10 years ago – Feb. 27, 1992

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – A Glenburn family moved from a cramped trailer to its own three-bedroom home on Parker Street, Bangor, becoming the second Penobscot County family to benefit from a home construction project by Habitat for Humanity of Greater Bangor.

About 50 volunteers recruited by the organization built the five-room home, complete with a wheelchair ramp, in four months.

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ORONO – The University of Maine finished “in the middle of the pack” among 31 university teams in the Association for Computer Machinery Scholastic Programming Contest finals held Feb. 17 in Indianapolis. Team members included Heidi Bishop of Bangor.

Faculty adviser Thomas Byther of Old Town, chairman and associate professor of computer science, said the UM team had competed against some of the best collage programmers in the world.

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BANGOR – Cindy Blodgett of Lawrence, and dark horses like Medomak Valley of Waldoboro – it’s part of the beauty of the event. But the outside world can intrude even on the big school tournament. It happened. Once. Fifty years ago. The Year There Was No Tournament.

“As I recall, it was decided partway through the season there wouldn’t be a tournament,” said Brewer resident John Luke, a member of the unbeaten 1943 Stearns High School Squad from Millinocket that would be denied its chance at making tournament history, thanks to World War II.

25 years ago – Feb. 27, 1978

HERMON – The Hermon girls made their third trip to the Eastern Maine Class B finals in as many years Saturday night and came away with their second sectional championship by virtue of a 49-40 victory over the Tigers of Dexter at Bangor Auditorium.

Hermon, using a quick-handed defense which accounted for a number of steals and resulting fast-break baskets, trailed only briefly in the game, 4-2, before taking a lead which they never relinquished.

The Hawks, with Gayle Gurschick and Cathy Nason providing steals and speed, jumped out to an 11-5 first period margin.

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HAMPDEN – A proposed general assistance ordinance, formation of a municipal building committee and the hours for the municipal election will be among the items discussed by the Hampden Town Council.

Also on the agenda is a communication for the state Department of Transportation concerning proposed blinking lights along the Main Road to indicate the school zone.

Richard Jenkins is expected to discuss the duties of various council committees, and the town manager will bring up some budget items. The council also will talk about the sale of town-owned property.

50 years ago – Feb. 27, 1953

BANGOR – The Faithful Workers 4-H Club met at the home of the leader, Mrs. Marion Smith. Mrs. Corrine Fletcher spoke to the group on sewing and cooking programs and discussed courses at the University of Maine. Marjorie Conant, Sandra Smith and Carline Johnson have completed the first-year work in sewing and cooking and it was announced that they are ready for second-year projects. Refreshments were served by Gloria Smith during a social hour.

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BANGOR – The National Guard Officers’ Wives Club entertained members of the club at a meeting at the Bangor Armory. Mrs. Nancy Huggard Erickson of the Sherwin Williams Company spoke to the group on color styling for the home. Mrs. Frederick McInnis presided at a brief business session. Hostesses for the next meeting will be Mrs. Roger Averill and Mrs. Benjamin Segal. Refreshments were served during the social hour by Mrs. Earl Tracey.

100 years ago – Feb. 27, 1903

BANGOR – “I am looking forward to a good year in the bicycle business,” said E.H. Dakin of the Bangor Sporting Goods company, in speaking of the outlook for that sport during the coming summer.

“Bicycling has passed the fad stage and all that, but it won’t fall away to nothing as some people think,” he said. “There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the growing interest in automobiling. While that is not felt so much down here in Bangor and vicinity, it has, nevertheless, an effect on the sport down here, for many parties from away come to Maine and tour the state each year in their autos, and the number who come is increasing with every passing year.

“The growth of this sport is aiding the good roads movement more than anything else ever did,” Dakin said, “and it is in this that the bicycle gains ground. With improved roads the pleasures of cycling are greater and the work of the sport less, so that the sales of wheels continues to hold up and not decline as has been predicted each year since 1897.”

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BANGOR – The man or woman who has neglected to sail along the Penobscot in early spring has missed a treat of a lifetime.

Glorious as our coast scenery is in autumn when the hills are hazy and the woods are gold and crimson, sweet as the scene is in summertime when the waves are stilled and the woods and fields come down to the banks radiant in their fresh greenery, resplendent as is the view at all times – to our mind there are few weeks in March and April of every year when the very acme of pleasure can be derived from a trip up and down our river.

It is then that the tips on the limbs of the deciduous trees begin to blush pinkly under the caresses of the on-coming sun. It is then that the air is most invigorating, and it is at this time one feels most keenly the promise of spring.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin