers; Edward White, restaurant; on the second floor was located the ticket and ship brokers office of John C. Wilson, barber shop of Conners & Scribner, employment office of Matthew Cowhig and Edwin White and family as a living apartment, all of whom suffered more or less damage, the greater part of which was by water.

The fire started in the attic from exactly what cause is not known and burned away fiercely for some time before being discovered.

A boarder in White’s apartment on the second floor started for his room and found the place filled with smoke. He at once gave the alarm and in a very short time Exchange Street was filled with hurrying firemen and apparatus.

Compiled by Matthew Poliquin