(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – June 26, 1998

BANGOR – The message was simple. So was the presentation. But to Fran DeRosche it was heartfelt.

Standing at the corner of Main and West Market streets along the city’s Memorial Day parade route, the Bangor woman held up a small sign. “Thank you veterans” was written in black ink on white poster board.

Two of DeRosche’s good friends were killed in the Vietnam War. One was from Veazie, the other from Orono. Her husband also served in the conflict.

25 years ago – June 26, 1983

BANGOR – A lot of Mainers are leading double lives and getting away with it.

The microbiologist who takes your blood at the hospital is really a belly dancer in disguise. The retired bookkeeper sharing your pew at church is actually a devoted birdwatcher. And the fellow who just made a tooth crown for you is, in reality, a collector of exotic chickens.

For the past 15 years, Inez Boyd of Bangor has spent most of her Saturdays with a pair of binoculars around her neck. Birdwatching for her was the outgrowth of her first hobby, nature photography.

Bob Fougere loved scuba diving for fun so much that he turned it into a business, Northeast Divers in Brewer.

Balloonist Derald Young of Dedham made a part-time business out of his favorite leisure time activity.

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BANGOR – Paul Whitney of Bangor will begin his transition into the job of superintendent of schools for SAD 23 and 38 in Carmel, Levant, Etna and Dixmont on July 1 when he becomes associate superintendent.

He will take over full responsibility for the two school systems in September when Norman T. Soucy departs after 16 years on the job.

50 years ago – June 26, 1958

BUCKSPORT – Word has been received by Mrs. William Turner of North Bucksport that Pfc. Ronald C. Turner has been moved to North Camp Drake in Japan, where he is doing military police duty.

Pfc. Turner completed basic training at Fort Dix, N.J., after enlisting in the Army in January 1956. He graduated from the military police training center at Fort Gordon, Ga., the same year and has been serving in Japan for the last two years.

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BANGOR – Police locked up a prisoner on charges of aggravated assault and battery, threatening children and being a general trouble maker.

Two and one-half hours later he was “sprung” from his jail cell and placed in the custody of his guardian pending further investigation of the charges.

No name was given, but the prisoner was identified as a boxer dog owned by a Pier Street resident. This was not the first time an anti-social dog has been listed on the police blotter, but it was the first time in the memory of veteran jail attendants that one of them had been locked up.

Specifically the boxer is charged with having “chewed up a spaniel” in the Fairmount area owned by Vincent DeCesere. He also has been accused of having “caused a lot of trouble” for Bob Browning, park supervisor of that section of the city.

Bangor police were alerted to the situation by the Dow Air Force Base police who reported they had been advised that a dog was “chewing up other dogs” in the G.I. Village, and was frightening children in the neighborhood. There are many Dow Base personnel families living in that section, thus accounting for the initial call to the Base police.

Officer Patrick Dwyer was soon on the scene and minutes later he walked his prisoner into the police station. The dog’s owner was located some time later and the animal was turned over to his custody.

Pending further investigation police would not express an official opinion regarding the case. However, there was no question as to what Snapper, the police department cat, thought about the “culprit” and the charges. Snapper watched the entire police station proceedings from the top of a bookcase. For two hours the boxer and Snapper exchanged dirty look for dirty look.

Perhaps the fact that Snapper has a nice little spaniel friend in the Court Street section has something to do with it.

100 years ago – June 26, 1908

WEST WINTERPORT – The home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Foss was the scene of a very quiet but pretty wedding on June 24 when their oldest daughter, Sadie Olive, was united in marriage to Herbert Emerson Harriman of Bangor.

The marriage service was preformed by the Rev. A.J. Lockhart of Winterport. The couple received very handsome presents of silver, cut glass and linen. The young couple will reside in Bangor.

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WEST WINTERPORT – A very happy family reunion is being held at Fair Lawn Farm, the pretty home of Mr. and Mrs. Frank T. Bussey and Capt. and Mrs. B.F. Bussey.

The occasion is the homecoming of the youngest son, Guy, who is accompanied by his pretty bride. There is present at the old homestead others of the family, namely, Mr. and Mrs. George Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. Guy Ordway and Mrs. Everett Fernald, all of Foxcroft.

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CASTINE – The collector of customs received a telegram from Washington, D.C., ordering the national flag on the customs house and post office building to be displayed at half-staff for 30 days, a mark of respect to the memory of the late President Grover Cleveland.

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BANGOR – The only arrival in port Thursday was the schooner Maria Webster, Captain Rich, from Belfast.

The schooner Frances C. Tunnell sailed for Philadelphia with ice from the American Ice Co.; the Elsie A. Bayles for New York with lumber from the Eastern Manufacturing Co.; the Ella May for Pawtucket with lumber from Lowell and Engel and the Mary Eliza for Hurricane Island.

The schooners American Team and Brigadier with stone from Frankfort to New York, passed out to sea on Thursday.

The lighthouse steamer Geranium was in the [Penobscot] river Thursday painting the channel buoys.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin