(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Aug. 15, 1992

BANGOR – After a morning of technical lectures, the crews planning to race in balloons across the Atlantic Ocean practiced on their hi-tech satellite communications equipment. Then, as has been the case since they arrived Wednesday from points in Europe and New Mexico, they had a reception with local notables in the evening.

The flight crews from Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the United States each have been paired with local groups who serve as hosts and helpers.

On Friday night the crews and club members met each other in the hangar at Bangor International Airport where the helium-hot air balloons and the rest of the equipment is stored until race day.

For the general public, the first opportunity to catch the spirit will be Saturday night with the “moonglow.” Several hot-air balloons will be inflated on the infield of the Bangor Raceway at Bass Park and illuminated. They will float in the darkness to the new-age music of Steve Jolliffe, formerly of Tangerine Dream.

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EAST CORINTH – A horse show will be held at East Corinth starting at 8 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 23, to benefit the proposed new pediatric care unit at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

The show was organized by Elizabeth LaForge who discovered the need for a new pediatric care unit during a visit to Eastern Maine Medical Center. Her daughter had been taken to the hospital after being thrown from her horse.

“She was admitted and we spent two days together in the Pediatric Care Unit,” LaForge said. “She received excellent care. However, space in the pediatric unit was cramped. Also, there are only a few bathrooms for the entire unit instead of one in each room as in the other areas of the hospital.”

25 years ago – Aug. 15, 1977

ORONO – The Confederate commander had the advantage.

The Union troops, a bunch of fresh infantry who had yet to see battle, had moved into the outer fringe of a peach orchard during the night and were within firing range of Confederate artillery.

So began the re-enactment of a Civil War battle of Gettysburg on Sunday, one of several battles fought this weekend during the Bangor Area War Games Convention at the University of Maine at Orono.

Part of the fun, according to Edward F. Stevens Jr. of Bangor, the organizer of the conference, is to see whether different people commanding battles might have influenced their outcomes.

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HAMPDEN – Kim Nelson is trading in her carpenter’s pants on Monday for the overalls needed for aircraft maintenance, both unlikely occupations for the 18-year-old Hampden resident.

But her involvement in building and now in maintenance on Air Force planes isn’t any crusade for the women’s liberation movement. Those are just the opportunities that have come her way, she said.

Take the carpentry, for example. “I was just doing nothing and Dad said ‘Do you want to work,’ and I said ‘sure,'” Kim said. So last summer she joined her father, George Nelson, and two brothers in building several structures and worked with them again this summer.

50 years ago – Aug.15, 1952

ORRINGTON – Officials of Maurice W. Miles Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, who will sponsor Orrington’s annual Old Home Week celebration, have announced the details for the nine-day event.

The program will open Saturday with Grange Day being observed at Orrington Center; Sunday will feature church services at East Orrington and a horse show at El Rancho; Monday will be Welcome Home Day at Orrington Corner.

Tuesday’s program will be at South Orrington under the auspices of the Ladies Auxiliary VFW and the Boy Scouts. Wednesday will be East Orrington Day while Thursday’s program will feature a program at Orrington Corner and a play at Orrington Center.

South Orrington Day will be observed Friday and will feature a lawn party while Saturday, Aug. 23, will be Orrington Center Day and will feature a Farewell Ball.

The program for Sunday, Aug. 24, is still tentative but will probably feature a ball game.

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BANGOR – Bangor’s proposed $1,200,000 auditorium on the City Farm property may become another casualty of the contemplated Dow Field expansion, according to reports from City Planner Ken Schroeter and Robert N. Haskell, chairmen of the Recreation District trustees.

Due to the uncertainty of future Dow plans, work on the auditorium has been postponed indefinitely, and officials closely associated with the project indicate that the Recreation District may eventually have to find another site for the structure.

Bangor voters approved some time ago the establishment of the Recreation District with authority to spend $1,200,000 on the structure.

The matter has been under close scrutiny since Air Force officials announced their plan to extend Dow Field runways across Hammond street and the outlook grew dimmer last week when Federal Housing Administration officials withdrew their support of a proposed 175-unit housing development on the same property.

100 years ago – Aug.15, 1902

OLD TOWN – Old Town will have a new schoolhouse. It will be a fine one, and the best part of it is that it will be built at once. This was the result of the meeting of the city council on Thursday night.

Mayor Bradbury presided, and all of the board was present, except Aldermen Nadeau, Bailey and Cole.

Chairman Larchar of the building committee reported that two bids had been received as follows: Eben T. Hartwell, Old Town, $20,730; W.F. Sawyer, Bangor, $20,500. These figures were exclusive of the plumbing, heating, grading and the architect’s fees, to be paid by the city. It was estimated that the total cost of the building, ready to open school, will be between $27,000 and $28,000. This being in excess of some $7000 or $8000 over the rough estimate of the architect, the building committee had deemed it wise to refer the matter to the full board.

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BANGOR – Plans are rapidly nearing completion now, for the gigantic labor demonstration on Sept. 2 under the auspices of the various trade unions of Bangor and vicinity and, according to present indications, the occasion will prove even more successful than was the one of last season.

The morning parade will be composed, it is thought, of over 2,500 men. A brilliant ball will be given in the evening to music by the best orchestra obtainable, while in the afternoon a variety of races and athletic sports, together with a number of interesting addresses, will be held at Maplewood for the benefit of what promises to be the largest audiences ever gathered at the park.

The official program for the various sports was completed by Secretary Thomas E. Carlin of the central committee of arrangements on Thursday morning, and is now made public for the first time by the Bangor Daily News, as follows, listing the sport and prize money:

Horse reel race, $100; Professional baseball, $50; Amateur baseball, $25; Professional 100 yds. Dash, $10; Amateur 100 yds. Dash, suitable prize, value $5; Nail driving contest, 3 dozen nails, Henry Disston band saw; Contest for members of Teamsters’ Union, Box of cigars; Heavy Hammer throwing, $2; Greased pole, $2; Three legged race, $2; Sack race, $2; Potato race, $2; Fat man’s race, $2; Lady’s bicycle race, suitable prize, value $3; Gentleman’s bicycle race, suitable prize, value $3.

The committee upon sports is composed of Charles Farrell, W.F. Hardy, and Dennis Finnegan, to whom applications should be made. The entries will remain open until noon of the Wednesday preceding Labor Day.

Compiled by Matt Poliquin