Yesterday …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Aug. 23, 1997

BANGOR – Rob Lorimer’s advertised specialty is violin sales, rental and restoration, but his third-floor shop at 31 Central St. is proof that he does much more than that.

Stringed instruments ranging from double basses to guitars are brought to him from around New England and Canada for repair or resale. Lorimer also scouts auctions for old instruments to refurbish. Racks of instruments line several walls at RDL Strings. If you are looking for, say, a 19th century French cello, Rob’s the man.

The shop is only part of what RDL is all about, however. Since moving to the sprawling rooms on Central Street in 1991, Lorimer, a musician himself, has created a cooperative studio space for some of Bangor’s best music instructors, an international group, many with international reputations.

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BANGOR – Since graduating from the prestigious Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1954, cellist Arkady Levitin has enjoyed a distinguished career.

In pre-Glasnost Russia, he was a member of the Leningrad Philharmonic, toured the Soviet Union, performed on television, took master classes and taught at Leningrad’s most distinguished music school. These days, however, he has studio space at RDL Strings in Bangor.

In 1980 he and his family emigrated to New York, where he continued his professional career with such orchestras as the Sinfonia d’Opera and Queens College Orchestral Society, before moving north to Bangor in 1992.

25 years ago – Aug. 23, 1982

OLD TOWN – If there’s one thing fliers like to do almost as much as flying, it’s talk about flying.

One group of Maine fliers had been getting together annually for about 25 years to discuss their favorite subject. On Sunday they met again at Ken DeWitt’s camp on Pushaw Lake to catch up on the latest news and reminisce about past experiences.

In 1940, Roland Maheu of Auburn won the Aero Rendez-vous with his acrobatic stunts. His most famous stunt, which won him notice in the syndicated “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not,” cartoon in 1946, was one in which he shut off the engine of his plane while flying solo and then climbed out onto the landing gear to start it again by spinning the propeller.

50 years ago – Aug. 23, 1957

BANGOR – More than 1,000 Bangor youngsters took part in the annual recreation department field day in Broadway Park. Children from all the city’s playgrounds were represented in the various events during the daylong program.

The other playgrounds were closed during the day and children from the west side of the city were transported to Broadway Park by bus. The entire recreation department staff supervised the field day activities.

Jimmy O’Connor won the pie-eating contest. Arnold Weiss was second and Dennis Ranny was third.

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BANGOR – Howard M. Goodwin, chairman of the 1958 Bangor-Brewer Community Chest and the Penobscot County Chapter, American Red Cross, has announced the appointment of Samuel H. Calderwood as chairman of the finance and insurance division of the drive. Goodwin also announced that Frederic S. Newman would be assistant chairman of the division.

Calderwood is president of Palmer’s Insurance Agency. “Insurance is my business,” he said. “To me, the Chest is an insurance agency. Through its agencies it ensures the welfare of the community.”

Newman is assistant to the president of the Eastern Trust and Banking Co.

100 years ago – Aug. 23, 1907

ORRINGTON – A hayrack ride to Pine Grove Grange is being planned by some of the members of Enterprise Grange. Others will go with single teams.

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DIXMONT – The farmers of this vicinity have been making the most of the fine weather of the past week and lots of nice hay has been housed.

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DIXMONT – Mrs. Amos Stevens and daughter, Abbie, have returned to Bar Harbor after a short visit with friends. Everyone is loud in their praise of the young cornetist, as Miss Stevens is only 16 years old.

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HAMPDEN – The Lowande, Wilson Bijou Circus, a complete one-ring show, will be one of the many feature acts of the vaudeville bill at Riverside Park. The Bijou Circus is just what the name would suggest, a complete show in miniature. There are wonderful trick ponies, a troupe of trained dogs, funny clowns whose antics delight all and skilled acrobats who cause onlookers to hold their breath occasionally.

Others on the program are Geo. B. Alexander, tramp comedian and storyteller; the Zoyarras Duo, expert rolling globe acrobats; and Homes and Holliston in a rural comedy sketch.

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PENOBSCOT – Haying is nearly finished, and the yield has been better than expected at first.

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CASTINE – The schooner Lulu of Winterport has been loading hay at Sargent’s Wharf for Bar Harbor.

Miss Lena Wescott is soliciting orders for a line of fancy moccasins.

W.A. Ricker has just received a new souvenir postal of Castine which is meeting with a heavy sale. The postal is in the shape of an envelope with a picture of the Baron de Castin on the outside and arranged so that a steady pull on the little flap which projects from one end discloses, one after another, a list of 12 views of the most popular subjects.

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OLD TOWN – A rehearsal of St. Joseph’s band will be held at the old Catholic church on Water Street. The band is fast becoming proficient and soon they will be able to give a concert. All of the members of the band are endeavoring to perfect the various technicalities of their instruments. It is probable that a grand concert and ball will be held at the first appearance of the new band.

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BREWER – Clyde A. Gordon has accepted a position as stenographer with Pearl & Dennett. Gordon is a recent graduate of Miss Beal’s school [now Beal College in Bangor].

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BUCKSPORT – The fishing sloop Kathleen, Capt. A.G. Dorr, arrived in port with a cargo of fresh fish.

Thursday was the day for the October Club’s excursion. The weather was ideal for an outing and a large number were on hand to enjoy the trip down the river to Penobscot Park on the steamer Ruth.

The Franklin Street tannery is down for a few days while the brick work around the boilers is repaired.

Mr. and Mrs. M.H. Andrews and Mr. and Mrs. F.A. Carleton, all of Bangor, were in town Thursday. They came down in Mr. Andrews’ automobile and after taking dinner at the Robinson House, returned home.

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WINTERPORT – Painters are at work painting the standpipe owned by the Winterport Water Co. The inside is completed and now they are at work on the exterior.

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ORONO – One of the pleasantest events of the season occurred when Mr. Emory Foss Hanaburg of New York and Miss Florence Balentine of Orono were united in marriage. The Rev. D.H. Hanaburg, father of the groom, performed the ceremony.

The church was prettily decorated with potted plants, cut flowers, palms, ferns and evergreens by members of the Delta Sigma sorority.

The bride was handsomely gowned in white silk and carried a shower bouquet of bride’s roses. The groom wore the conventional black.

The bride was given away by her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Balentine.

Mrs. Hanaburg is a graduate of Orono High School, Kents Hill and the University of Maine class of 1905. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and received special honors in biology at the university.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin