10 years ago – June 19, 1993

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – For people who find Bangor’s pigeons a nuisance, hope is at hand. The city is set to confront the problem using the wonders of chemistry. Chemo-sterilization is the method of choice.

“Over the years, the pigeons have bothered some people. I don’t mind it much,” said Steve Anderson, an owner of the Old World Gourmet Shop on Main Street.

“There are a ton of them down here so I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” he said of the sterilization program. “The alley out back is pigeon heaven and that’s not really a very healthy situation.”

Plans call for city workers to set out whole-kernel corn chemically treated to inhibit reproduction. After ingesting the Ornitrol, pigeons continue their normal mating behavior and the females lay infertile eggs.

“The objective or Ornitrol is to eliminate the production of young and allow natural attrition to reduce the population to desirable levels,” according to a report issued by Dan Wellington of the city’s code enforcement office.

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BANGOR – There was almost a sigh of relief from Hannibal Hamlin when welder Wayne Stearns of N.H. and sculptor Forrest Hart of Hampden fitted the 66-year-old statue with a new cane.

The original cane was stolen in 1988. A ceremony at the statue on Kenduskeag Mall will rededicate the statue of the former vice president to Abraham Lincoln and native son of Bangor.

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GREENBUSH – Pupils from the Helen Dunn School in Greenbush collected two tons of newspapers as part of an expanded recycling program by the Bangor Daily News. The students received a check for $67.50 for their efforts. Skip Chappelle, BDN director of community affairs, helped unload the newspapers with Cassie Goodspeed, Anthony Jones, Amy LeBreton, David Sanborn and Joyce Sanborn.

25 years ago – June 19, 1978

BREWER – Bangor’s loss became Brewer’s gain as one of the oldest rug companies in Maine announced plans to build a quarter-million dollar facility on Outer Wilson Street in Brewer.

The announcement came nearly one year of fruitless appeals and requests by the S.G. Murray & Son Rug Co. to build a new store on Broadway across from the M.L. Coffin Co.

The Murrays had gone before the Bangor City Council, the Bangor Zoning Board of Appeals and the Bangor Planning Board in an effort to get 3 acres of land, near Grandview Avenue, rezoned so they could expand their business.

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CARMEL – A fire destroyed two chicken barns valued at $62,000 and killed about 22,000 chicks. Firemen from three towns battled the flames for about four hours before bringing it under control and saving most of a house attached to one of the barns.

Flames were spread from on chicken barn to the other, about 10 feet away, by wind and extensive heat, a Carmel Fire Department spokesman said.

Fire officials said the cause was not determined but indicated wiring within the building appeared to be the cause.

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HERMON – Linwood Littlefield has been chosen as the first recipient of the Hermon Teachers Association’s Youth Service Award. The award will be given annually to a citizen who has given of himself, or herself, with the interests of the young people of the community as the prime motivation.

Littlefield has served many years on the Hermon School Board, Hermon School District and Hermon recreation committee. He has been an active supporter of athletic programs, both interscholastic and within the community.

50 years ago – June 19, 1953

BANGOR – Extensive redecorating is going on in both St. John’s Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Catholic Church, the former spending about $30,000 and latter $40,000, according to the Right Rev. Monsignor Thomas J. Nelligan and the Right Rev. Monsignor Edward F. Ward of St. John’s and St. Mary’s, respectively.

At St. John’s Church the interior of the church is being redecorated and a new lighting system will be installed. The marks the first time since 1883 that church has been completely redecorated inside. More than 28 years ago, Monsignor Nelligan said, the walls were painted and the ceilings washed.

At St. Mary’s Church, the interior redecorating is the first in 78 years, according to Monsignor Ward, who said the walls and ceilings have been washed two or three times. A new lighting system also is being installed in St. Mary’s and will be in keeping with its Gothic interior.

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VEAZIE – The Busy Bees sewing club of Veazie Grange met at the home of Mrs. June Kennett with Mrs. Betty MacKenzie presiding.

It was voted to donate $10 for the purchase of articles for the grab bag, and it was stated that chairmen for booths for the fair will be announced at the next Grange meeting. The evening was spent sewing a patchwork quilt.

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BRADLEY – Ronald Baker of Bradley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Baker, is sailing as third officer on the Isaac T. Mann, a vessel running coastwise for the Isfrandtzen Shipping Co. Baker, who graduated from the Maine Maritime Academy in Castine this month, received the rank of ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserves.

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BANGOR – Youngsters from the Bangor Children’s Home and St. Michael’s Home will be special guests at this afternoon’s performance of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey circus, through the arrangement of the Bangor Police Department.

100 years ago – June 19, 1903

MILFORD – In Milford town hall next Tuesday night, there should be a good go when Millinocket Kelley and Pat Delaney of Lewiston come together for 10 rounds to a decision.

Kelley’s gait is well-known and Delaney has a long record of battles won and drawn. The bout will no doubt be a last one, and well worth the nice little excursion up river.

There will be some fast preliminaries and it is probable that Mike Kirk will meet some of the fast ones.

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BANGOR – The mystery of the shots in Chapin Park, which were heard shortly before midnight, was explained early Thursday morning when a woman was discovered lying intoxicated under a settee on the Forest Avenue side [of the park].

Her companion had disappeared, but he left his hat and three empty shells from a .32 caliber revolver. Four persons were sitting on the bench under which the woman was found. Persons hurried in from State Street to investigate the shooting. It was a case of drunken mischief.

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BREWER – The banquet to be given by members of the Brewer High School alumni association will take place in City Hall. It is desired that all members of the alumni body attend this “feed” and tickets, which are 50 cents each, may be procured from the members of the committee in charge of arrangements comprising George R. Gardner, Miss Grace Bartlett and Miss Higgins. There will be dancing after the banquet.

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BREWER – The small pupils of Miss Hall’s class enjoyed a day’s outing at Hines Pond, being conveyed to that place in one of the spacious buckboards of Coulter & Grant.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin