YESTERDAY …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Sept. 28, 1996

CASTINE – Quilt it and they will come.

That’s been the hope of a group of women who gathered at Castine’s newly renovated Abbott School to show off the majestic piece of handiwork that kept them in stitches for a solid year.

The spectacular 24-foot-long quilt created for Castine’s bicentennial celebration this summer continues to draw viewers from throughout the area, even rumors of interest from the Smithsonian Institution in Washington.

More than 50 mostly local people contributed to the quilt, from small children to a woman in her 80s. An observer of the cooperative effort in action termed it a “harmonic convergence,” a view to which participating quilter Charleen Wiseman would agree.

The quilters spent many hours working in Emerson Hall.

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BANGOR – No brass band, not even a drum roll. At six minutes of 11 on Friday morning, Assistant City Solicitor Norman Heitmann held up the sheaf of papers that arrived in the mail, and it was official. The city of Bangor now owns 28.8 acres more along the Penobscot River.

To Rodney McKay, director of community and economic development, it hardly seemed real. For 18 years, he has led the wishing-and-hoping brigade as city officials worked toward acquiring the railroad property.

There’s still the little matter of a check for $976,742.50 which needs to be sent to Guilford Transportation for the former Maine Central Railroad property. But the sale was official once the city received the deed on Friday.

25 years ago – Sept 28, 1981

BANGOR – “And to have Sarah (Caldwell) here,” said an appreciative Marion Vafiades at Miller’s Restaurant, “is like having the cream on the dessert.” Stepping down from the presidency of the local Opera New England outpost after having served for four years, Mrs. Vafiades was honored for her studious work in bringing Opera New England to this area and keeping it here through lean times.

Helping to celebrate the occasion was Ken Porter, in his third year as business manager for ONE. He told those gathered to pay homage to Mrs. Vafiades, whose successor will be Col. John Downing, that this season would offer Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and Puccini’s “La Boheme.”

50 years ago – Sept. 28, 1956

BANGOR – “Y’all come,” sang Arlie Duff of Grand Ole Opry, and they all did, to the Bangor Auditorium.

If ever there was any doubt as to the popularity of the gee-tar, toe-tappin’ and stompin’ brand of hillbilly entertainment in Bangor and the surrounding country, it came to a sudden end Thursday night.

Nearly 5,000 rabid, frantic fans surged into the new auditorium, ringing cowbells and whistling loudly when the Grand Ole Opry hit town.

It was the second-largest crowd ever to attend a show in the huge building, and the largest crowd this troupe from Wheeling, W.Va., has played to since starting their tour.

From the moment that Porter Waggoner and the Wagon Masters took the stage in their bright blue suits, until the show ended with a twanging guitar, the crowd almost never stopped showing its appreciation.

Cheers rose when Glenn Reeves in his bright pink trousers went into Elvis Presley-like gyrations. Hank Snow, the star of the show, appeared on stage clad in a snow-white costume, apologized for a “very poor sound system,” and then launched into a long series of hillbilly ballads that have made him a prime favorite.

The program was not all country music. Modern rock ‘n’ roll, strange to the ears of the older folks who remember the original Opry company, shared a full half of the program. It was the major offering of Janis Martin, only girl in the troupe.

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ORONO – Approximately 60 members and guests attended the first fall meeting of the Fellowship Circle of the Church of Universal Fellowship. Miss Rose King spoke on “Fall Fashions in New York” and was assisted by Marjorie Wood who modeled fall and winter attire and accessories.

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BANGOR – A Bangor housewife, mother and business woman, Mrs. Annie M. Hagar, 32, a candidate for the city council, feels that the woman’s point of view is needed on the council.

“Women are more budget-wise than men,” Mrs. Hagar said in explaining some of the reasons for wanting a seat on the council.

She believes that women should play a more active part in civic affairs and that their viewpoint should be considered in the deliberations of the council. With a woman on the council, Mrs. Hagar believes “the woman’s slant could be presented.”

“Bring the lunch pail to Bangor” is Mrs. Hagar’s idea of what the city needs the most. She is all for industrial development and is a fan of the Maine Department of Development of Industry and Commerce, having attended all its meetings in Bangor.

She was born in Veazie and attended the schools there and also Bangor High School. She has worked for Western Union and Dow Air Force Base, and was a newspaperwoman for the Patriot.

She and her husband, Edward W. Hagar, operate a real estate agency. They have two children, Mari-Lynn, 11, and Joyce, 7. She is also state vice president of the Maine Federation of Post Office Clerks.

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BANGOR – It took a Californian to declare that “New England has not dried up,” contrary to some reports. John Bowles, 39-year-old president of the Rexall Division of the Rexall Drug Co., said that the situation in New England drug stores is “quite the reverse.”

Mr. Bowles addressed 150 Rexall druggists from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New Brunswick at a dinner meeting at the Bangor House.

Mr. Bowles discussed advertising a promotion, but also announced a new “wonder drug,” Thru, a “liquid aspirin,” a penetrating analgesic which gets “down through” to the pain and aches. He termed advertising “the backbone of modern business.”

Walter Godsoe of Bangor was presented a plaque in appreciation of his 33 years of service to the Rexall Co.

100 years ago – Sept. 28, 1906

BREWER – One of the pleasantest of the season’s affairs was given by Samuel Swett Jr. at his home at 48 Betton St. About 12 of Mr. Swett’s friends were present and were entertained by their host and his mother, Mrs. Minnie Swett, in a most charming and social manner. Whist and other games, music, etc., were enjoyed until a late hour. Delicious and dainty refreshments of cocoa and fancy crackers were served.

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BUCKSPORT – The sloop yacht Yoette of New York, with owner E.S. Pendleton and his party, R.D. Pendleton, R.P. Stevens and B.N. Pendleton on board, arrived in port Wednesday afternoon.

They came here to make a call on the E.M.C.S. from which the Pendletons graduated some years ago. The men are now established in business in New York – E.S. Pendleton as a ship broker; R.D. Pendleton in the ship chandlery business; R.P. Stevens, general manager of the Auburn and Syracuse Electric Raiload. B.N. Pendleton is attending college. They left Thursday morning for Islesboro where they will remain for a few days with their parents.

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BUCKSPORT – Rufus S. Sabine of Boston, accompanied by a party of friends, was in town calling on friends. They are making a trip around the bay ports in Mr. Sabine’s gasoline yacht.

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BREWER – Merrill W. Shute will be prepared to receive pupils in piano instruction on and after Oct. 8 at his studio, 119 Church St. Telephone 736-2.

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OLD TOWN – Many parties of young Old Town people are now preparing to go on their annual hunting trips in the neighboring woods. Many partridge have already been killed and the hunting enthusiasts feel confident of a good season.

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BREWER – A party of 10 Holyoke Street ladies started on Thursday on a buckboard ride and were forced to return on account of heavy rain.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin