Yesterday …

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10 years ago – May 6, 1994

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

ORONO – Jim and Lisa Lisius recently returned home from a 433-day camping trip.

The husband and wife team completed the first continuous people-powered canoe trip across the United States, 5,100 miles from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

“At one point we were in Tennessee. We pulled to shore and walked up over the bank and met some people,” Lisa said. “Somebody asked us where we put in. We said, ‘The Pacific Ocean.’ They just kind of looked at us.”

That happened a lot along the way.

In trying to put into words the reasons for the trip, they talk of seeing the country firsthand, retracing the adventures of the earliest white explorers. In an interview shortly before they started, Jim said, “Life is tragically short. Make sure you take the time to act foolish. You may not get another chance.”

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BANGOR – A number of family-type promotions are planned for Bangor Raceway this season. The most unique is Chip ‘N’ Putt Night, on May 27, opening night. No, It doesn’t have anything to do with golf, but in size and scope, it is probably the biggest fan giveaway ever presented at Bangor Raceway.

In actuality, Chip ‘N’ Putt is a 4-year-old Standard bred racing filly that Fred Nichols, operator of the raceway, plans to give to some lucky ticket holder on opening night. There are no strings attached in this “win-win” fan promotion and to the new owner, everything is free during the eight-week extended race meet at Bangor with management paying all the bills.

25 years ago – May 6, 1979

BANGOR – The lowly medieval artisan who fashioned a statue of a patriarch that adorned the facade of the Cathedral at Chartres undoubtedly smiled proudly whenever he glimpsed his work as he entered the great portal for Mass. It may not have borne his name, but he knew that he had done it and that it had been a selfless act of faith.

Much the same feeling should unite the group of women who are rushing to completion – for next Christmas – an array of needlepoint pieces that will be assets, aesthetic and practical, to the altar area of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Bangor. Similar individual works have been undertaken in various churches of the city and its environs, but this is probably the first enterprise to be so inclusive.

The major job is the working of 13 kneelers set before the altar rail for use during communion. The women responsible for the work are Janet Conti, Joan Pederson, Alice Wellman, Donna Evans, Marjorie Fort, Alma Doe, Catherine Rowe, Ginney DuBay, Sarah Clark, Lois Soule, Margaret Atwood, Jan MacIntosh and Kay Mairhuber.

“Many community temples,” said Paula Kagan, a prime consultant in this project even though she is of the Jewish faith, “have covered the ark and the scrolls in beautifully woven tapestries. One synagogue had the Pentateuch represented in needlepoint. There’s a distinct effort in many temples to have more work like this done.”

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BANGOR – Bob (“Thanks for the Memories”) Hope has been asked to take his road show up to Bangor during the Oct. 28 weekend.

The sponsoring Greater Bangor-Brewer Chamber of Commerce signed and mailed its half of the contract May 4 in anticipation that the 76-year-old international legend will sign the other side sometime this month.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that the show will have to be guaranteed between $35,000 and $40,000 at Bangor. The first five rows of the auditorium in which he performs have already been spoken for by those who wish to pay a premium of $100 per seat.

Hope has at least one tie with the Pine Tree State in that he was introduced to a career in radio by Portland-born Rudy Vallee.

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BANGOR – Members of the Junior League of Bangor met at the Tarratine Club to welcome new members and to hear two women legislators talk on their views and experiences as women in politics.

State Sen. Olympia Snowe and State Rep. Sandra Prescott encouraged Junior League women to participate in issues of concern and emphasized that women can make a difference. Neither legislator has experienced any discrimination in her job because of being a woman, and they believe that all women legislators are treated the same as men – being judged on only one’s views, capabilities and strength of conviction.

The point was made that in Maine women do not need to prove themselves. They have already demonstrated the ability to work hard along with men.

The meeting was conducted by the new president for 1978-1979, Joni Averill.

50 years ago – May 6, 1954

BANGOR – Announcement was made that the Bangor Transit Co. is going out of business June 20 and that will leave the Bangor area without bus service unless someone else moves in to take over the venture.

Bangor Transit in a formal statement made it clear that it had lost all the money it can afford on an unsuccessful operation.

The formal announcement was made by Alfred Sweeney, vice president of the company, who set forth that in view of the nature of the service, “the public is entitled to all the facts leading to the decision” of closing down bus lines which have served Bangor, Brewer, Old Town, Orono and Hampden many years.

Bangor Transit with its fleet of buses serves a population area of at least 60,000.

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BANGOR – The first round in the polio vaccine trials is over in the Bangor area, but next Monday the little second-grade veterans will be back for a second “shot.” The entire program has passed off without incident and the cooperation of the medical profession, nurses and lay volunteers has been outstanding.

Out of 557 children whose parents signed the request slips, 522 received the inoculations this week.

In the second grades in Bangor, Brewer, Veazie, Old Town and Orono, if you haven’t been wearing a bandage on your arm, you have just been out of the swim. Next, the children will receive polio pioneer pins – a further indication of their participation in the program.

100 years ago – May 6, 1904

BANGOR – The seat sale for “Ben Hur” yesterday morning broke all records in the history of the Opera House. The “first man” was observed sitting in the shadows of the building shortly after 5 o’clock, and from that time until the box office closed at night, that particular part of the city saw no rest.

At 9 o’clock the crowd around the entrance resembled the third act of “Ben Hur” itself, when the stage is crowded, and everybody is very active. There were six lines in the foyer, and a double line went down Main Street as far as Middle.

Promptly at 9 o’clock Manager Owen and Treasurer Goodwin took a few deep breaths and pushed the box office window up. The New York stock exchange in a panic was simple compared with the result caused by that little act. Men stepped on one another’s feet, hats were crushed, everybody tried to get a little nearer, and the lucky ones who were at the window had to fight their way clear when they had procured their pasteboards.

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BANGOR – A suit which was drying in the sun outside a tailor shop on Exchange Street yesterday morning suddenly disappeared. Early in the afternoon, Inspector Knaide overtook a peaceful team traveling north in Veazie and took from it the missing outfit.

When the suit disappeared, the inspector received word to look the matter up. He took a quick turn down Broad Street, found a man who had bought the suit and sold it to a man living in Veazie, started in pursuit, recovered the goods, hustled back down Broad Street, took the man who had bought and sold the clothing to the station, and on refusal to divulge the name of the person from whom he bought it, was locked up.

The officers know what “gang” is involved in the case, but until the person under arrest volunteers the information as to the name of the man who sold it to him, the real thief will not be known.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin