Looking Back
10 years ago: A fire that ignited numerous round hay bales behind John Coolidge’s East Bethel barn spread to within five feet of the Grange Hall before being extinguished. Greenwood Fire Dept. was holding monthly fundraising car washes.
Births: Lily Catherine Lewis, Wyatt Nikolas Davis, Adalyn Elizabeth, and Avery Lawson Swasey, Vivienne Danger Clanton, Kylee May
Mills, Greta Mary Groves, Brooklynn Louise Farrar.
Deaths: Scott R. Johnson, Scott P. Thomas, Shirley “Bud” Meisner, Richard S. Kimball.
20 years ago: Weekend rain brought badly needed moisture, and caused minor flooding. Bethel’s Conservation Commission sponsored an Earth Day celebration at the town’s recycling center.
Births: Tyler Nathaniel Thurston, Caleb Lee Moyer, Kevin Riley Lund-Briggs.
Deaths: Lois A. Burgess, Pamela J. Gauthier.
30 years ago: Fifteen Bethel area seventh- and eighth-graders were raising money for a trip to Mijas, Spain. SAD #44’s sixth-graders graduated from the 17-week DARE program.
Births: Desirae Lee Cox, Ryan Thomas O’Leary, Clendon Dalton Mader.
Deaths: Lanson B. Philbrick, Vera L. McInnis.
40 years ago: The Bethel United Methodist Church’s large stained glass windows were fitted with protective plexiglass storm windows.
Extensive renovations had begun at the former Thunderbird Motel converting it to a 23-unit apartment complex.
Births: Melody Brooke Gammon, Hana Kate Patrick, Melissa Ann Buckner.
Deaths: Christine F. Hibbard, Mrs. Cora M. Bennett.
50 years ago: Sixteen members of Telstar’s Spanish Club at were on an educational tour of Spain. Geneva McCoy, Carolyn Foster, and Eva Johnston attended the Beauticians’ Convention in South Portland.
Death: Deborah Jane Lang.
60 years ago: Bethel Jaycees sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt at the Primary School Grounds. Demolition prior to reconstruction of the William Bingham Gymnasium was progressing rapidly.
Birth: Martha Jean Merrill.
Deaths: Wendell K. Clark, Theodore Dunham, Lester E. Lane, Perry Raimey.
70 years ago: The First National Store closed after more than 20 years of operation in Bethel. Manager Clyde Brooks his own store at the same location. Donald E. Brooks was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.
Births: Jack Appleton Chapman, David York.
Deaths: Fred A. Dunham, Miss Ora W. Bonney, Brenda Brown, Walter W. Brinck, Freeborn Richardson, Amelia Schwind.
80 years ago: Blackout rules for pedestrians were published. Harold Chamberlin announced his candidacy for nomination for Democratic candidate to the Legislature.
Deaths: John E. Brock, William Swan.
90 years ago: Mr. and Mrs. Ray Lisherness purchased the Maple Inn. H. N. Bragdon leased the Snow Falls Inn property to Mr. & Mrs. Clarence Stearns, West Paris.
Deaths: Walter Griffen, Mrs. Emily Taylor.
100 years ago: A Community Hospital was being planned for Rumford. At Merrill Springer’s Mill, Charles House was caught in a belt and carried about 15 feet, receiving a fractured skull and many bruises.
Death: George Baker.
120 years ago: A movement was afoot to establish a rural delivery route in Bethel covering twenty miles in Middle Intervale, East Bethel, and South Bethel. Fred Clark was building an ell on his Summer Street house.
Deaths: Joseph U. Frye.
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