More stories of the ice bound condition of the Maine coast, hardships with storms at sea and the superiority of Portland Harbor as a port of shelter were brought today by the steamer Hilda, Monhegan and Bay State. It is impossible for vessels to make their way through the inner channels along the coast. Both east and west Penobscot bays are frozen solid. Penobscot bay is frozen from Rockland to the northern end of Fox Island with solid ice, a distance of 12 miles. The Monhegan on her trip from Rockland was forced at times to cut through ice 11 inches thick.

50 Years Ago, 1955

• A bill to ban public school athletic teams from all Sunday sports was filed today by Rep. Finemore R-Bridgewater. It would enjoin superintending school committees from sanctioning any Sunday competition. Parochial schools, which have some Sunday sports schedules now, would not be affected.

• Augusta’s public schools were closed today for the rest of the week because of a “flu” epidemic. More than 700 pupils – about one-fourth of the enrollment – were absent Monday and almost as many yesterday, school officials said.

25 Years Ago, 1980

• The “big four” of the Maine Interscholastic Hockey League will be in action tonight at the Central Maine Youth Center. In the 7 o’clock opener, the defending State champs from Waterville, currently holding the number one spot in the standings, will clash with St. Dom’s. The Panthers own a sparkling 15-1 record. The Saint’s are tied for second with a mark of 11-4. The 9 o’clock nightcap finds the Lewiston High Blue Devils hosting North Yarmouth.

• Motorists who park their vehicles either in the wrong place for for too long in Lewiston can expect in the very near future to receive a different type of parking ticket. The city plans within a few weeks to issue small envelopes, rather than the tickets most drivers are familiar with, and to use its computer in place of the current filing system to keep track of violators.

Copy the Story Link