Yesterday …

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(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – June 5, 1998

KENDUSKEAG – The residents of this small Penobscot County town recognize the name of Capt. Isaac W. Case because it is emblazoned on their public library.

But not enough people understand why his name – of all names in the town’s 146-year history – is so important.

That’s one reason Kenduskeag resident Anthony Trafton began plans to hold a formal memorial service for Case and the other 58 Civil War soldiers buried in Kenduskeag Cemetery.

In researching Case, Trafton discovered a man who was “important to the town, important to the state, important to the whole army.”

Before serving in the Civil War, Case, who was born in 1822, graduated from Bowdoin College, went to Ohio to study law, then returned to Kenduskeag to become a high school teacher.

After a decade of service to his native town, Case enlisted in the Army. Due largely to his reputation as an honest man, the novice soldier who had never served his country before 1862 was elected captain and company commander of the 22nd Maine Volunteer Infantry Unit, Company H.

Case’s unit saw action in and around New Orleans and the Mississippi River, ending up in Port Hudson, La. Case died of congestive fever on July 6, 1863 – three days before Port Hudson fell to Union Forces and he would have left for home.

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HOLDEN – Eight-year-old Paul Holyoke has been a fan of children’s performer Red Grammer ever since he was in kindergarten.

So Paul’s enthusiasm was overwhelming when Grammer came to his school to perform some of his best-loved songs. Paul’s eyes lit up as he sat on his heels to see Grammer over the heads of his classmates sitting on the gymnasium floor at the Holden School.

25 years ago – June 5, 1983

BANGOR – She appears every Thursday morning, the woman with the silver-gray hair and the infectious smile. She heads for the reference department of the Bangor Public Library, spreads out her research papers and loses herself among ancestors who have been dead for centuries. Marjorie Marsh Quigg of Bangor has been visiting the library regularly for seven years while researching a two-volume book on her ancestors.

A native of Brewer, Quigg visited the library often as a girl. “In those days, when the building was open on Sundays, we would sit by the fireplace in the Children’s Room and have story hour.”

As an adult, Quigg continued to be drawn to the library’s homey, cooperative atmosphere and felt a part of its family.

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BANGOR – One of the hottest books this year at the Bangor Public Library tells the prehistoric tale of an orphaned girl found by a wandering band of people. It is “Clan of the Cave Bears” by Jean Auel and its appeal is astounding library staffers.

“We have a long reserve list on this book,” said Rita Schreiber, head of the circulation department.

Keeping tabs on changes in the public’s tastes is one of the joys of working in a library, as head reference librarian Charlotte Torrey knows.

Despite fiction waiting lists, Torrey doubts people read fiction the way they did.

“People want more nonfiction today,” Torrey said. “It used to be that women would read light fiction, but now they get the same thing from TV.”

50 years ago – June 5, 1958

BANGOR – The Stillwater Park section of Bangor is used as a typical example of how an Urban Renewal program could work in Bangor.

The area is bounded by Mt. Hope and Stillwater avenues, Dartmouth and Palm streets. The section contains all types of housing from very good to very poor and some commercial property.

Water is available in the section, but wells are extensive and in numerous cases are next to privies. Those who avail themselves of public water encounter the problem of waste disposal since there is no sewer.

The new Interstate highway will run by the shabbiest section, and a modern hospital is to be built on Stillwater Avenue.

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BANGOR – Frances Dighton Williams Chapter Daughter of the American Revolution will place a bronze marker at the grave of Lt. Isaac Clewley, soldier of the American Revolution and pioneer settler.

There will be an unveiling of the new headstone at the grave located in Mt. Recluse Cemetery, Stockton Springs, on the road to historic Fort Point.

100 years ago – June 5, 1908

WINTERPORT – John Young has a crew at work moving the house recently purchased by Mr. Darling.

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BUCKSPORT – H. Rufus Googins, proprietor of the Robinson House, is making many repairs and improvements in and on the house. He has had a number of bathrooms put in, the wash rooms re-piped and hot water fixtures put in, new sewer connected and a larger water pipe put in.

Mr. Googins has not forgotten the outside – he has torn down sheds that were in the rear of the hotel, and moved the store that has stood for more than 50 years on the upriver end of the hotel. This he has had moved back 200 feet.

He is having the site where it stood filled in and graded, which will add greatly to the beauty of the place and give plenty of light in the dining room. This building has been used for various purposes in past years. In 1861 the post office was there. Jonathan Wood, father of Frederic Wood, the present town clerk, was postmaster, appointed by President Buchanan.

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BUCKSPORT – The fishing schooner Hiram Lowell, Capt. Allen McIsaac, cleared for the Grand Banks. This makes the fourth fisherman of Capt. T.M. Nicholson’s fleet to clear for the Banks in a few days.

The schooner William Matheson, Capt. David C. Morrissey, arrived in port in ballast from Lubec, where she discharged her cargo of herring taken from the Magdalene islands.

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BREWER – Capt. H.J. Leach, owner of the Brewer ferry, appeared before the city council and told the aldermen his connection with the ferry difficulty. The matter is more or less familiar to all patrons of the water route between the two cities. He said he wanted a straight path to Union Street and he would fight the matter to the bitter end.

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BANGOR – The Dorothea Dix, the motor dory owned by Miss Jessie Twaddle of Bangor, is being prepared for launching.

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CASTINE – Capt. C.A. Coombs went to Belfast to meet the servants of Mrs. Robinson and they will open Agoncy cottage.

Miss Florence Douglass is in the post office as assistant for the summer.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin