10 years ago – Sept. 18, 1993

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – The conclusions of a new national study that routinely giving ultrasound scans to all pregnant women is unnecessary probably won’t have much effect on how obstetricians do things in Bangor.

The study, described in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggested that routine use of ultrasound in pregnant women is no more helpful than doing a sonogram only when there is a reason. Researchers found that 80 percent of all pregnant women are at such low risk that they do not need ultrasound unless problems arise. It also concluded that unnecessary use of the procedure may waste more than $1 billion a year.

A Bangor physician doesn’t think it’s going to change “how people practice medicine in Bangor, Maine.”

Dr. Robert Grover, member of an obstetrics and gynecology practice with Dr. Michael Solomon and Dr. Murray Lebowitz, said he and his associates don’t believe in performing the scans on every obstetrical patient.

“I was trained in the military system,” Grover said. “We did not do routine screenings.”

25 years ago – Sept. 18, 1978

WINTERPORT – World-wise merchants may recognize it as a familiar scam.

A man walks into a store, makes a small purchase, then asks for a new $10 bill to put in a card for a friend. He hands the clerk nine one-dollar bills, then when the clerk calls him on it, he feigns confusion, then hands him a one. Then he takes the ten ones, and the ten-dollar bill from the clerk, and says, “Oh, er, could I have a twenty instead,” and hands the clerk the store’s ten and his ten ones.

Confused? Well, the clerk probably would be too by that time, particularly if there is a line at the counter, and if the quick-change artist acts angry enough – and that’s the idea – he may get out of the store with an extra ten-dollar bill for his efforts.

At least that’s what nearly happened at Meehan’s Village Market in Winterport. But the clerk was paying attention, proprietor Jack Meehan said.

“I was just concerned that other merchants might have the same thing happen to them,” he said after the incident. The young man parked his car out of sight of the store and left quickly when it was apparent his scam hadn’t paid off, Meehan said.

50 years ago – Sept. 18, 1953

BANGOR – The Nineties may have been gay for some, but if the chair especially built for tramps in 1885 is a standard, life was pretty difficult for those “knights of the open road” in Bangor.

The chair, designed to confine a man between two networks of iron a foot apart, is only one of the many relics of the city and nation’s past on display at the Bangor Historical Society Museum, in the GAR Memorial Home, Union Street.

The society had kept some possessions on display in the exhibition room of the library until last January, when the entire collection was packed away and moved to the GAR Home.

Since the society’s first collection of relics of Bangor’s history was destroyed in the fire of 1911, an entirely new group of antiques and remnants of another day have been assembled.

There are many mementos of Bangor’s seafaring past in the porch-ringed building, but none more striking than the gray-blue, slightly cracked figurehead of the Goddess Minerva which once faced salt spray from the prow of a ship. Carved by Thomas Seavey of Bangor (1811-1886), the serene goddess was mounted in front of a shipping store after she was removed from the ship.

There are Indian relics aplenty – silver crown and bracelets from Old Town, circa 1836, and a scarred desk bearing the marks of British bayonets from the War of 1812.

All these help to make the pages of history alive to visitors.

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OLD TOWN – First Lt. Richard L. Nibeck, whose wife, Claudia, and two children live at 26 North Fourth St. in Old Town, received the Bronze Star from his group executive officer, Lt. Col. Douglas M. Montgomery. As a weather officer for the 474th Group of the 58th Fighter Bomber Wing in Korea, Lt. Nibeck, despite a shortage of weather reporting stations, by his accuracy of prediction assisted his group in flying a record number of combat sorties.

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OLD TOWN – A 15-year-old girl from Old Town was admitted to the Eastern Maine General Hospital with polio Thursday, bringing the hospital’s census up to 13 cases. One of the patients admitted Wednesday has had to be placed in a respirator, bringing the iron lung cases to three.

Dr. Harry D. McNeil, city health officer, said Thursday night that the Old Town girl has weakness of the right leg, neck and back muscles.

Total cases at EMGH this year has been 27.

100 years ago – Sept. 18, 1903

ORONO – The University of Maine opened today with the largest class entering in the history of the institution. Each year has seen a big increase in the number of new men, but the class this year beats all former records.

The freshman class, even before they were fairly installed in quarters about town, accomplished the test of courage which has from time immemorial been held a sacred custom, that of adorning the stand-pie with class numerals. This feat was evidently accomplished in the small hours of Wednesday night, for this morning the sophomores viewed with dismay that their symbols of supremacy had given away to “1907.”

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BREWER – A special meeting of the city council was held to consider the smallpox situation. The result was that a pest house will be built at once

Dr. Lethie, chairman of the board of health, said that there was at present one case of smallpox in Brewer, but that every possible precaution had been taken. All the inmates of the infected house had been vaccinated and all exposed had been placed on parole. He was confident the situation was under good control.

One of the aldermen suggested that the case might be taken to the Bangor pest house but this did not meet with general approval. Alderman Carter said that he thought that building which would answer the present needs could be built for less than $600.

Dr. Lethie said that there was an ideal location on the city farm with would answer every purpose.

There will be free vaccination at City Hall on Saturday for all who care to avail themselves of the opportunity.

Next week Dr. Lethie will visit all the schools and vaccinate all those who have not been so treated.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin