(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Aug. 11, 1995

HAMPDEN – In an increasingly fast-paced world, a number of high schools are turning to a slower-paced, more intensive approach to learning. Many schools across the state have abandoned the traditional eight-period day in favor of longer classes that make it easier to conduct in-depth studies and hands-on projects.

One of the latest high schools to jump on the “block scheduling” bandwagon is Hampden Academy, which will test out the scheduling format this fall.

When students return to the school in September, they will no longer face harried journeys through the halls every 45 minutes. Rather, they will take four 80-minute classes per day with courses alternating every other day.

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BREWER – An all-time record attendance was reached at the Brewer Municipal Swimming Pool. As of Wednesday, pool attendance to date was 10,866, and by Thursday the count exceeded 11,000 – well over last year’s all-time high of 9,927 for the 10-week season.

Recreation Director Kenneth Hanscom said that is quite phenomenal when you compare it with the 1985 and 1986 totals of approximately 2,000 visits to the pool for each summer.

The heat wave that Brewer has been experiencing this year is the main thing that has been attracting residents to the pool, with only two down days out of about 70 operating days so far.

25 years ago – Aug. 11, 1980

ORRINGTON – While most student exchange programs take place during the school year, the last four weeks have been a cultural exchange for an Orrington family and its 15-year-old French visitor.

The family of Bill and Becky Vachon of Snow’s Corner Road is one of about 15 families in the Bangor area hosting students from France under the North Atlantic Cultural Exchange League Summer Homestay Program.

“It’s been quite an experience,” Mrs. Vachon said. The French boy, Patrice Garcia, spoke very little English when he arrived a month ago. Since no one in the Vachon family speaks French, they’ve had to rely on hand gestures to communicate.

50 years ago – Aug. 11, 1955

HOLDEN – Wailing sirens and stirring band music welcomed Maine’s 1955 Soap Box Derby champion to Akron, Ohio, for the All American Soap Box Derby.

Tired but still wearing his big grin, 14-year-old LeRoy Crawford of Holden and his family arrived at Akron airport and were immediately rushed to derby headquarters behind a special police escort.

LeRoy was one of the first champions to arrive in this bustling derby capital, and the town had the welcome banners flying from every street corner.

In the past, Joe Roy, Mr. Soap Box Derby of Old Town, has always been at the airport to wish the champ “Bon Voyage,” but Joe left for Akron earlier this week and will be in the Maine rooting section when the starting gun sounds for the All American derby.

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OLD TOWN – City Manager Archie Scribner said that preparations are being made for the hurricane season.

A supply of gas was put into barrels as a precaution against power failure, when it would be impossible to pump gas. The three generators were checked and made ready.

Mobile radios in the fire chief’s car, the fire truck, the public works truck and the police car were checked. There are two civilian defense radios and the city has two walkie-talkies, Scribner said.

He added that oil burners should be removed from cellars to prevent water damage.

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BANGOR – “This is the nicest thing that has ever happened to me,” says Marie Thibeau of 292 Lincoln St., blind musician and teacher who has just been informed that her original composition, “The Happy Warrior,” a military march, is to be played by the Bangor Band in its concert at Davenport Park.

The march, which Francis G. Shaw, conductor of the Bangor Band describes as an “excellent march,” was written in Braille in 1928 as a composition in harmony during Miss Thibeau’s period of postgraduate work in music at Perkins Institute in Watertown, Mass. A teacher at the school transcribed the music in ink. Until recently, it has been modestly tucked away in Miss Thibeau’s home.

A friend of Miss Thibeau, Mrs. Pearl Williams, thought that other people should hear the march and she suggested to Leland Whipple of Portland, a former Bangor man, that he score the piece for a band.

Whipple, once Bangor’s city chemist, and who did much work with the high school band during its early days, eagerly undertook the job.

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BANGOR – The barbecue business is for the birds. As all wives have discovered, they end up doing most of the work for any projected barbecue while husband cavorts in a chef’s hat and apron, prodding the air with a fork.

Most Bangor wives remember when a picnic was an affair for relaxation. The menu focused on sandwiches, hard boiled eggs, lemonade and cake, and if a fire should happen to be built, it was for the charring of marshmallows on a stick.

100 years ago – Aug. 11, 1905

BANGOR – The August bow-wow days were officially ushered in this week. They brought with them as personal baggage 4,000 tons of old steam they promptly injected into the atmosphere, which began to lay itself down around us stickily, without mercy. And to the sore distress of a multitude, uncalled-for clinging humidity is just a bit too much.

The mercury at noon registered 90 degrees, at 6 o’clock 82 degrees and at midnight 79 degrees. The humidity register recorded 313.011 and was slowly rising when it was chopped off the pole with an axe in the hands of an enraged reporter.

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LEVANT – A very pleasant occasion was the lawn party given by Mr. and Mrs. Ruel Phillips in honor of their guest, Miss Ethel Hall of Bangor. The yard was prettily decorated with lights. Music was furnished by Richardson’s orchestra. Games were played and refreshments of ice cream and cake were served.

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HAMPDEN – Many of the Sprattites were in town to attend the picnic at Squaw Point. Mr. and Mrs. Spratt, former teachers of the famous Hampden Academy, were present. After being absent nearly 16 years, the Spratts were heartily greeted by their many students. Mr. Spratt was one of the best, if not the best, principal of the academy. He was gladly received by the citizens of Hampden.

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ORLAND – Quite a little excitement was created last week by a fire in Andrew Jordan’s apothecary store. For a short time it threatened to become a serious matter, as the wind was blowing in such a direction as to carry the flames toward the buildings in the rear, but fortunately it was extinguished with a loss of several hundred dollars.

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BREWER – Posters have been distributed in this city advertising a buckboard ride. It will be under the patronage of Hon. Herbert Charles Mitchell, mayor of Mill Creek. Among the members of the party will be Hon. George Kendrick Stubbs, ex-mayor of the same village. The caravan will leave Brewer at 8 a.m. and the excursionists are requested to wear green neckties and red socks. Furthermore, the “fellers” are urged to carry neither lunch nor root beer. The former will be useless as enough feed will be carried for both horses and men. The return will be made at sunset.

– Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin