75 years ago

On Thursday evening of the last week 50 of the girls of the athletic teams at Farmington High School were entertained by Auxiliary Unit No. 28 of Thaddeus Roderick Post, A.L. at the Legion Home. Under the able guidance of Mrs. Doris Gould, President of the Auxiliary, and her assistants, Mdms. Love, Greenwood, Alexander, Jennings, Melcher, Berry, and Hammond, a fine dinner was served.

The matter of closed navigation to the Western section of Oquossoc Lake, Rangeley, subject of controversy for some time past, has been adjusted, according to advice from Theodore Gonya, Rumford attorney, to Cliff S. Hill, Proprietor of Oquossoc Dam Camps.

Quoting from Mr. Gonya’s letter: “It would appear therefore that you are justified in assuming that the situation complained of will be effectively remedied prior to the opening of the fishing season, and that you may proceed with your usual advertising material and publicity for this coming season.

“Mr. Stobie (Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Game) wanted me to suggest to you that if, after his Department has made provisions for the passage of boats through the gate, anyone interferes with the situation, you are to notify immediately his warden in Rangeley, or Mr. Stobie himself, of the interference and he will take steps to put an end to such interference.”

There was a very good attendance at the Sample Fair and sale of rummage and other articles, held at Castle Hall, Kingfield, by Alhambra Temple, Pythian Sisters, Saturday afternoon, and the proceeds were very satisfactory. First to be offered, as one entered the hall, were bags of samples, selling at 25 cents each, in charge of Mdms. Beulah and Florence Moore. Mdms. Ivy Simmons, Edith Savage, and Lettie Barden presided over the apron table, where one might purchase an apron at a resonable price; Mrs. Goldie Frost supervised the selling of the tickets on the quilt, won by Mrs. Christine Davis; Mdms. Olive D. Wyman and Emma D. Vose presided over the table where fancy articles and crocheted handkerchiefs were on sale, and any of these articles not sold that afternoon may be seen and purchased at the home of Mrs. Vose.

Frederick P. Bonney of Augusta, Republican candidate for Representative to Congress and the only opponent who has filed in opposition to Mrs. Margaret Smith for the special primary on May 13, which is being held to choose a candidate to fill out the unexpired term of the late Clyde H. Smith, was in Farmington on Wednesday and Thursday and announced his campaign platform to the Journal-Chronicle. Using as his slogan, Working for the Prosperity of Maine, Bonney has pledged himself to clean politics, decency, integrity, complete abolition of the New Deal including pump priming and meddling with business, keeping out the European War, and a three-coat application of tar and feathers for all professional politicians and grafters.

50 years ago

Dutch elm disease has become thoroughly entrenched within the town, according to Farmington Town Manager Ernest L. Sevey. This disease is carried from tree to tree, in part, by a Dutch elm beetle, which hatches late in April and early May. As these beetles hatch, they fly to nearby elms and become embedded in the bark.

The Franklin County Advisory and Coordinating Committee for the Manpower Development and Training Act at a meeting Friday approved on-the-job training programs at two county industries, according to an announcement by Extension Agent Richard Day, a member of the committee. The industries receiving approval for the program to be carried out under the terms of the MDTA are the J.L. Coombs Company in Phillips and the Wilton Tanning Company in East Wilton, Day said.

Twelve seniors and juniors of Farmington High School, SAD No. Nine, members of the National Honor Society were honored Thursday evening by the Farmington Rotary Club at a banquet and program held in the vestry of the North Church, Farmington. Newly elected members of the Society present were Eugene Ford, Danny Bragdon, Richard Morton, Alton Hyder, Nancy Yeaton, Patty Fuller, Joline Hart, and Marjorie Austin. Seniors present were Karen Durrell of Temple, Janet Mills, Donald Hovey, and Martha Steward.

L. Donald Pfeifle of Sugarloaf Mountain was re-elected President of the Sugarloaf Area Association, Inc. at a dinner meeting held Tuesday evening, April 20, at the Red Stallion Inn in Carrabassett. William Jones Jr. was re-elected vice president and Miss Helen Donahue was re-elected secretary and treasurer.

Farmington High School track boys had four sweeps and five firsts in their first meet of the season, Wednesday afternoon, at Hippach Field, Farmington, to gain a 69-57 victory over Kents Hill. Victories for Bob Downes’ boys were in the mile, pole vault, javelin, and two-mile events. The Hilltoppers took nine firsts but lacked the Greys’ depth.

25 years ago

An exhibit for Earth Week, 1990 from April 22 to 29, was arranged at Wilton Free Public Library Wednesday by Jason Beckler, President of the Mt. Blue High School Ecology Club, and Becky Burnham, librarian. Jason, who is a senior, said that the Ecology Club, formed several years ago, meets weekly. The exhibit is intended “to raise consciousness of Earth Day and global awareness of man’s impact on the environment.”

Diana White, 39, of Farmington, has announced her candidacy for Maine Senate District. The announcement was made at two gatherings on Earth Day to underscore the issues affecting Maine’s environment, such as chemical waste, sludge, and ash, and Ms. White’s interest in working towards solving them.

Paul Hersey, Cumberland County District Conservationist, is returning to Franklin County to take over the District Conservationist position, vacated by Albert Dow. According to Edith McLeery, Office Manager for the Franklin County Soil and Water Conservation District, Mr. Dow completed his duties here last Friday and has transferred to Piscataquis County. Mr. Hersey and his wife Therese and two children, Mike and Ryan, are moving back to Farmington as soon as suitable living quarters are located.

Greetings and laughter reverberated through Ricker Hall Thursday morning, as Franklin County residents met with their distinguished guests from the Komi Republic of the Soviet Union. It was the beginning of a four-day visit to the Farmington area for the Russian visitors.

Lions, elephants, clowns and cotton candy, all contributed to a great day last weekend when the Franklin County Shriners took over 200 fifth graders to the annual three ring Shrine Circus. Forrest Allen of Farmington, a 25-year veteran of transporting the school children to the circus, recalls that they used to travel by train to Lewiston. This year, the Shriners had seven bus loads of children from Farmington, Phillips, Kingfield, Weld, New Sharon, Stratton, Strong, and Wilton.

Compiled by Barry Matulaitis