10 years ago – Dec. 9, 1994

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

HOLDEN – Children in the second grade at Holden Elementary School possess a knowledge of the intertidal and tidal zone sea life that can easily equal or exceed that of any child who grew up on the Maine coast.

With their teachers, Joy Knowles and Jan Washburn, the pupils have participated for two months in the Maine State Department of Marine Resources-sponsored program called The Sea Comes to the Classroom. It does, in the form of a saltwater aquarium teeming with sea life.

Tyler Isherwood, his face close to the aquarium, said, “I like the oyster the best because its the first time I ever saw one. They eat plankton. You can’t see it because it’s microscopic.”

Kelly Crotty had no problem deciding what he liked. “The lobster. The way it moves. It’s alive and pretty and can mess up all the others.”

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BANGOR – Hello, Bangor. Want to take a leaf from Yogi Berra’s book and say collectively, “It’s just like deja vu all over again?”

You may have that opportunity if Ted Stepien, Gary Youmans and Kevin Mackey have their way. They have targeted Bangor for a possible franchise in the new North American Basketball League that is scheduled to begin operating in December 1995.

If those names sound slightly familiar, you’re a dyed-in-the-wool basketball fan. Stepien is president, Mackey is vice president and Youmans commissioner of the newly formed men’s professional basketball league. Stepien is a former owner of the NBA Cleveland Cavaliers and a couple of Continental Basketball Association teams; and Mackey a former coach at Cleveland State.

25 years ago – Dec. 9, 1979

BANGOR – John F. Kennedy Jr. stumped in Maine in behalf of his uncle, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., who hopes to win the 1980 Democratic presidential nomination.

Young Kennedy, a 19-year-old Brown University student, made his campaign debut with appearances in Biddeford, Portland, Waterville and wound up the same day at a gathering of more than 100 Penobscot County Democrats at the Bangor Civic Center.

He was accompanied on all stops by Gov. Joseph Brennan, the first governor in the nation to declare his support for Sen. Kennedy.

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BANGOR – Loan Tran is learning the words to the song, “We Need a Little Christmas.”

She moves her lips hesitantly along with the rest of the children in her fifth-grade class, reading from a mimeographed paper on which she had neatly lettered her name.

Like her three brothers and sisters in fourth-, second- and first-grade classrooms, also in Bangor’s Vine Street School, Loan doesn’t know much about snow or Santa Claus, except that his jolly profile appears prominently all over town.

A little over a year ago, Loan and her family were eking out an existence in a steaming jungle refugee camp in Malaysia. She was one of 110 refugees, only some of whom survived a harrowing three-day journey in a 50-foot boat across the sea from her home in Vietnam.

Today Bangor teachers are trying to deal as best they can with Loan and eight other children of limited English-speaking achievement and one Spanish-speaking student.

50 years ago – Dec. 9, 1954

BANGOR – Cornelius J. Sullivan is planning to purchase the Strout Ford Sales of Bangor, located on Hammond Street, according to reliable sources. He is expected to take over the business as soon as details can be worked out with the Ford Motor Company.

Mr. Strout purchased the Strout Ford Agency in October 1951, the Ford business previously having been handled by the Webber Motor Company since 1931.

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BANGOR – Nearly 150 women were present at the Hebrew Community Center to hear Mrs. A. Louis Ostrows of Boston review the best-selling novel “Not As a Stranger” by Morton Thompson.

Mrs. Ostrows prefaced her review by asking the audience not to judge the book by her review, but to read it themselves, as the reactions of readers of the book varied so with the individual interpretations of it.

The reviewer dramatically told the story of the little boy born into a home of dissension and selfish design who grew up to have but one love – medicine, who could find no place in his life for human love or unselfish friendship.

The review was sponsored by the Pine Tree Chapter of B’nai B’rith Women. Mrs. Edward Cohen, co-chairman with Mrs. Manuel Berger, thanked members for their cooperation in the event.

After the review, tea was served with Mrs. Maxwell Rapaport and Mrs. Morris Tabenken in charge, assisted by Mrs. Harold Grodinsky, Mrs. Benjamin Rich, Mrs. Julius Gass and Mrs. Isadore Alpert. Pourers were Mrs. Martin Cantor, Mrs. Edward Allen, Mrs. Edward Cohen and Mrs. Manuel Berger.

The fund-raising project will aid the local chapter in furthering its educational program which makes possible the placing of audio-visual aids in the public schools.

100 years ago – Dec. 9, 1904

BANGOR – The reception given by Mrs. Arthur Chapin was one of the most brilliant Bangor has ever known. The house was crowded from four o’clock until half after five and it was the general opinion that the costumes worn were the most elaborate that have ever been seen at an afternoon reception here.

The house was beautifully decorated by Sekenger, hundreds of pink roses and carnations being used. Miss Fitzgerald looked after the catering and Pullen’s full orchestra furnished the music.

Mrs. Chapin received in the drawing room. Near her were Mrs. Henry McLaughlin and Miss Baldwin who assisted.

Mrs. Bernard Pol and Mrs. John Simpson Penman served coffee in the library, while Mrs. F. Marion Simpson and Mrs. Harry D. Benson served tea. Mrs. Daniel A. Robinson and Mrs. T.U. Coe were in the dining room.

Everything that could be devised for the comfort of the guests was provided, maids being in all parts of the house to direct them. At no time was there such a crush as to be uncomfortable, but everyone in Bangor who is known socially came in at one time or another.

Mr. and Mrs. Chapin gave an informal supper at 6 o’clock for the ladies who had assisted her, and their husbands. Those who were invited besides them, were Hon. and Mrs. William Engel and Miss Webb.

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BUCKSPORT – Edwin Harriman and George Wasson started from Harriman’s fish yard at Leach’s Point for Page’s lumber yard for a load of boards. The men were in an extension wagon, used for the hauling of boards, and had a horse fastened to the rear of the wagon.

They had gone but a short distance when the V pulled out, thus throwing off the wagon. There was a bad mix up of men, horse and wheels. The horse disentangled himself and started on a run for the town, but was captured on Buck’s Hill by Elliott M. Nye. The men were badly shaken up, but with the exception of a pair of broken thills there was no damage done.

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The sale held on Wednesday in the Methodist church by the ladies sewing circle connected with the church was very successful, netting about $70.

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It is reported that Andrew Ginn of Orland is to come here [Bucksport] and open a store in the old shoe factory building owned by William O. Buck on Main Street, for the sale of flour, feed, corn meal, carriages, sleighs and harness.

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ORONO – The Handkerchief bazaar held by the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist church opened at the home of the Rev. and Mrs. Haskell and there were many patrons of this most attractive sale.

Cooked food, homemade candy and ice cream were on sale in the pretty dining room of the parsonage.

The handkerchiefs were on sale in the parlor and there were many dainty handkerchiefs, some of them as fine as spider webs.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin