YESTERDAY …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Sept. 13, 1997

BREWER – After being outrun, outgunned and out-manned for three and a half quarters, the Brewer Witches somehow found themselves standing on the 3-yard line with a shot at an extra point that would tie, or defeat, Brunswick.

Thanks to eight Dragon fumbles – five of which the Witches pounced on – what would become a 339-54 yardage landslide on the ground suddenly seemed like next-to-nothing and Brewer trailed 14-13.

But Brunswick stuffed the play, shutting down the Brewer tailback at the 2-yard line.

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BANGOR – They all went together – into a field of quiet morning light and glistening dew. A tender breeze stirred the flowers. Some travelers went strolling. Others found a tree and sat in the shade. One rose transcendently into the sky and danced starry-eyed above us. One skipped off to a nearby river, slid into a canoe and took off for the waterways.

Then a voice emerged. It was Susan Wesley, a therapist who uses guided imagery and music in her Bangor counseling practice.

“Allow yourself to glimpse the setting once more,” she instructed in a creamy voice. “Then begin to make your way back.”

Tempting to resist her request, what with that canoe ride and all. But each person reluctantly surrendered and soon was sitting back at the conference table in the low-lit St. Francis Center at St. Joseph Hospital.

25 years ago – Sept. 13, 1982

BANGOR – Marshall L. Stone, who recently retired as managing editor of the Bangor Daily News, was named Maine Journalist of the Year by the Maine Press Association.

It was the second time Stone has been cited by the association, have been given a special award in 1980, recognizing his contributions to journalism.

In the 1980 award, the MPA cited Stone for his candid Column One, which frequently castigated the press and other institutions.

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BANGOR – The future of the old church on Pine Street, damaged by fire several weeks ago, will be debated by the Bangor Historical Preservation Commission tonight.

Albert Smith, Bangor’s code enforcement officer, has applied to the commission for a certificate of appropriateness for demolition of the church.

The Pine Street Church was designed by Charles G. Bryant, a famous Maine architect.

50 years ago – Sept. 13, 1957

ORONO – Break out the beanies, the freshmen are here.

More than 1,000 first-year students, most of them, in upper-class parlance, green and still wet behind the ears, stormed the University of Maine today, anxious to do battle with the books.

Today was the trunk and suitcase day. Arriving by car, bus, train, plane, carrying an amazing amount of luggage, eager young adults and harassed parents unpacked, hung up and settled in.

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BANGOR – “The Arm and Elbow and Ten Buckets of Blood” means little to Bangor residents of today, but during the Civil War it meant a great deal to many people. This was the fascinating colloquial name given to Acadia Hall, 31-35 Mercantile Square, now used by the Dunham-Hanson Co. as a storage building.

The boys back from the Civil War named the hall, and the idea presented in the name had been handed down to many of the present-day terms used by servicemen and civilians. These include Blood Alley or Bloody Bucket because of a number of fights in a specific place, and Arm and Elbow, meaning to raise a drink.

Built in 1817, the hall was originally part of the Green Acre Estate.

Although more than 140 years old, a portion of the original balcony for the orchestra remains. Much of the original millwork of the wooden doors, window sashes and door casings still remain. Also remaining are plaster that is an inch thick, part of the wallpaper and the original stairway.

During the history of this famous old hall, dances ranged from the dainty minuet to the more vigorous varsolienne, a dance similar to the polka.

In 1914 the hall and other buildings close to it were taken over by Dunham-Hanson Co.

100 years ago – Sept. 13, 1907

BANGOR – The Bangor and Aroostook Railroad announced its annual Aroostook to the Sea excursion from points on the system in Aroostook and northern Penobscot counties to Stockton and Searsport.

Excursionists will get a good sniff of the salt sea breezes and have an opportunity to inspect the great docks at Cape Jellison, with the mammoth potato house, without equal in the world. Vessels of all rigs are in port, including a fleet of Italian barks loading orange box shooks, with their picturesque crews of sailors. Then there will be the lumber fleet and big ocean steamers.

At Mack’s point will be seen one of the most modern coal handling docks in the world, in full operation, discharging huge five- and six-masted schooners and great barges.

The ride from Aroostook no doubt will develop some great appetites among travelers, and at the Penobscot Park Pavilion there will be mountains of clams, the genuine article, right out of the flats – and Searsport clams baked in the only way, on hot rocks in seaweed.

There will be many side activities, the merry-go-round, small boats in plenty for a sail around the harbor and teams for a trip to Searsport and Belfast.

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BANGOR – Miss Florence Bragg, daughter of the Hon. and Mrs. Charles F. Bragg of Grove Street, and Edward Stetson Paine Esq., son of the late Levi L. Paine and Mrs. Paine of Bangor Theological Seminary, were married at the home of the bride.

The bride graduated from Bangor High School in 1900 and Smith College in 1905. She has been very prominent socially.

Mr. Paine graduated from Andover and Yale, later attending Harvard Law School. He entered the law office of Rounds, Hatch, Dillingham and Debevoise in New York and within a short time was placed in charge of its branch office at San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he and his bride will live.

The bride was beautifully attired in a gown of valenciennes and Cluny lace. She was attended by her sister, Miss Agnes Bragg, as maid of honor.

Music was furnished by a string orchestra under the leadership of Horace M. Pullen.

The house was decorated by Adam Sekeger. The reception room was in asparagus fern and pink and white roses. The two large mantles were banked in pink and white roses, and the arch under which the ceremony was performed was a bank of roses. The large hall was decorated in laurel and hydrangea blossoms. In the drawing room pink and white phlox and laurel furnished the decoration. The dining and music rooms, which are connected by an arch, were in asparagus fern, yellow lilanthus and golden glow.

Mr. and Mrs. Paine will enjoy a brief honeymoon in the Maine woods, after which they will sail at once for their new home in San Juan.

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BUCKSPORT – A telegram was received here today announcing the sudden death on the Grand Banks of Capt. John F. Peterson of South Penobscot, captain of the fishing schooner Hiram Lowell of T.M. Nicholson’s Bucksport fleet.

Captain Peterson, probably the oldest Grand Banks fishing captain in point of service, was born in Castine about 70 years ago but did not look or appear as old.

He was left fatherless when 10 years old as his father, Peter Peterson, who was mate of a ship, drowned at New Orleans.

When he was 11 years old, John went to the Grand Banks in the schooner Albert. He was no “one tripper” but went to the Banks until he was 16. For the next two years he went to the West Indies and at age 19 was mate with Capt. Rufus Ames in the schooner Sea Ranger.

At age 21 he went to the Grand Banks again, this time as skipper of the schooner Diana, and continued to do so every year until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he and most of his crew entered the Navy. He saw much service in the blockading squadron and participated in the bombardment of Fort Fisher.

Captain Peterson sailed on his 39th and last trip to the Grand Banks in June, and this was his 31st summer in the region of fog and cod.

Captain Peterson was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He gave every man a square deal and that was all he expected in return. He was a captain with whom men were more than willing to take a second trip and none ever had better crews, for this reason.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin