(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Aug. 12, 1994

BREWER – City councilors learned from Clayton Hardy of the conservation commission that Brewer’s 57.3 miles of streets have 3,175 shade trees and 1,562 potential sites for additional plantings.

Hardy delivered a report on the recently completed Brewer Community Forest Management Plan prepared for the city of Brewer by the James W. Sewall Co. of Old Town.

With the assistance of 20 volunteers and hundreds of hours devoted to walking the streets, they began identifying trees, making a height estimation, diameter determination, identified problem trees and examined each tree.

It was determined that Norway maple was the most common species, representing 21 percent of the trees examined. Spruce accounted for 13 percent and pine and red maple both came in at 8 percent. Other species included ash, mountain ash, cedar, poplar, box elder, sugar maple, crabapple, silver maple and birch.

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ALTON – It’s not every day that a town turns 150 years old. For Alton, the actual day was March 9, but the summer seemed to be the time for the community sesquicentennial celebration.

Alton, along with Argyle, was part of the region originally known as Birch Stream Settlement. Stephen Tourtillot and his family built the first log cabin in that part of Penobscot County in 1818.

The “History of Penobscot County, Maine,” written in 1882, lists Anniel Rand and George H. McKechnie as other early settlers.

At the time the history was written, McKechnie was the only trial justice of the peace in the town and had served as selectman, treasurer, collector and representative to the Legislature. Born in the town of Athens, McKechnie was the grandson of a physician who had come to Maine from Scotland.

25 years ago – Aug. 12, 1979

NEWBURGH – Twenty years ago, a Fairfield pastor had an opportunity to become involved in a hospital chaplaincy program at the Central Maine Sanatorium, a tuberculosis hospital in Fairfield.

He did not know that someday he and his wife would head a statewide nonprofit, nondenominational, totally missionary organization, which supplies 98 nursing homes and is still growing.

The Rev. and Mrs. A. Allan Brough and their full-time staff of three supply nursing homes from Van Buren to Kittery, and Lubec to South Paris and Rumford with free religious literature, recordings and guidance, as well as handmade items for patient cheer and comfort. About 6,500 people, at an average age of 85, receive aid from the Newburgh-based Hospital Chaplaincy Service Inc.

50 years ago – Aug. 12, 1954

BANGOR – WABI-TV in Bangor begins live programs Sunday at 1 p.m., according to an announcement made by Leon P. Gorman Jr., general manager of WABI-TV and Radio. The inception of live television programs will open up an entire new range of features.

Scheduled are the Bobo Olson- Rocky Castelano fight Aug. 20; and the biggest sporting attraction of the year – the World Series.

With the advent of live programs via the Bell Telephone System micro-relay link, Channel Five will extend the length of its telecast day from 11:30 a.m. to a later hour in the evening.

The first live program on Maine’s first television station will be NBC’s “Frontiers of Faith” Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Theodore Granik’s program also will be live-cast this Sunday.

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BANGOR – Backed by favorable winds and seas perfect for sailing, Bangor Attorney E. Donald Finnegan skippered his 42-foot cutter Dipper 2nd into Stonington Harbor Aug. 8 after a three-week cruise to Nova Scotia, which covered approximately 650 miles.

Accompanied by Francis A. Sanborn and Luther Holmes, both of Stockton Springs, Mr. Finnegan set sail July 21 to visit the many picturesque harbors and ports along the Nova Scotia coast.

Mr. Finnegan found a most colorful spot in Mahone Bay, which is much like Maine’s Northeast Harbor. There, lovely American- and Canadian-owned homes increase the scenic beauty of the land.

To add to the pleasure of the cruise, the return was made beneath starry skies with the reflection of the new moon on the water lighting the way homeward.

100 years ago – Aug. 12, 1904

ORONO – The marriage of Charles LaChance and Miss Lillian, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Levi Foster, took place at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Orono.

Martin O’Connor of Skowhegan acted as best man and Miss Rose Foster, a sister of the bride, attired in white muslin, was bridesmaid.

The bride was gowned in a beautiful dress of white mousseline de soie. After the ceremony, the wedding breakfast was served to relatives and intimate friends at the home of the bride’s parents on Pond Street.

Mr. and Mrs. LaChance will make their home in Old Town.

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ORONO – The home of Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Hamilton of Myrtle Street was the scene of a beautiful and impressive wedding when their daughter, Geneva, was united in marriage to Frank Bowerman of Portsmouth, N.H. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Nellie Mann Opdale.

The Misses Mae and June Hamilton, sisters of the bride, were bridesmaids. Louise Allen and Gertrude Prescott, cousins of the bride, were ribbons girls. They were becomingly attired in pink gowns.

The bride was attired in white silk mulle.

Mr. Bowerman is a graduate of the University of Maine. Mrs. Bowerman is one of Orono’s most popular young ladies. She is also a graduate of the University of Maine and since her graduation has been assistant librarian at that institution.

The decorations of pink and white sweet peas and ferns, made by the A.R. Club, were most artistically arranged.

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BANGOR – Manager Jimmie Connors received from Charles Haghey, perhaps the best known and certainly one of the fastest boxers in Lowell, Mass., a letter seeking a match in Bangor. If a proper opponent can be secured, it is probable the match will be arranged.

“If the match between Jimmy Briggs and Kid Williams is a financial success – that is, if it so much as pays expenses,” said Mr. Connors to a Bangor Daily News reporter, “my next big match will be in the Auditorium.”

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin