MECHANIC FALLS – This afternoon it was found that “Alec the Hermit,” who died Sunday morning, had left considerable property. His bank book has come to light and this shows a large sum of money to his credit.

Alexander Perkins was his name, although he was commonly called Alec. He was at the home of George Trundy in Minot at the time of his death. He was 76 years of age, and since last spring he had been living at Mr. Trundy’s home.

His life was a peculiar one. He was born in Minot the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Perkins. From early childhood he was considered odd. About thirty-five years ago he went to Canada and remained there several years. When he came back he made a hut in the side of a hill in Minot and there he lived for a long time. There were only a few people with whom this hermit would talk.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Uncle Sam’s army is getting real scientific.

Can you imagine our soldiers fighting the enemy in Alaska, for instance, while gliding down a snow-covered hillside on the hide of an Angora goat.

Or trampling across the icy wilds on plastic snowshoes?

Or being whisked away by helicopter all wrapped up in a bag that has almost as many zippers as Carter has liver pills?

It could happen.

Area reserves were shown just about everything, from the latest in K-rations to a real toughie bullet-proof vest, all part of the Army’s program to make fighting and eating a mite easier for the soldiers.

25 Years Ago, 1981

Setting aside worries about the weather and economy, Mainers thronged to many downtown stores and suburban malls Friday to kick off the Christmas shopping season.

Some stores reported a slow start as icy roads made driving hazardous. But as sleet turned to rain in southern Maine later in the day, many of the stores began to fill up.

“Right now it’s pretty crowded,” said Fred Davis, a spokesman at the Maine Mall in South Portland, the state’s largest shopping center.

“Not quite as good as last year, but almost.”