10 years ago – Sept. 30, 1994

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – Term limits are supposed to infuse government with a new blood. In the case of the Bangor City Council, recycled blood is more prevalent.

Of the five candidates vying for the three open City Council seats in November’s election, only one does not have prior experience on the council.

Two current councilors, Mayor Don Soucy and Pat Blanchette; and two former councilors, Marshall Frankel and Albert Weymouth; will be on November’s ballot. Mark Wellman, who owns a local marketing firm, is the only political newcomer.

Wellman said his marketing experience would contribute to the balance of the council. The Bangor native’s experience helping companies sell their products will enable him to help Bangor sell itself to companies that might locate in the Queen City, thereby bringing jobs to the area, he said.

The city has an image problem because it is viewed as a cheapskate, Wellman said. He said the city must be proactive and market its assets to change that image.

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HOLDEN – Elementary pupils in SAD 63 will not face user fees for extracurricular activities this year, thanks to children and adults who raised more than $11,000 that had been cut from the school budget.

Ralph Russell, principal of the Holbrook School, said that he was “definitely” pleased about the community support, which will fund the student council, band, chess team, yearbook, intramurals and other sports and activities this year for youngsters from Eddington, Clifton and Holden.

The fund raising was surprisingly quick.

“It took us 28 days, and part of that was organizational,” said Jim Mallar, who worked with his wife, Debbie, to get the group going. Both were thrilled to see the money raised so quickly.

25 years ago – Sept. 30, 1979

ORONO – The Pavilion Theater, envisioned as far back as a decade ago, is finally ready to be occupied. “Both President Neville and Acting President Ken Allen have supported it,” said Dr. Norman Wilkinson during a recent interview. A few minor elements must be added but it will be ready for use by Oct. 1.

Its first real tenant will be Tony Montenaro. The mime from South Paris will give classes four hours a day in the Pavilion and offer a couple of evening performances.

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BANGOR – The Bangor Civic Center provided a posh setting for a preview of antiques and other collectibles which are part of the 29th annual Antique Show and Sale sponsored by the Junior League of Bangor.

This year’s preview night was made all the more elegant because of the more comfortable and homier surroundings of the Civic Center. With wine and hors d’oeuvres, the preview had the finesse of an exclusive showing. And with some of the 39 dealers from Maine and out-of-state in evening attire, it was all the more dignified.

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ORLAND – A service dedicating the West Penobscot Methodist Church, which is now located in Orland, will be held Oct. 21. Rev. Walter Webb will lead the services.

The chapel was moved from its original location on Route 175 in West Penobscot in 1972 when it was purchased by Homemakers Organized for More Employment.

H.O.M.E. planned to renovate the structure, but lack of funds forced delay of those plans.

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BANGOR – It’s been nearly a century since a bare-knuckled battler from Hampden became lightweight boxing champion of the world.

Boxing fever was running high back in the 1880s when Jack McAuliffe pounded his way to the top and it remained so at least for the next 60 years with fight clubs and boxing gyms active in every moderately-sized town.

Somewhere in the early 1950s, with the advent of television and postwar prosperity, boxing enthusiasm in Maine, as elsewhere in the country, began to fizzle out. And it’s never been the same since.

But old fighters never say die and new ones are always being born. In Bangor, the embers of that old enthusiasm are beginning to smolder with a new life.

While it’s still too early to tell, a program of amateur boxing, which was started last spring as a one-shot charity exhibition, has taken fire in the form of regular monthly boxing cards providing encouragement, experience and ranking for an active crop of fighters from throughout eastern Maine.

50 years ago – Sept. 30, 1954

BANGOR – The Automotive News, in its issue of September 13, published an advertisement of the Atwood Motor Co. of Bangor as a Dealer of the Week. The Atwood advertisement appeared in the Banker Daily News Aug. 6 and was in the form of an open statement to prospective purchasers of Dodge and Plymouth cars.

Under the reproduction of the NEWS advertisement, Automotive News said, “Here’s an example of how dealers can meet the cleanup problem without advertising that demoralized the auto market. It does this and gets across to prospects the idea that now is a good time to buy without telling them the dealer is giving his business away.”

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BANGOR – A large exhibit of photographs by veteran newspaper photographer F. Norman “Spike” Webb will be a feature of a display on National Newspaper Week to be seen at the Bangor Public Library.

Covering a wide range of subjects, from human interest to spot news, the exhibit will include many of the photographs which have won him awards from the New England Associated Press in recent years.

Mr. Webb, who has had his photographic work displayed at the University of Maine and who is widely known for the fine quality of his finishing as well as for his creative ability and composition, has been a newspaper photographer for 25 years.

He began his career with the Portland Press Herald in 1929, transferring to the Kennebec Journal in Augusta in 1931. In 1941 he became a Bangor Daily News staff photographer, and has served in that capacity for the past 13 years.

Mr. Webb recently attended a newspaper photo editors and photographers’ seminar in Boston. He is experienced in the transmission and reception of AP wire photos.

100 years ago – Sept. 30, 1904

EXETER – The third day of the Exeter fair was disappointing at the outset, owing to the threatening weather.

About 1,000 people assembled to but on the coming of rain quickly disbursed. Many of the tenters, both exhibitors and visitors, packed up and by two o’clock the grounds were being deserted for the day.

The best of order has prevailed during the entire affair. The force of policeman has handled the big crowds especially well.

Under the efficient management of F.W. Hill all has passed off smoothly. Exeter people are particularly noted for their courteous treatment of visitors and that their high reputation has been sustained, the representatives of the press can fully testify to, as everything has been done for their comfort and accommodation.

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NEWBURGH – I.A. Whitney of Newburgh, a large wholesale dealer in apples, potatoes, and farm products has just shipped to England two carloads of Wolf River apples. Some handsome specimens were shown at the NEWS office yesterday by Mr. Whitney.

These were raised by Warren Chapman of Newburgh, four weighing 3 lbs., about the average for the size of these apples. They are in good demand in the European markets, there being a call for red apples only from the United States. They have a big supply of green apples in England this year. Mr. Whitney said that they were the right kind of apples to raise as in about two months they become good for eating and for cooking. Last year Mr. Whitney exported about 1,200 bushels of fine winter fruit.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin