10 years ago – Nov. 1, 1997

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BREWER – The first Community of Caring Project for pupils at Capri Street School enabled them to give rather than receive this Halloween.

All decked out in their holiday costumes, Brady Smith, Kayla Smith, Brittany McCurdy, Jacob Valley and Michael Keefe stepped through the doors of Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor and rode up the elevator to present gifts to children spending their Halloween in the hospital.

The children were part of an effort to collect 1,000 pennies to raise $100 for the project. When the pennies were counted and stacked, the total was $236.88.

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ORONO – The University of Maine women’s hockey team, enjoying varsity status for the first time, will take to the ice for its first official practice.

Coach Rick Filighera pointed out that because there hasn’t been any recruiting – Maine won’t have scholarships until next season – the team will consist of returnees from last year’s team and a handful of newcomers.

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HAMPDEN – Marc Blanchette’s epiphany occurred last year as he wielded a drawknife to fashion the seat on a Windsor chair. There just might be some merit to this after all, he remembered thinking as he maneuvered the tool easily through the wood.

Blanchette, owner of American Windsor Chairmakers in Hampden, recalled his conversion to hand tools one day as he stood at the workbench in the basement of his home. It began in 1995 in an apprenticeship program where he learned to make a Windsor chair the way craftsmen did 250 years ago – with scorps, travishers, spoon bits and draw shaves to hollow, shape and drill the wood.

The first Windsor chair maker in Hampden since around 1845, Blanchette is one of three in the state.

25 years ago – Nov. 1, 1982

BANGOR – The Bangor Convalescent Center has developed a new aspect to its volunteer program. The Art Kart, is supported by the Bangor schools art departments, area artists, friends and family of residents. The art is circulated throughout the home on a monthly basis giving residents a chance to have a variety of pictures and paintings in their rooms.

Minnie Bennett, 93, and her brother, Ben Nayson, 95, helped select the art. Charlene Frati and Amey Rosewell, Bangor High School seniors, assisted them.

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BANGOR – Two things you learn in a talk with Robert Murray: he’s a third-generation member of a Bangor family with strong ties to Democratic politics, and at this stage of his life, he is interested in public service.

Murray, 23, says he has always wanted to run for public office. He reasons that since he is single and the legislative seat held by state Rep. Robert Soulas is vacant, now would be a good time to do it.

A couple of months ago he gave up a job on Gov. Joseph Brennan’s campaign staff and has been campaigning full-time for himself. He has been spending afternoons going door-to-door throughout his district.

50 years ago – Nov. 1, 1957

BANGOR – The hoped-for new West Side Elementary School is still betwixt and between. The decision for the location still hinges on the ability of the city to secure Hayford’s Field from the government within a reasonable amount of time. A building adjacent to Fairmount School is second choice. In the background is a third in the vicinity of Bruce Road between Kenduskeag and Valley avenues.

The Fairmount School is bulging [with pupils] and relief is needed.

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ORONO – The Fiction Study Group of the Woman’s Club will meet at the home of Mrs. Bernie E. Plummer. Mrs. Roger Clapp will review “The Air That Kills” by Margaret Miller, and Miss Mildred Covell will give an account of the visit of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the famous hunting lodge in Kenya, Africa, on the night of the death of King George as described in the book, “Treetops” by Jim Corbett.

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BANGOR – A thinly shrouded half moon and a soft, breezy chill from the Penobscot River stirred the ghosts just right for Halloween.

The streets were astir with costumed babies in carriages, toddlers, tireless sprites and hooded, mounted galloping troops as Bangor turned out to watch the annual Halloween parade and the kids gave the town a treat.

It was a trick to arrange everything. There were window paintings with about 80 taking part, a parade with floats and horses, a band and 200 rugged survivors of the Asian flu in Halloween uniforms, plus a dance for 200 and a costume skating party for another 200.

The recreation department’s office looked like a herd of buffaloes had walked through a paint shop and the paint-bespattered director, Albert Noyes, and his assistants were hanging on the ropes.

100 years ago – Nov. 1, 1907

ORONO – Several handsome new silent salesmen show cases have arrived and been placed in position at the Orono Drug Co.’s new store on Main Street. The soda fountain has been set up and wall cases put in position. The color scheme, green and white, is most attractive with its great number of electric lights. The store will present a neat and pretty appearance on its completion. It will open the middle of November.

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OLD TOWN – Halloween was observed in Old Town with all the frills. Numerous house parties were held all over the city and nearly every family, where children realize the meaning of Halloween, observed the night in some way.

The younger element of the population made the night hideous by throwing articles at people’s doors. Patrolman LeBrun was flying from one end of the city to the other in vain attempts to capture one or more of the young miscreants, but they were too agile for the patrolman.

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BANGOR – A new and interesting series of pictures will be shown to the patrons of The Nickel and, as usual, the Misses Huskins and Buswell will sing illustrated songs.

“Purchasing an Automobile” is one of the most humorous pictures to be seen in the city. The prospective automobile purchaser is besieged by a score of automobile agents.

This picture is combined with “The Gypsy’s Warning” and “The Adventuress.”

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BANGOR – Bangor was introduced to the Barn Dance during various Halloween activities. It was like leading a bashful and suspicious horse to a trough.

It is a lively dance. It makes the old ones puff and blow like distressed whales.

The barn dance was conceived probably by young collegians, and as the name implies, is informal, and was first introduced at some house party where they danced in the barn.

It is danced best to a schottische. There are two or three running steps – a kick, then another, run two or three steps and then a most delightful jigging around in a circle for about eight measures.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin