10 years ago – July 28, 1995

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – The Bangor State Fair has gone high-tech.

Well, sort of.

Two of the newest exhibits to be on display at Bass Park over the next 10 days will give fairgoers a chance to surf the Internet and also to try out the latest computerized rage – virtual reality.

But those who would rather keep their feet firmly on the ground instead of exploring the vast expansion of cyberspace needn’t worry. The remainder of the fair is going to look, sound and smell much the way it has in the past with rides, games, food and plenty of animals on display for the young, the old and in-between.

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BREWER – The city has a new avenue.

The city council accepted Coffin Avenue, which is in the Brewer East-West Industrial Park.

The avenue, perpendicular to Robertson Boulevard, was named after Joseph Coffin, who has served for many years as a member of the Brewer Economic Development Committee and on the city’s planning board.

Mayor Donna Thornton said that Coffin has worked with the development committee in establishing the city’s industrial park since 1970. She said Coffin had a true community spirit, and the council appreciated all of the work he had done.

Councilor Gerald Robertson, a city councilor for more than 40 years, who had Robertson Boulevard named after him, said Coffin had given umpteen years of service to the city, and no one was more deserving to have a street named after him.

He added with a smile that he was honored that Coffin Avenue intersected with Robertson Boulevard.

25 years ago – July 28, 1980

ORONO – During the course of the school year the brothers of Alpha Phi Omega, a service fraternity at the University of Maine in Orono, volunteer their time for a variety of service projects to benefit both the university and the community. But none may be as satisfying as a one-on-one tutoring project at the Penobscot County Jail.

Twice a week during the academic year, four or five brothers visit the jail. One evening is spent showing movies for entertainment, the other working with inmates who have requested tutoring aid. Some inmates are working toward a high school equivalency diploma. Others want help in basic reading and writing skills, and some are interested in vocational training.

50 years ago – July 28, 1955

HOLDEN – Maine’s 1955 Soap Box Derby champion, 14-year-old LeRoy Crawford of Holden, will be racing against champs from four different countries when he carries the Pine Tree State colors at the All American Soap Box Derby in Akron, Ohio.

Husky LeRoy will have to beat 153 other eager champions from Alaska, Western Germany and Canada, as well as the United States if he hopes to bring back some of the $15,000 in college scholarship money.

LeRoy’s sleek blue car, which he drove to win the NEWS-Chevrolet derby, will be shipped to Akron. The car has been given a coat of paint and LeRoy has been busy applying a coat of wax to be sure the surface offers as little wind resistance as possible.

The champ, his mother and dad, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Crawford, and his younger brother, Dick, will fly to Akron. Dick is the Class B champ who ran a dead heat with his older brother in the first championship race at the NEWS-Chevrolet derby. The two brothers raced again and LeRoy won by a whisker.

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ORONO – The largest potential for expanding the market for Maine potatoes is in the supplying of potatoes for potato chips, said Arling C. Hazlett, Extension Service economist at the University of Maine.

The potato chip industry bought 32 million bushels from the 1954 crop – one out of every nine bags marketed for food purposes. About one out of every 70 bags sold for food from the 1954 Maine crop went into the manufacture of potato chips, Hazlett said.

In past seasons a few potato growers have shown to the satisfaction of potato chip manufacturers that Maine grown Kennebecs, when stored at proper temperatures, will yield a large volume of potato chips of good color.

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ORONO – Home gardens in Maine furnish an appetizing variety of foods from late July through early September, it was pointed out by Dr. Kathryn E. Briwa, Extension Service food specialist, University of Maine. Whether they are from roadside stands or your own garden, native crops are so varied both for vegetables and fruits that it is hard to make a choice.

Vegetables include peas, lettuce, cabbage, beets, summer squash, snap beans, wax beans, peppers, celery, cucumbers, carrots, early potatoes, tomatoes and corn. Such newer vegetables as cauliflower, broccoli, endive, Italian squash, Swiss chard, spinach and other greens should not be overlooked.

100 years ago – July 28, 1905

BANGOR – A meeting at Nantasket, ice cream, soda, love at first sight and all the other things which go with hot weather and days at the beach have culminated in the marriage of Belle Miller Maxon, a beautiful Bangor girl, to one of the wealthiest young men of New York, Harry Martin Hollister, son of a prominent merchant. And because the two made a runaway match and the groom insisted on laughing just as the ceremony was to begin, they experienced all kinds of difficulty in getting married.

Miss Maxon was born in Brewer between 22 and 23 years ago, and until four years ago lived in Washington Street near the Bangor-Brewer bridge. Her father was employed at the factory of Parker and Peakes Co., and a brother, Fred, played first cornet in the Bangor Band.

As she grew into womanhood, Miss Maxon attracted a great deal of attention in Bangor, for she was unquestionably one of the prettiest girls in the city – a tall, graceful blonde, while her unfailing good nature and vivacity won her a wide circle of friends.

Four years ago the family left Bangor and took apartments in 9 Ringold St., Boston, where Miss Maxon adopted the name Belle Miller and went on the stage. And, just as she won recognition in Bangor, so her beauty and talent won her much attention across the footlights in Boston.

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ORONO – Plans are not yet perfected in regard to work proposed to be done in the schools during the coming year. It is proposed, however, to put Orono High School on the list of approved preparatory schools, so that a pupil obtaining a diploma therefrom will be qualified to enter any New England college without being obliged to pass entrance examinations.

But one thing seems needful and that is sufficient apparatus in order to enable the pupils to do good and thorough work in physics. The present amount of apparatus is totally insufficient and a sum of $150 would supply the pressing needs of the school along the desired lines of work.

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ORONO – Work is being rushed on the waterworks trenches and the workmen are busy on three streets now. Work was begun on Main Street this week and excellent progress was made. The trench was dug as far as the Judkins residence and some pipe was laid. Quick work is being done on this street for the conditions are favorable.

On Bennoch Street, which has presented many difficulties thus far, the trench has been dug as far as the residence of Deputy Sheriff Anson A. Powers and the pipe has been laid nearly the same distance.

On Forest Avenue the trench, barring about 500 yards of ledge that will have to be blasted, has been completed to the top of the hill where the stand pipe will be placed and a circle excavated for the foundation location of the pipe. A crew of 15 men are engaged on the rock work. Dynamite is used and five charges at a blast are set off by means of electricity.

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BUCKSPORT – The Pennsylvania Steel Co. shipped three scow loads of steel to Frankfort in tow of the Lottie and May, which is to be used in the new railroad bridge.

. The services in the schoolhouse at Prospect on Sunday afternoon were conducted by Miss Arianna Harding, superintendent of the Deaconess Training School in Boston, owing to the absence of the Rev. W.T. Hunter.

. C.A. Arey has sold his fine black roan gelding by Riverside, five years old, to Bangor parties. The animal is a very handsome horse, besides being speedy. He brought a very long price.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin