75 years ago

A delightful party was held Monday evening at Whitney’s Cabins in Fairbanks. Hostesses were Mrs. Mattie Crisman and her two daughters, Mrs. Gene Bascomb and Mrs. Ray Sharp, Mrs. Bertha Story, a sister of Mrs. Crisman, and Mrs. Story’s granddaughter, Miss Mardean Marquardt, all of Iowa. These ladies have been making their headquarters at the Whitney Cabins for a week, while visiting relatives in Farmington and surrounding towns.

Over 250 cows have been entered for the dairymen’s show which is to be held at Highmoor Farm, Saturday, August 3, according to Ralph A. Corbett, Assistant Dairy Specialist, Orono. These entries include the Holstein, Jersey, Guernsey, Ayrshire, and Brown Swiss breeds. These cows are owned by farmers living in eleven different counties and who are members of a Dairy Herd Improvement Association. Among members of Franklin County D.H.L.A. making entries are Holmes Bailey, L.M. Mosher & Son, Farmington; Stayley Wetmore, Chesterville; P.B. Sellew, New Portland; Charles Skillings, Strong; and A.L. Ladd, Mt. Vernon.

Amid cries of “kill the ’empire'” and the like, the Farmington Town nine smothered the Carville Has-Beens by a 14-3 score, in a one-sided game played on Hippach Field, Wednesday evening. The Has Beens used the following quartet of hurlers in a futile attempt to stem the steady flow of the Farmington runs: Jack Callahan, Eddie Simpson, Mac McLaughlin, and George Paul. Randy Davis was the winning pitcher.

Airports at Farmington and Rangeley have been chosen by the U.S. War Department for secondary development in Maine with the approval of the civil aeronautics authority, with the triple purpose of commercial use, military value, and pilot training utility. In a telegram to Representative Peter Mills of Farmington from Washington on Wednesday, Congressman Ralph O. Brewster said: “Very pleased to advise that airport for Farmington has been placed on the list for development. Will continue to follow matter closely….”

Just which airport is designated for development in Farmington is not known. Experts claim that the old Robinson field near the Fairbanks Bridge is far too small and that the Gray Airport, although somewhat larger, is not really of the required size for use by warplanes.

50 years ago

Farmington voters numbering 22 voted in favor of selling the Briggs School or Red Schoolhouse lot on Rte. 2, near the Wayside Grill to the John J. Nissen Baking Company for $1,000 at a special town meeting held Monday evening at the Community Building. The sale will be made with the understanding that the Nissen Co. will lease the school building to the Franklin County Friends of Retarded Children for a period of up to 10 years without charge.

Farmington State was recently the recipient of an unusual addition to its College Art collection. Miss Marlene J. Monroe, ’61, of Gardiner presented a 3’x5′ rubbing taken from a large bell hung in a Buddhist temple in Korea. Mounted by Korean craftsman and framed in native woods, it pictures a temple attendant at worship.

About 60 members of the Edwards-Philbrick Barracks and Auxiliary and guests enjoyed a 6:30 picnic lunch Monday evening at Cathedral Pines in Eustis. Thirty members of the Auxiliary and three guests held their meeting in the Community Building at Stratton following the picnic. The guests were Cora Records, Kingfield, Ida Hirth, Newton, Mass. and Clearwater, Fla., and Bertha Judkins, Wilton.

A member of the Farmington Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses has been assigned responsibility in operating the group’s four-day convention in St. John’s, New Brunswick, Canada. Ronald Whilhide, local presiding minister, said a local witness, Bruce Adams of Maple Avenue, has volunteered to work in the construction department of the “Word of Truth” District Association of Jehovah’s Witnesses, to be held August 19-24 at St. John.

Wide-Wale Corduroy Jeans were being advertised for $5.98 each at Ferrari Bros. Inc. in Farmington. Reny’s was advertising a big year end sale in its shoe department, with a choice of $1 ladies Italian sandals, ladies canvas sandals, ladies sneakers, or ladies summer flats. W.W. Small Co., in Farmington, was advertising a one-week only barrel sale with vinegar at 59 cents per gallon, molasses at $1.85 per gallon, creosote at $1 per gallon, wood alcohol at $1.75 per gallon, and pure linseed oil at $2.25 per gallon.

25 years ago

Business and professional members of the Western Maine Mountains Chamber of Commerce were a rousing example of volunteerism Saturday, when they went to work on their new office on Rts 2 and 4. One one of the summer’s hottest days, the crew spent three hours trimming away alders and brush from the approach to the building, spreading loam for the lawn, and blocking out an entryway. In the meantime, windows were being washed by Gail Bernard, Livermore Falls Chamber president. Members of the intrepid crew were Harold Karkos, Paul Soucie, Dick Corbin, Janet Warner, Mike Donovan, Ms. Bernard, Doug Findlay, Gerry Wiles, Don Poisson, Gary Bickford, Brad Hinman, Rhonda Wiles, and Janice Daku.

At a pleasant neighborly function, the West Farmington Memorial Park was dedicated in honor of West Farmington Citizens, under the auspices of the Village Improvement Society (VIS). Keynote speaker was Alfonso Ibarguen who reminisced about his adopted town. Born in Spain, he was reared in Guatemala and came to Farmington at the age of 13. Having been kicked out of a New Jersey school, Mr. Ibarguen joked because he and his roommate were caught sneaking out the window at night and attending a show in New York City, he was speedily sent to the Abbott School in Farmington. “I met and married Helen and we built a house on the Temple Road 50 years ago.”

Gretchen Eastler, for the third straight year, garnered a national racewalking championship. Participating in the 1990 TAC Junior Olympic National Track and Field Championships at the University of Nebraska’s Lincoln campus, Eastler won the women’s, ages 17 and 18, division of the 3,000-meter racewalk. She was set to leave for Plovdiv, Bulgaria for the 1990 World Junior Games.

The New Sharon Congregational Church Guild met for a potluck supper at the vestry with a large attendance. The election of officers was held. Elected were: Sue Stickney, president; Mary Harris, vice president; Shirley Armitage, secretary, and Kate Nichols, treasurer.

Weld’s Heritage Day party in 1990 was bigger and better than ever. Vernon Hutchinson was honored for his community service and Ervin White was made mayor for a day. There were a number of others that were honored as well. There was a parade, a Trash and Treasure Sale at the Town House, games and activities for children, and local artisans showing their work.

Compiled by Barry Matulaitis