Yesterday …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – April 26, 1997

BANGOR – For loggers, opportunities for professional development are few and far between. It’s sometimes very solitary work. On Friday, it was apparent that the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, which comes to Bangor every other year, is much anticipated and long awaited by those who make their living in woods industries.

The grounds of Bass Park, where exhibits this year occupy 220,000 square feet, took on a fair-like atmosphere as loggers and the companies that serve them began two days of hobnobbing, dickering and back slapping.

The show is expected to draw more than 6,000 to Bangor this week, breaking the 1995 Expo’s record of more than 5,000.

The show is always held in late April or early May, also known as mud season here, because that is the annual downtime for logging professionals, who are unable to get in and out of the woods until the ground dries up.

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HAMPDEN – From across the crowded visitors’ clubhouse at Boston’s Fenway Park, Baltimore Orioles slugger Eric Davis, wearing a T-shirt and icing his shoulder, took verbal aim at a man who has already taken a spring full of barbs.

“Bordy! Bordy! Only Bordy’s fully dressed this early,” Davis yelled, taking time away from a card game to pick on one of the newest O’s.

“I mean fully dressed! Bat, gloves, spikes and everything,” he said, shaking his head as a few Orioles chuckled.

Mike Bordick, formerly of Winterport, Hampden Academy and the University of Maine, turned his fully clad body toward Davis and tossed him a not-so-nice glance.

“Hey. I’ve gotta hit at 11:25,” he said, deadpan.

Consider that.

It’s only 10:50 a.m. and the man whose former position Bordick has occupied this season – a guy who’s not exactly a slacker, by the name of Cal Ripken – has yet to shed his leather jacket and loafers.

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BANGOR – Over the past year, Bangor horror master Stephen King has voiced dis-satisfaction, both publicly and privately, with some of his works for film and television.

In King’s eyes, one such miss was Stanley Kubrick’s 1980 film “The Shining.” While the film certainly delivers the chills, it’s most memorable for Jack Nicholson’s two hours of chewing the scenery. King’s novel was used largely as an outline. Its characterizations and back story never checked into the Overlook Hotel in Kubrick’s fever dream.

25 years ago – April 26, 1982

BANGOR – Robert L. Lang headed home to Saint John, New Brunswick, without even knowing that he had been declared the overall winner of the 16th annual Kenduskeag Stream Canoe Race.

Lang turned in a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 31 seconds, just 3:09 off the course record set in 1978 by five-time champion Jeff Wren of Orono. Wren finished second in the one-man long kayak division, recording a time of 2 hours and 46 minutes.

The reason Lang didn’t know he won was because he was disqualified. Race officials said Lang was disqualified because when he portaged the Old Flour Mill dam, he put his craft back in the water too soon.

Lang discussed his disqualification with officials after the race and accepted their decision. Shortly afterward the officials conferred and reversed their decision because a number of people have been confused by that particular portage.

50 years ago – April 26, 1957

BANGOR – An estimated crowd of 1,000 attended the opening of the Bangor Jaycees Home Improvement Show at the municipal auditorium. Officials said the attendance was “above expectations.”

Of particular interest to the throng was the city booth where fire, police, health, water and building inspection departments were featured. In all there were 93 booths featuring articles for home and grounds.

Among the appliances and materials shown were the latest in hot water heaters, kitchen ranges, refrigerators, television and radio receivers, and hi-fi systems.

Slim Clark and his Variety Show provided the evening’s entertainment. Tonight’s show will feature Curly O’Brien and his Top Hands.

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ORRINGTON – One of the groups rehearsing for the fifth annual Maypole Festival being held at the new Bangor Auditorium is known as the Orrington Circlettes.

The group was formed in 1954 at the North Orrington school by Mrs. William Bennett and took part in both the 1955 and the 1956 festivals. For the 1957 festival, members of the group will do 10 dances, including square, couple and circle. Their demonstration dance will be the “Bouquet Waltz,” a square dance making use of double-time step.

Members of the group wear peasant-type costumes. Dresses are of red or green border print with full skirts and peasant blouses, accented with black cummerbunds. Boys will wear black trousers, red or green shirts, black gambler ties and white cummerbunds.

Deane Cousins, a former member of Mrs. Bennett’s class, was crowned King in 1956, having sold more tickets for the festival than any other boy. As a member of the Hi-Squares, he will have a place of honor at the 1957 festival.

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BANGOR – Two hundred fifty vials of the scarce Salk vaccine arrived in Bangor for the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis and the city of Bangor Health Department from the Eli Lilly Co. of Indianapolis, Ind.

James F. Conner and James A. Hughes of the foundation received the allotment. Hughes said that the foundation now has enough of the vaccine on hand to carry out the planned clinic at Eastern Maine General Hospital. Some of the vaccine will be used to give city employees their second shots – 575 altogether.

100 years ago – April 26, 1907

ORONO – Work at the experiment station poultry plant is progressing well. Some 500 chicks have been hatched and 12 incubators of 360-egg capacity are being run at full capacity. The colony brooder houses have been made ready for the young chicks and with a continuation of good weather it is expected this spring’s work will be successful. About 2,000 birds will be reared this spring.

Most of the buck lambs raised on the college farm have been marketed during the past two weeks. These lambs were of the Horned Dorset breed, and at the age of 10 to 12 weeks they dressed out at an average of 30 pounds each.

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BREWER – Some 80 ladies from the ranks of Brewer’s careful house fraus were present at a class of the cooking school now in session in Central Hall. Dainty books of recipes, menus, etc., were given, making attendance well worthwhile, to say nothing of the generous and delicious “trial tastes” of each article of food. Ice cream, White House coffee, Shredded Wheat pudding, raised doughnuts, brown bread and fudge cake were made, served and highly praised by everyone present.

The demonstrator, Miss Myrtle Robinson, a graduate of the Boston Normal School of Domestic Science, is very able in the discharge of her duties and J. Mattoon, the lecturer and manager, welcomes all who are interested in a most pleasant and courteous manner.

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INDIAN ISLAND – The Indian Island Catholic Church on which repairs have been made recently is now completed and presents a very attractive appearance. The new tower, which is the principal change in the building, adds much to the exterior appearance.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin