(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Feb. 15, 1997

BANGOR – The Bagel Shop in downtown Bangor once cornered the local bagel market lox, stock and barrel, but competition now is rising for the specialty bread.

This week a Virginia-based bagel company announced intentions to open at least one bagel store in Bangor and possibly a second smaller one in Orono by year’s end. The Bangor and Orono stores are part of Chesapeake Bagel Bakery’s efforts to open one new store every three to four days in 1997, expanding across the country.

Chesapeake Bagel isn’t the first competitor in Bangor, but it’s likely the biggest. Former Bangor Mayor Marshall Frankel opened the Mister Bagel shop on Bangor Mall Boulevard in October 1993 and initially sold his bagels to local supermarkets as well.

.

BANGOR – The assignment was go to the library for the whole day and find out what’s going on there. So I headed for the Bangor Public Library’s temporary digs in the old Marden’s building on Outer Hammond Street. You may have noticed that the grand old building on Harlow Street is undergoing massive renovations and restorations. Last September the entire operation packed up and moved to the Bangor warehouse until this December, when construction is scheduled to be finished.

Those who have been undaunted by the changes know that the best thing about the temporary location is the parking. You’re in a parking space practically the second you hit the lot. And, boom, you’re in the library within seconds. No stairway, no parking meters.

25 years ago – Feb. 15, 1982

HAMPDEN – The town’s expenditure for general assistance cases decreased in comparison to those handled during the previous year.

According to Virginia Clewley, general assistance director for the town, expenditures during 1981 were highest during January and December when fuel, shelter and food assistance costs reached a peak.

While costs decreased for the past year, Clewley stated in her annual report that she anticipates an increase in general assistance requests during the coming year. Clewley said that 85 applications were processed last year, while 113 were handled during the previous year.

.

EDDINGTON – A sudden fire destroyed a 70-year-old grocery store and restaurant located at the junction of Routes 9 and 46.

Murphy’s, an Eddington landmark owned and recently renovated by Leonard Murphy, was extensively damaged after a fire quickly spread through the structure. According to Eddington Fire Chief Siegfried Wilking, firefighters from Eddington, Brewer and Holden had difficulty fighting the fire because the building was partitioned into several sections.

The owner and one customer were in the restaurant section of the building when the fire broke out. The two men escaped unharmed. The fire is believed to have started in the grocery store which was closed at the time, and spread through the building in a matter of minutes.

50 years ago – Feb. 15, 1957

PROSPECT – Fire of undetermined origin destroyed a two-story, eight-room farm home on Route 1A in Prospect. Loss was estimated at $30,000, Prospect Fire Chief Alton Chamberlain said.

A broiler house near the barn was saved, though badly scorched, as was a poultry house containing 15,000 chickens.

Prospect firemen were joined in battling the blaze by fire companies from Bucksport, Stockton Springs, Belfast and Searsport.

Electric power in the area was disrupted for about an hour and traffic along Route 1A also was tied up. There was no water supply in the immediate vicinity, fire officials said, and water was hauled to the fire by tank trucks.

.

BANGOR – Signal honor was conferred in Washington, D.C., upon Artemus E. Weatherbee, deputy assistant postmaster general, personnel, formerly of Bangor, when it was announced that he has been chosen one of the 10 outstanding men in the federal service and named to receive the coveted Arthur S. Fleming Award.

Weatherbee, son of Mrs. Lola Sherman of Fourth Street, Bangor, is a career man in the postal department and has advanced steadily since entering that service.

Only 38, Weatherbee is a graduate of Bangor High School and the University of Maine in 1939, when he set his sights on a career in the federal service.

100 years ago – Feb. 15, 1907

BANGOR – The biggest crowd of the season lined the speedway of the Gentlemen’s Club on Mt. Hope Avenue on Thursday afternoon. There were perhaps 1,500 people in attendance and they saw some good racing.

The honors of the afternoon went to P.H. McNamara’s Baby Mack. The third went to M. Willeys’ Edgelot.

Baby Mack is by Colombo, dam Blue Hill Belle by Nelson Wilkes and is pronounced a very promising bit of horseflesh.

Mr. McNamara was offered $500 for his fleet little mare after she finished one of the heats in fine style, but he declined the offer.

.

CASTINE – There have been bridge and whist parties morning, noon and night in Castine this winter, but all pale before the one given by Misses Carrie and Nellie Perkins at their home on Court Street Saturday afternoon. When you talk about entertaining, these ladies are always in the vanguard. Twelve friends assembled by invitation. The beautiful home was profusely decorated with carnations, lilies and ferns, which made the guests forget entirely for the time the strenuous winter weather outside.

Both the tally cards and the place cards were in the form of a heart, most suggestive of the approach of Valentine’s Day.

There were prizes and surprises for the guests from first to last. The first prize for scoring the greatest number of points was captured by Mrs. C. Fred Jones. The second place went to Mrs. Dr. George E. Parsons. The third prize was won by Miss Harriet Devereux.

At the end of the game refreshments were served on small tables, the linen coverings of which attracted much attention. The designs on the cloths were most artistically worked and said to have been presented to the Misses Perkins by a very dear cousin.

As for the refreshments, they were the most appetizing dainties and all that the most fastidious could desire, and the Misses Perkins should feel proud of their efforts.

.

BUCKSPORT – Everyone in town who is the owner of a horse was at Silver Lake speedway where many exciting races took place. But when Aaron Stubbs put in an appearance with his horse, which he has been using for farm work and hauling wood all winter, he is reported to have trimmed them all.

.

BREWER – Arthur Norwood, for some years enlisted in a U.S. cavalry troop in service in Cuba, has arrived home in South Brewer, his term of enlistment having expired.

.

CARMEL – Owing to unavoidable circumstances arising, the creamery company has been obliged to abandon the ice field near the company’s plant and is hauling ice from Tracy Stream, having a large force of men and eight or 10 teams at work.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin