YESTERDAY …

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10 years ago – July 20, 1996

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – A handshake wasn’t enough for Sarah Parcak. The 17-year-old from Bangor couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to the president at this week’s Girls Nation conference.

So when it was Parcak’s turn to shake hands with President Bill Clinton, she asked him who has most impressed him since taking the Oval Office – the one person he most wanted to meet.

Nelson Mandela, Clinton responded.

“I couldn’t believe the president took time out to answer my question,” said Parcak, who is entering her senior year at Bangor High School.

Parcak spent the week discussing national issues and hitting all the tourist spots.

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ORONO – We’re inside a medieval castle under threat of attack, eavesdropping as its occupants from serf to noblemen go about their business of the eve of combat.

No, wait – we’re in a meeting room on the University of Maine campus where a group of teachers and middle school pupils is exploring the use of drama in education under the skillful guidance of visiting educator Brian Edmiston.

Edmiston, a native of Northern Ireland, directs the theater program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His workshop has shown participating teachers new ways to help their pupils learn – through classroom drama that the pupils create themselves.

25 years ago – July 20, 1981

BANGOR – A unique four-track opportunity program aimed at giving registered nurses flexibility and mobility in their careers has completed its first year at Eastern Maine Medical Center.

Basically, the program means a regular registered nurse starting as a staff nurse can, with self-motivation to obtain the right qualifications, end up doing anything from helping fellow employees with personal problems to teaching at the school of nursing.

EMMC provides financial help to the nurses to advance in the area of their choice. The program was developed by nurses for nurses and about 25 percent of the EMMC nursing staff has become involved in the program to some degree.

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BANGOR – “A wonderful city, Bangor,” said W.C. Fields while visiting the downtown shopping district. After offering a spur-of-the-moment assessment of the Queen City of the North, the famous comic rolled his fingers in the air and planted his thumb under his lapel.

W.C. Fields was resurrected in Bangor in the person of Kent Rand, a Brewer native who does an uncanny impersonation of the immortal comic. Rand, who has been doing his Fields impersonation for four years, performed on downtown sidewalks as part of a stylish send-off for the Flying Dog restaurant’s new evening hours.

One customer at the Flying Dog restaurant got into the spirit of the evening when she responded to a Fields’ come-on with a well-delivered line of her own a la Mae West. Looking back coquettishly over her shoulder at Fields, she said, “Why don’cha come on up and see me sometime?”

50 years ago – July 20, 1956

BANGOR – Disclosure was made that the Federal Bureau of Public Roads has given tentative approval for the location of a highway through Bangor as part of the vast Interstate System, and also has given the green light to starting a survey for the long-awaited bypass between Outer Hammond Street and Lower Main Street.

News that Bangor’s bypass is slated for inclusion as a portion of the national highway system was greeted with elation by official municipal circles because less than a month ago it appeared to be a lost cause as far as federal and state participation was concerned.

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HOLDEN – What makes a champion? The ingredients are many, but mostly desire, skill, patience and practice are necessary to win any championship. But all of the requirements are best described by telling of 14-year-old Dickie Crawford of Holden, Maine’s 1956 Soap Box Derby champion.

Dickie seems to possess all the things that make Americans the greatest competitors in the world. Wiry and strong for his age, Dickie has the determination to go with his ability.

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Crawford, Dickie likes both basketball and baseball and is adept at both. He stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and is growing like the weeds around Fields Pond, where he spends much of his leisure time fishing.

His skill with tools was proved in his workmanship when he constructed his championship derby racer. Sensing some faults a year ago when he placed second to his brother, Leroy, he completely renovated his car from the wheel base up to assure added speed.

Dickie is the ninth derby racer to represent Maine in post-war Soap Box Derbies. Other area winners were Joseph Roy of Old Town, 1950; Richard Roy of Old Town, 1951; Rodney Wright of Orono, 1952; Raymond Treadwell of Milford, 1954; and Leroy Crawford of Holden, 1955.

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BANGOR – Recreation Director Ben Campbell estimated that approximately 500 children and adults used Bangor’s new swimming pool at Dakin Park in one day. Two hundred of them were youngsters taking swimming instruction in the daily morning classes.

More youngsters flocked to the pool during the afternoon and there were quite a few adults.

The water is very clear and the chlorinating process appears to be working well.

Campbell drew a comparison with last year’s swimming program when youngsters were taken by bus to Green Lake and during the whole season of seven weeks, it was possible to accommodate only 1,300.

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EDDINGTON – A barn raising will be held at the home of Williard Anderson on the Bradley Road to replace the building destroyed by fire. Dinner will be served on tables set up on the lawn.

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BANGOR – Maine will participate in a local coast-to-coast Civil Defense test. In Bangor the warning signal for the test will be sounded at 12:55 p.m. All citizens are asked to take cover for 10 minutes. All traffic will stop in the city for this period.

Radio and TV stations will either go off the air or go to Conelrad frequency at 4:10 p.m. for 15 minutes.

Dow Air Force Base and Loring Air Force Base, both installations of the Strategic Air Command, will have evacuations for SAC dependents.

100 years ago – July 20, 1906

HAMPDEN – The first attraction of the summer season at Riverside Park will be the splendid vaudeville company under the management of Joseph J. Flynn, and called the Empire Specialty Co. It is composed of artists whose names are to be found in prominent places upon the programs of the leading American vaudeville theaters during the regular theatrical season.

Among those who will appear are Mudge and Morton, a pair of clever musicians and singers; Ward and Raymond performing laughable sketches; Howard and Colby in a playlet complete with singing; Reed’s Bull Terriers doing everything but talk, and a delight to young and old; and Victor LaSalle, an original comedy acrobat.

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BANGOR – All arrangements have been completed for the advent of the Main and Cummins Wild West and other shows under the direction of Walter L. Main. Four trains will bring the aggregation of amusement enterprises to Bangor in addition to a special train which will bring 300 employees, including canvas men, cook house complement and show ground preparers.

In the Wild West show there will be seen Miss Anna Schaffer, the only woman in the world who can ride a bucking bronco, representative Indians from 51 different tribes, and strange people from every clime. Colonel Cummins will reproduce the Custer Massacre, and it will be seen that the son of Sitting Bull led the braves against Custer.

Of the 51 tribes, many chiefs, including Red Cloud, now 97 years old, and Red Shirt are positively appearing in the show for the last time.

The parade will be headed by Colonel Cummins on his famous $5,000 thoroughbred charger.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin