10 years ago – Jan. 5, 1996

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – Steven and Jean Tir and their infant son, Steven George Andrew Tir, fly out of Bangor International Airport this morning on the first leg of a flight that will return them to their home in Kosice, Slovakia.

They make this journey with high hopes that when they next visit with Jean’s parents, George and Elaine Potter of Bangor, the Potters’ grandson will be the proud holder of triple citizenship: American, Canadian and Slovakian.

The unusual opportunity for little Steven to hold triple citizenship is the result of what Jean and Steven believe was their destiny. The two, teachers and missionaries with the United Pentecostal Church International, met in Kosice.

Steven Tir, a native of Yugoslavia, moved to Kingsville, Ontario, at 12 and is a Canadian citizen. Jean, who graduated from Bangor High School in 1973, is American.

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GLENBURN – Residents along the tail end of Cedar Breeze North are hoping the town will go the extra mile for them – at least when it comes to maintaining the road they live on.

Sixteen people who reside along that stretch of road near Pushaw Lake showed up at the town council meeting to hear the latest update on how the town is trying to meet their long-standing request.

The town already maintains close to 1 mile of the road, but the last mile is considered a private road. Recently, residents spent nearly $9,000 of their own money to upgrade and make repairs to the road so that the town would consider turning the private road into a public easement, and then take over maintenance.

25 years ago – Jan. 5, 1981

ORONO – Twelve grandparents in a reading class for third-graders? It happens once a week at the Asa C. Adams School in Orono, when 12 children take their preselected books for a one-on-one reading session with an adult eager to listen.

The idea, born in teacher John W. Pickering’s active mind and approved by principal Robert T. Robinson, was an instant success and has been in operation since late September.

Spread out down the hall and about the classroom, the reader-listener pairs find that the half-hour speeds by. A story unfolds, a conversation picks up where it left off last week, a hard word is figured out, or a tale is told in new ways. It is hard to tell who is happiest about the situation: The children who can rely on undivided attention as they read a story; the older adults brought back into the fascinating world of grade school, children and their books; or Mr. Pickering as he sees his dream become a reality.

Reading interest can be enhanced, and friends can be made across generations.

Children participating are C.D. Farnsworth, Brandon Fox, Hayley Martin, Keith Mason, Ricky McGregor, Brandy Nevells, Jeff Roy, Greg Sivik, Peter White, Jeremy Wood, Robin Worster and Tammy Young.

50 years ago – Jan. 5, 1956

BANGOR – Paul Brown, manager of the new auditorium, said that he is still optimistic about the future of the building, which in the first two months it was in operation grossed approximately $13,221.45.

In addition, public ice-skating attracted 3,000 people to the indoor rink, resulting in approximately $1,800. This, Brown said, will cover expenses and, although the actual cost of keeping the rink up had not been evaluated, will net the city “a probable small profit.”

In October, the auditorium housed the Dorsey Brothers’ concert, the Maine teachers’ convention, the Celtic-Philadelphia basketball game, the Shrine convention and the Plymouth Auto Show. Returns from all these events returned $2,699.95 in rental fees, and $959.98 in concessions.

During November, the Harlem Globetrotters’ appearance put $429.50 in rental fees and $784.48 from concessions into the city’s coffers, and the eight-day Holiday on Ice show, sponsored by the Junior Chamber of Commerce, $5,616.50 in rentals and $2,721.04 in concessions.

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BANGOR – Mrs. Lillian M. Watson, Bangor policewoman, was the guest speaker at a program presented in open session at the meeting of the Bangor Grange. Mrs. Watson gave an interesting talk on “Juvenile Delinquency,” touching on its prevention and correction, and stressing the problems of teenage girls. She cited several cases.

The Grange master, Earl Burke, presided at the business session, during which a donation was made to Star of Progress Grange of Jackson, which recently lost its hall by fire.

100 years ago – Jan. 5, 1906

BUCKSPORT – Edward Meed, Ira Hutchinson and George Bowden of Orland; Frank Dunbar and Ralph Gott of Castine; Henry Morris of this place and Capt. Albert Turner of Orland arrived on the morning train from Portland where they left their schooner, Madge Turner. During the past season they have been engaged in the shore fishing trade, have made a number of trips and have had good fares.

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BREWER – On motion of Alderman DeRusha, it was voted that a committee of three be appointed to report a salary list for the 1906-1907. The committee reported: Mayor, $150; city clerk, $150; city marshal, $600; superintendent of schools, $300; street commissioner, $350; city treasurer, $300; city solicitor, $125; chief engineer, fire department, $75; janitor of city hall, $120; superintendent of cemeteries, $2 per day; and city physician, $100.

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BUCKSPORT – Capt. J.W. Nichols has been assigned to the command of the steamer Oregonian and took charge the first of the week. The steamer is now in New York taking in her cargo and expects to clear the last of January for the Hawaiian Islands. Mrs. Nichols will return to her former home here for a visit, soon as the captain sails.

BUCKSPORT – Walter R. Soper has the boiler and engine set, shafting up and most of the machinery in place in his machine shop in the old shoe factory building on Main Street and now expects to be able to commence the manufacture of gasoline engines and boats.

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ORONO – One of the most enjoyable social events of the season was the “house warming” given by Dr. and Mrs. M.C. Fernald at their charming new home on Main Street.

For 10 years, Dr. and Mrs. Fernald occupied what is now the Theta Epsilon fraternity house at the University of Maine, and 141/2 years were passed in the president’s house on the UM campus. Three years they were out of town and nine years were passed in the pleasant congregational parsonage on Bennoch Street.

The house was attractively decorated with asparagus ferns and exquisite carnations. Dr. and Mrs. Fernald, assisted by Miss Jane Fernald, received in the bow window of the reception room and the entire house was thrown open to guests.

The plans for this house were designed entirely by Mrs. Fernald and the artistic effect and convenient arrangement of the house showed that the utmost care, thought and home-love had gone into their making.

The view from the great east windows of the house is simply superb. Great pine trees at the foot of a showy garden slope toward a noble expanse of the Penobscot River, while beyond are the evergreen-clad hills.

Especial interest was manifested in two rooms in the Fernald house. One was Dr. and Mrs. Fernald’s sleeping apartment on the ground floor, furnished with mahogany furniture that would cause an antiquary’s eye to glisten with pleasure. The other was Dr. Fernald’s study on the second floor with its glorious east window and cozy fireplace.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin