(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – March 27, 1998

BUCKSPORT – Talks regarding the role of natural gas in the town’s future are in the pipeline, although the outcome is far from certain. At a special Town Council meeting, Town Manager Roger Raymond said that Central Maine Power Co. has approached Bucksport, hoping to distribute natural gas to the town once a statewide system is in place.

For the moment, CMP is among several firms seeking designation from the Maine Public Utilities Commission as a natural gas provider, Raymond said. Such companies potentially could service spurs extending from the proposed Maritimes and Northeast pipeline into communities.

25 years ago – March 27, 1983

BANGOR – Immaculately groomed, Nicholas Gold describes himself as a full-time student (in the business curriculum at the University of Maine) and a part-time musician (chiefly in the service of St. John’s Episcopal Church). Originally from Salt Lake City, Utah, he came to Bangor about a year ago from New Mexico to be interviewed for a position that did not materialize.

Having been smitten by Bangor, however, he moved his family – his German-born wife, her mother and their two sons – here and settled down.

The lyric baritone helps to beef up the adult choir and, about once a month, sings a solo. Music is on the march at St. John’s, for in addition to the mixed senior choir, choirmaster Fred Jones also trains a boys’ and men’s choir and a girls’ choir.

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ORONO – Ron Brown, the veteran Eastern Maine basketball coach who has switched successfully from the high school to the professional level of the game and back again, will change coaching hats once more and try his hand as an assistant at the college level.

The 32-year-old has resigned his teaching and coaching position at Piscataquis Community High in Guilford to become a voluntary part-time assistant to Coach Skip Chappelle at the University of Maine.

Brown will attend the university as a graduate student in the fall and supplement his study hours in pursuit of a doctorate by working with Chappelle in the Black Bear program. Brown’s duties will vary in accordance with his academic schedule.

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BEWER – Renny Perry sits in his newly renovated office behind an immaculate desk, and is completely in his element as he discusses the prospects for industrial development in Brewer.

As city manager, Perry exudes optimism. That confidence is undaunted by intense competition among economic developers trying to reduce local unemployment lines, fill empty buildings and increase the tax roll.

Like his competition, Perry must convince the local citizenry that development is not synonymous with smokestacks and buildings that look like they should be used on the film set for a movie about the industrial revolution.

Discussions of Brewer’s business and industrial future inevitably center on the I-395 project that will be a third link for the 50,000-plus vehicles that travel daily between Brewer and Bangor.

50 years ago – March 27, 1958

OLD TOWN – Mrs. Rena Bowles of Bangor was guest speaker at the guest night program for Our Neighborhood Club members and guests at the home of Mrs. James W. Cunningham, 183 Stillwater Ave.

Mrs. Bowles, home economist and supervisor of the Bangor school lunch program, showed slides of beautiful scenery of many foreign places she visited on a guided world tour – the Hawaiian Islands, Wake Island, Bataan, Hongkong, Siam, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Turkey and Greece.

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BANGOR – More than 5,200 wide-eyed children and adults talked to the elephants, thrilled to high-wire acts and chomped on popcorn and candy at the third and fourth performances of the Anah Shrine Circus.

The vast municipal auditorium literally was bursting at the seams from the shouts and laughter of the audience of mostly youngsters, some getting their first look at wild animals and the laugh-provoking antics of those funny, funny clowns.

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BANGOR – John Bapst High School, taking the affirmative side, won the debating tournament from Bangor High School in the Bates Debating League held at John Bapst.

The topic for the debate was “Resolved – That the United States Should Substantially Increase Foreign Aid.”

Members of the Bapst debating team were Michael Mosbacher and Daniel McGrath. On the Bangor High team were Jeanne Sprague and Lourene Severance.

Judges were Mrs. James McLean, James Baggett and Donald Finnegan. Brother Benilde was in charge of the debate.

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BANGOR – Francis Murray fired up 47 of 50 free throws to win the John Bapst High School foul-shooting championship. Murray is a junior. Runner-up in the event was Ronald Rooney, a freshman.

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BANGOR – A bequest of an original drawing of a map of the state of Maine, made by Moses Greenleaf in 1829, has been made to the Bangor Public Library under the terms of the will of Mrs. Florence F. Hahn, late of Friendship.

Librarian L. Felix Ranlett said the colored 50- by 42-inch map will be received in the next few months. It will be placed in the Bangor Room of the library.

100 years ago – March 27, 1908

The Purity Sewing Circle met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Boyce, 67 Market St. Mrs. Agnes Harris presided. The treasurer, Mrs. Martha Cayting, reported that some money had been collected and seven new members had joined since the last meeting.

Mrs. McDonald presented the circle a quilt ready for the batting and she was given a unanimous vote of thanks. It is proposed to finish the quilt and sell it by ticket later.

By vote of the circle the president was authorized to purchase material to make a variety of fancy articles.

Twenty-three were present in all, including a representative of the Bangor Daily News.

Mr. and Mrs. Boyce served fruit and cake and ice cream made in the Fox patent self-freezing ice cream jars.

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NEWBURGH – George W. Snow recently purchased a horse from I.A. Whitney.

Sylvanus Chase, who recently sold his farm to Frank Tasker of Dixmont, will move into a house near Tolman’s mill, owned by Mrs. Allie Nealley.

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BANGOR – John M. Oak, postmaster of Bangor, was appointed by Governor Cobb as a member of the board of trustees of the University of Maine to succeed Henry Lord, a trustee for 17 years, 16 of them as president of the board.

Mr. Oak graduated from Maine in the Class of 1873, and at the present time is president of the Alumni Association.

A coincidence is evident in that in 1868 Mr. Oak’s father, Lynden Oak, served as a trustee of the institution then known as the Maine State College.

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ORONO – Mr. B. Kelleher, who has been clerking for White & Ring for some time, has taken a position with T.R. Savage in Bangor. Mr. Kelleher will drive through Orono every Thursday selling candy in place of Mr. Eaton, who has resigned.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin