10 years ago – June 12, 1998

(As reported in the Bangor Daily News)

BANGOR – A battle flag carried by the 17th Maine Volunteer Regiment during the Civil War is coming home to Maine after a number of years in a private collection and then in a Georgia museum.

The flag, a gift of the Atlanta History Center, is being evaluated at a textile conservation laboratory in Sharpsburg, Md. After undergoing conservation measures, it will be displayed at the Maine State Museum in Augusta.

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BUCKSPORT – Larry Sawyer III of Bucksport never dreamed he would compete in the Soap Box Derby.

But thanks to a relatively new device, the 11-year-old Jewett School student will be the first racer in Maine – and one of only two dozen in the nation – to make a dash toward soap box gold using an adapted race car.

Larry was born with a spinal cord disease that left the lower half of his body paralyzed. He can’t operate the foot-powered brakes, which until two years ago were the only type allowed by the American Soap Box Derby Association.

In 1996, however, an Indiana boy named Justin Yoder, who, like Larry, uses a wheelchair, challenged the brake rule and became the first child in the country to use adaptive equipment in soap box racing.

“You can do anything if you try,” Larry said.

25 years ago – June 12, 1983

BANGOR – Gene Carter is the kind of man who sails a 40-foot boat to Nova Scotia and back by himself. He’s also been called one of the best lawyers that Maine ever produced.

Friends talk about his sense of adventure and fun. Colleagues tell of his meticulous preparation and tenaciousness as a lawyer. If anyone has anything bad to say about President Ronald Reagan’s nominee to be the 12th U.S. district judge in Maine’s history, they’re not talking.

Appointed to the Maine Supreme Judicial Court by Gov. Joseph Brennan in 1980, Carter, 47, practiced law in Bangor for 16 years after he graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Maine. He earned one of 20 national scholarships to the New York University School of Law.

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HAMPDEN – The valedictory address at Hamden Academy commencement exercises will be given by Annemarie Strout, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Strout of Hampden. Miss Strout, who will attend Boston College is first in her class in academics. She is a member of the ski team, drama club, soccer team, National Honor Society, French club and international club.

Brenda Childs will deliver the salutatory address. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Childs of Hampden. She is a member of the ski team, cross country team, outdoor track team, international club, National Honor Society and Spanish club. She will attend the United States Military Academy at West Point.

50 years ago – June 12, 1958

BANGOR – Construction of a proposed $100,000, 20-alley 10-pin and candlepin bowling building in Bangor is expected to begin within a week. The 130- by 116-foot modern structure being built by Bangor Amusements Corp. will be located on Hildreth Street, opposite Pilots Grill.

Richard B. Cratty, president of the corporation, said construction was expected to be completed in September.

Featured within the concrete building will be a seating capacity for 100 spectators, lockers for league bowlers, overhead score reflectors on each alley, electronic-eye devices at foul lines, automatic hand dryers and a nursery for children while parents bowl.

The bowling building parking lot will handle from 90 to 100 cars.

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KENDUSKEAG – Mrs. Janetta Harvey Foster, Kenduskeag Elementary School teacher, who is retiring this year after 25 years of teaching, was honored by teachers, parents and friends at a tea. She has taught 18 years in the subprimary and first grades in Kenduskeag.

Mrs. Foster is the wife of Harold Foster, first selectman of Kenduskeag. She was born in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. A graduate of Lubec High School, she took her first teaching position in 1912 at the Lubec elementary school, and later taught in Jonesport for five years, acting as principal of the primary school for three years.

She came to Kenduskeag in 1922 and taught the first four grades for four years, then retired temporarily when she operated a gift shop and served as substitute teacher in Eastport, Addison, Levant and West Levant. In the spring of 1944, she returned to the schoolroom and has taught continuously since them.

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BANGOR – In response to former Tin Can Derby Champion Allan Woodcock Jr.’s challenging statement of two weeks ago to the effect “that it was ‘open season on Woodcock’ and that it would take a darn good chief of police to bring this bird down,” six area chiefs immediately took up the challenge to wrestle the crown from the Bangor attorney.

The competitor is donning “bad man” garb this year to add local color to the fun race. He has succeeded in riling the forces of law and order to the point that the Tin Can Race on June 21 may become one of the most spirited encounters in the history of the event.

Pre-race excitement reached a fever pitch when Bangor Chief John B. Toole received a hot tip from an unidentified source that Woodcock was going to take unfair advantage by sneaking into the NEWS basement to check on Soap Box Derby cars stored there.

Within minutes, Toole rounded up Brewer Chief Ralph Willoughby and Hampden Chief Richard Johnson, and they descended on the “bad man.”

Chief Willoughby said, “It is high time this bird was cut down to size and one of us will do it this year. Woodcock will be a dead duck on the Brewer flyway next Saturday.”

Johnson said, “He was Tin Can champ in 1955 and 1956, but the constabulary will do an effective job of dethroning him this year. The most gracious thing for him to do is to throw in the towel now and merely be a spectator.”

The attorney, when asked to comment, said, “Before I make a statement to the press, I want to consult myself.”

Editor’s note: read Yesterday next week to find out the rest of the story.

100 years ago – June 12, 1908

CASTINE – One man in Castine is advertising for a pair of heavy horses and another man here is advertising a pair for sale, both ads in the Bangor Daily News. They had better read the ads and get together.

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BUCKSPORT – Miss Clara Perkins was one of many to send in an answer to the prize rebus of the Hodgkins and Fiske Co., published in the Bangor Daily News May 25. She has received a reply from them stating the solution she sent in was correct and that she is the winner of the $335 Howard piano.

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OLD TOWN – Tonight in City Hall, graduating exercises of the senior class of the high school will be held. Preparations have been going on for more than a week. The hall and stage have been beautifully decorated with the class colors and evergreens. The class has rented a cottage at Cold Stream Pond and they intend to spend a week there fishing and enjoying themselves in general.

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BREWER – J.N.V. Lane has returned from an automobile trip to Frankfort.

Miss Alida Hatch has resigned her position with Allan G. Ray to accept a position in the suit department of Benson and Miller’s.

Compiled by Ardeana Hamlin