(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

10 years ago – Oct. 20, 1995

BANGOR – The cowboy hat and the cowboy boots are gone, but the pair of holey jeans and flannel shirt stay.

WYOU of Bangor, a longtime radio tradition in eastern Maine at 97.1 on the FM dial, switched its format from country music to alternative rock ‘n’ roll earlier this week.

Michael O’Hara, senior vice president of Bangor Radio Corp., said the switch, which began last Sunday, is a move to grab listeners in the Generation X demographic, which is now officially larger than the Baby Boomer generation of the late 1940s and ’50s, he claimed.

According to O’Hara, Generation X now numbers 79.4 million people, while the Baby Boomers topped out at around 60 million. O’Hara pointed to many of today’s hit television shows such as “Friends” and “Seinfeld,” and other media such as commercials and movies that are shooting for the same target audience.

Abruptly pulling country music from its airwaves caught some listeners off guard. The station received at least 30 complaints in the first 24 hours.

The station began in 1961 when it was called WABI-FM. In 1973, the station became WBGW, tabbing itself as Bangor Goes Western in the process. Thirteen years later, the station switched its call letters to WYOU.

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ORONO – A retired Connecticut police captain has been named new police chief for Orono. The town has been without an active chief since July 1994.

Robert L. Mulhern, a 21-year veteran of the roughly 100-member Hamden, Conn., police department, is expected to begin work here on Dec. 4.

Mulhern was chosen from a field of 29 people in the second round of applications. Orono’s first call for police chief candidates netted 39 applicants, but no suitable candidate was found.

25 years ago – Oct. 20, 1980

STILLWATER – Laurie Stearns, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Stearns of Stillwater, has become a First Class Girl Scout. She fulfilled some of the requirements on a two-week white-water canoe trip in northern Quebec during the summer. The rank is equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle award.

Her other outdoor interests include wildlife study, hiking, horseback riding and cross-country skiing. A Stillwater Scout troop climb up Mount Katahdin was the basis for an article she wrote for Maine Life magazine two years ago. Her other hobbies are stitching and crafts, including creating wooden toys, some of which she sells a local craft shops and fairs.

An honor roll student at Leonard Junior High School in Old Town, Miss Stearns is a member of the school band, orchestra, debate team and the reigning state championship chess team.

She was a member of Cadette Troop 200 for two years, assists Stillwater Brownie Troop 282 and is a member of the Explorer Post 315 sponsored by Dirigo Search and Rescue.

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ORONO – The 75 second-graders at Asa C. Adams School have studied a nutrition unit. The pupils prepared vegetable soup served for noon lunch. Each pupil brought a vegetable for the soup.

The pupils learned the four food groups and all about nutrients, and what makes a good snack. The menus for daily meals and the need for balanced meals were discussed.

Faculty members who taught the unit were Debbie King, Betty Carr, Mary Ann Gardner and Diane Oberg.

50 years ago – Oct. 20, 1955

BREWER – Construction of new taxable property in Brewer in 1955 will set a new record for a single year.

Applications for four dwellings filed at the office of City Clerk Paul E. Clish boosted the year’s construction total over the $1 million mark for the first time in city history.

With more than two months remaining in the current year, the total construction in the city is expected to more than double the previous high mark of $500,500 set in 1954.

Already completed or under construction in Brewer at the present time are 64 new dwellings and 11 business establishments. The total does not include nearly $100,000 worth of new construction owned by the municipality, which is not subject to taxes.

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BANGOR – Members of the genealogical records committees of the Francis Dighton Williams Chapter of the DAR have been active in recent weeks in marking the graves of Revolutionary soldiers.

The grave of Robert Treat was marked at Mt. Hope Cemetery. He was a member of Col. Josiah Brewer’s regiment and was commissioned second lieutenant on July 20, 1776. He established a trading post at the site of the Bangor Water Works, and at one time, his son owned the land where Mt. Hope Cemetery is located.

Mrs. Edward Ames, vice regent of Frances Dighton Williams Chapter, read the record of his service and dedication. Miss Lucie Preble, historian, placed the marker. The Rev. Albert Niles gave the closing prayer.

Present at the marking were Mr. and Mrs. John Treat, Mrs. William Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Fletcher, Mrs. Flora Ford, Miss Ruth Preble, Miss Lucie Preble, Mrs. William Holman, Mrs. Royce Ford and Mrs. Edward Ames.

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BANGOR – A make-it-yourself style show and welcoming coffee for newcomers will be held at the Dow Air Force Base Officers Club by the Officers’ Wives Club.

Dressy, sports and children’s clothes will be featured as well as a wide variety of arts and crafts, with all articles made by members of the Officers’ Wives Club. Among the displays will be knitted articles, cocktail dresses and children’s dresses.

100 years ago – Oct. 20, 1905

BUCKSPORT – Foreman Clifford with the Maine Central Railroad crew, which has been here at work on the railroad wharf, left with a part of his crew for Old Town Thursday morning, where they will replace and repair the damage caused by the fire of Tuesday night. Mr. Clifford returned Thursday noon having still a large crew of men here who are at work on the wharf. The men are filling in the new cob-work at the Maine Central wharf with rock taken from the site of the new Exchange Street station. The first train of rock arrived on Thursday morning.

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BREWER – A very pretty wedding took place at the home of Capt. and Mrs. George E. Wilson when their daughter, Ethel Sarah, was united in marriage to Harold Rowell Jewell of Brewer, formally of Newport. The knot was tied by the Rev. E.S. Philbrook of Belfast in the presence of the immediate relatives of both of the contracting parties. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception was held at which many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Jewell were present. They were the recipients of many beautiful gifts plainly showing the great esteem in which they are held here and elsewhere.

The bride is one of the most popular of the younger set, while the groom is favorably known here, having been employed for several years in Spencer’s Pharmacy, and recently purchasing the drug business of Fred D. Wyman in Brewer.

Mr. Jewell is a graduate of Coburn Classical Institute in Waterville. The happy couple left on the Pullman for a short trip after which they will be at home in Brewer.

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LEVANT – One of the pleasant social events of the season was the husking at Roswell Fitts’ last week. Friends and neighbors to the number of 150 gathered at an early hour and made the barn merry with their laughter and jokes.

An excellent supper of baked beans, pumpkin pie and all the things that go to make a good meal was served to the huskers by the hostess and all went home happy, hoping that Mr. Fitts would have a larger crop of corn next year.

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FRANKFORT – The railroad has been completed and cars are running. The last spike was driven last Friday, which connected the line. The natives are rejoicing.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin

PICTURE FROM THE PAST