YESTERDAY …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – June 21, 1997

BANGOR – Almost every day for the past month, Steven Smith got a phone call from his childhood friend, Scott Mower. Mower always asked the same question: “The weather’s going to be great June 15, right?”

Smith, known to Bangor television audiences as WLBZ-TV (Channel 2) weatherman Steve McKay, assured his old friend that the sun would shine on the day Mower was ordained a priest, becoming the Rev. Scott Mower, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bangor.

Mower, 37, grew up in Orono, the oldest of three boys. His mother, Carol Mower of Orono, taught speech at the University of Maine, and his father, Charles Mower (now of Old Town), sold business equipment. The family was active at church in their hometown – the Orono United Methodist Church.

After graduating from Orono High School and the University of Maine, Mower taught third grade at St. Ann’s School on Indian Island, Old Town. There Mower had his first encounter with Roman Catholicism.

25 years ago – June 21, 1982

BANGOR – Maine Army National Guard units of the 262nd Engineer Battalion headed for two weeks of training held annually throughout the state. The units will work on construction projects in towns including Winterport, Corinth, Dexter, Eddington and Winslow, and take part in tactical training in Beddington.

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HAMPDEN – In 1794, Martin Kinsley had a house built on the main road in town. Just a few years short of its bicentennial, that same house, now undergoing restoration, will be opened as the official meeting place of the Hampden Historical Society. According to society spokesman Richard Newcomb, it is hoped the house will be used by the town as a general meeting place, as well as a repository for historical items.

Newcomb said the house’s first owner, Martin Kinsley, was a registered probate judge for Massachusetts, which at the time included Maine, and a legislator representing Hampden at the Massachusetts Legislature. Kinsley also was a member of the Missouri Compromise committee, which made Maine a free state without slavery in 1820.

The house was later owned by the Smith and Cole families for more than a century and used as a wayside station for travelers. During the 1930s and ’40s, the building became a lying-in house for local mothers.

The historical society was formed in 1970, and in 1980 it purchased the house. The structure is now being restored, with the front room repainted and decorated with traditional wall stenciling under the direction of expert stenciler Kenneth Jewett of Belfast. A reproduction of an antique tin chandelier, made by an Orrington tinsmith, will be installed.

50 years ago – June 21, 1957

HAMPDEN – Miss Monica Ashford of Innisfail, North Queensland, Australia, has left for home following a six-week visit with her sister, Mrs. H.B. Calkins.

Mr. and Mrs. Calkins drove Miss Ashford to New York where she planned to board a plane for home. She arrived in New York by plane and came to Hampden by bus, so she might see as much of the states as possible. Her visit was spent viewing the beauty spots of Maine and in meeting Maine people. Both met her approval to the point that she plans to return to the U.S. in three years to make it her home.

Mrs. Calkins, the former Jessie Ashford, had not seen her sister since her departure for this country in 1947. Mrs. Calkins met her husband while he was stationed in Australia during World War II. Shortly after her arrival here, they were married.

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HAMPDEN – The new Hampden Consolidated School has been named the Dr. George B. Weatherbee School.

Earl W. Spaulding of the Hampden School district made the announcement at ceremonies honoring the doctor. More than 700 people filled the Hampden Academy gymnasium to witness the program. Citizens of the community presented the physician with a red leather chair.

Mrs. Weatherbee also was presented gifts by the Hampden Health Council and the local bridge club.

Speakers who paid tribute to the doctor included Dr. J.J. Pearson of Old Town, president of the Penobscot County Medical Association; Dr. Leroy H. Smith of Winterport; Judge Louis C. Stearns, Hampden Academy trustee; Leslie H., Stanley, Hampden town agent; Ralph Thompson, Hampden school committee; and Lloyd E. Houghton of Bangor.

Four generations of the Gould family presented a medley of the doctor’s favorite songs.

Percy Lee of Lee, who is in his 90s, made the trip to Hampden and presented the doctor with some seedlings.

100 years ago – June 21, 1907

BRADFORD – Luther Gary is probably the oldest in years as well as in service of the present force of deputy sheriffs of Penobscot County.

He was born in Bradford on Aug. 31, 1832, where he has spent nearly all his days and where he obtained a practical business education in the common schools. He served several years on the board of selectmen of Bradford, and is now tax collector and treasurer of that town, having held the former office for nearly 20 years.

For about a quarter of a century, and until his partner’s death, he and the late M.D. Kingsbury carried on an extensive cooperage business in North Bradford, employing many men, owning machinery to dress their own staves, and teams to haul their barrels to Bangor, from whence they were shipped to Gloucester and other places.

He has been postmaster since September 1897. Mr. Gary has an ideal home where he and his wife, formerly Miss Amanda Plummer of Bradford, now live, near the home of their daughter, Mrs. W.F. Humphrey, at North Bradford.

The post office is kept in the store where Mr. Humphrey, his son-in-law, carries an extensive line of general merchandise and Mrs. Humphrey, millinery.

Mr. and Mrs. Gary, their son Will of Boston, who is visiting them, and Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey compose a family group that are pleasant and interesting to meet.

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CASTINE – One of the prettiest events given here for a long time was the reception given by professor Rankin to the members of his juvenile dancing class at Emerson Hall. The bright faces of the children and the many pretty costumes of the girls, with the white suits of the boys, made a sight very pleasing to the eye.

The costume dances were the features of the evening. The butterfly dance was performed by Mary Coombs, Katherine Parsons, Marjorie Smallidge, Miriam Walker, Edna Gates, Kathleen Hutchins, Marguerite Hooper and Bernice Wescott. The children were costumed in silkolene dresses of several colors.

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BUCKSPORT – Mrs. L.A. Wood went to Bangor to join her husband, Captain Wood of the schooner John J. Hanson, which is at that port loading with lumber. Mrs. Wood will accompany her husband on this trip.

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BUCKSPORT – The Atlantic salmon are running well up the river and proving a good source of income to the owners of the weirs on the shores of Verona Island.

Decator Bridges owns and operates one of the large weirs on the island and also runs a gasoline launch in connection with his weir, collecting the alewives from the various weirs and which he smokes. Mr. Bridges also collects the salmon from various weirs and takes them to market for the owners. Mr. Bridges took 15 large salmon to Bangor where they found a ready market. They were fine specimens of the gamy monsters.

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OLD TOWN – The merchants of this city are at a loss to know whether or not they will close their stores on Memorial Day.

Memorial Day is a legal holiday, but owing to an odd coincidence it is also circus day in this city. To close the stores on circus days would be sacrilegious according to the moral code of Old Town, and if someone would be kind enough to advance some good idea whereby the merchants can see their way clear, he undoubtedly would be hailed as a hero.

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ORLAND – The children and grandchildren of Capt. and Mrs. Daniel Rich met at the home of Mrs. Proctor in Revere to celebrate the 69th birthday of their mother. This was the first entire family reunion for more than 10 years. It was made possible by the visit of Capt. and Mrs. Rich to their daughters.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin