(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Dec. 20, 1997

BANGOR – There was something about Billy Cohen that made his teachers and friends take notice of the smart, athletic student.

Although his 1958 high school yearbook declared his destination “unknown,” everyone knew he would go far in life – they just didn’t know how far.

Recently the Garland Street Middle School was renamed in Cohen’s honor. Now secretary of defense, he will be on hand at his alma mater for the ceremony.

He also will return to his hometown once or twice in the coming year to talk with students about the importance of education. He will use his own rise from a working-class family to city councilor to U.S. senator to fourth-in-line in succession to the president of the United States to inspire Bangor students to set their sights high.

While he did well academically, Cohen really excelled on the basketball court. He began honing his legendary basketball skills at Abraham Lincoln School and played on the Garland Street team before going on to captain the Bangor High School team.

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BANGOR – For years it elicited scant attention in Bangor’s Davenport Park. Now, the USS Maine monument has become the focus of a centennial commemoration, which organizers hope will instill a sense of pride in the battleship that was the state’s namesake.

The bronze bow shield and scrollwork, recovered from the ship after 12 years under sea, were brought to Bangor through the efforts of local officials, mounted on the prow- shaped granite monument and dedicated in 1922. The public works department oversaw a $25,000 facelift in 1989; however, in recent years the memorial once again has become dingy and tarnished.

The commemoration will pay homage to the 268 men who lost their lives when the vessel blew up and sank in Havana Harbor on Feb. 15, 1898, precipitating the Spanish-American War.

25 years ago – Dec. 20, 1982

ORONO – Twenty-two amateur astronomers have been looking skyward for their grades at the University of Maine during the fall semester.

They are students in a 15-week course, Introduction to Astronomy. The course is taught by Dr. Neil Comins of the physics and astronomy department and Alan Davenport and John Meader, planetarium staff members.

UM’s planetarium will be the beneficiary of the course since the instructors have contributed their salaries to the planetarium support.

50 years ago – Dec. 20, 1957

CASTINE – “Dear Dennis, Santa hasn’t forgotten you this year and he has your name on his Christmas list. He asked me to write and tell you that he knows you kept your part of the bargain you made last Christmas and were a good boy and worked hard for your money. So you will get your bike, after all.

“In fact, three young men from the Maine Maritime Academy at Castine have your sparkling new bike right now. Santa dropped it off on their ship there and it was specially marked for you.

“It came about this way: When midshipman Fred Cervi of the Bronx, New York, heard about you, he felt a tug at his heart, and it seemed that nearly everyone else at the academy did, too. He and two close friends, Midshipmen Tom Kelly of Brewer and Walt Mazzacane of Old Orchard Beach, sounded out the opinion of the students and the idea quickly spread.”

None of the three midshipmen will have liberty this Christmas, for they are part of the school which must remain on duty. But they took some of their own time and came to Bangor to purchase the bike.

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BANGOR – In the role made to order for him, Jerry Lewis stars as the Army’s perennial misfit, “The Sad Sack,” in the Hal Wallis production opening at the Bijou Theatre.

Having convulsed so many audiences with laughter in so many top films with characterizations of well-intentioned fumblers, Jerry now dons the combat boots of the most hopeless, and most famous, incompetent of them all: George Baker’s Yank magazine cartoon character, whose misadventures made the tribulations of World War II G.I.s pale by comparison and brought laughter to war-weary soldiers all over the world.

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HERMON – Mrs. Helen McDougall, 35, of Dallas, was reunited with her sister, Mrs. Alta Spencer, 30, of Hermon, at the Northeast Airlines terminal in Bangor after a wait of 20 years. The two sisters and eight other members of the family, who became orphans when their parents drowned in Square Lake two decades ago, will hold a Christmas reunion in Maine.

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BANGOR – Once again, after more than a decade of lightless Christmas seasons, a profusion of colorful sparkling Yuletide lights adorn the county courthouse and grounds.

Streaming skyward where they are topped with a 28-inch blinking silver star, more than 100 bulbs are contained in the decorations. Also, four floodlights of different hues illuminate the entire colorful scene.

Other lights encircle 12 Christmas trees, ranging from 5 to 12 feet in height, and are located on the building’s balcony and beside the main door.

The decorations, requiring two days to install, were completed by Herbert Houston, court messenger and maintenance man; his son, Liston, also of the maintenance staff; and Forrest Page, electrician.

100 years ago – Dec. 20, 1907

BANGOR – The Bangor Amusement Co., under whose direction the new nickel theater on Exchange Street will be operated, expects to have it in readiness to open some time in January. It has been decided to install an elaborately furnished parlor for the ladies and children, and there will be a matron in constant attendance.

Contracts are now being closed for the lighting arrangements. The front of the new theater will be especially ornate and beautiful, and will be illumined by 250 incandescents. It will be a blaze of light, and with a great electric sign to be placed before the Penobscot Exchange almost directly opposite, will completely transform the appearance of lower Exchange Street at night.

The interior will be elaborately fitted up and there will be opera chairs with the elevations so arranged that a perfect view of the pictures may be obtained from each. Even the walls will be tastefully decorated.

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BANGOR – A window in holiday splendor, apropos of Christmas, at Rice and Tyler’s piano store in the Graham Building, Central Street, has compelled the attention of the countless numbers passing by this thoroughly up-to-date establishment.

Within, the store may well be said to have dressed itself in a fitting manner and the splendid goods carried by the firm shown to fine advantage.

The western side of the large show window has been bordered with fir, presenting a pleasing snow effect. There are displayed Reginaphones, Victor talking machines and phonographs, with Victor and Edison records, all in attractive arrangement. These are a necessary feature of every home, and Rice and Tyler are fully able to meet the demands of the most exacting customers. As a great poet has sung, “The man who hath no music in himself is fit only for treasons, stratagems and spoils.”

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BUCKSPORT – It was one more delightful afternoon to place to the credit of the October Club, the occasion being a lecture by Mrs. David N. Beach of Bangor on “Glimpses of Life in Our Southland.”

There was a large number present and all enjoyed the very entertaining and instructive lecture. Mrs. Beach’s grace and ease never were more apparent than when without notes she spoke for about an hour, which seemed to the audience only about one-half that time.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin