As a forward step towards better safeguarding pedestrians and motorists, State Street from Exchange to the Hogan Road and Hammond Street from the City Hall to West Broadway were relighted by the installation of the most modern up-to-date highway lights. A convertible prowl ambulance car -- the first vehicle of its kind purchased by a municipality in this section of the country -- was put in operation in the Bangor Police Department on May 5th. This vehicle, designed for speed and efficiency of operation, was an important addition Lo the department as it is available instantly for ambulance service when an accident occurs.
Again for the fifth time in five consecutive years, despite most adverse conditions brought about the the floods of last spring which wrought havoc with Bangor's bridges, roads, sewers, sidewalks and the Water Works Dam, the City of Bangor not only lived within its budget and finished its fiscal year ending December 31, 1936, with an unexpended balance in its appropriation account, but also was able to conserve $62,355 to the city's Surplus Account, as against $64,455 in 1935. In other words, during each of the past five years, the city spent less money than was appropriated...On March 12th, the Fire Department received an emergency call in the late afternoon, to rescue people by boats, etc., in the Broadway Park and Center Street district, from flooded houses caused by the Meadow Brook Bog breaking loose, flowing over the section of the city, and covering the territory for several hours with many feet of water. [includes photograph].
A report submitted by the Public Works: "SNOW REMOVAL-Bangor was visited last January with the worst snowstorms in many years and snow removal costs for that month went over the $13,000 mark which made a heavy drain on the greatly reduced budget of this Department. However, streets and roads throughout the City were kept open to traffic and this achievement won much praise for Bangor. The public today expects an entirely different service from what satisfied them a few years ago and this cannot be given with inadequate or obsolete equipment."
From the Traffic report: "The handling of automobile traffic today is rapidly becoming the most difficult and the most important part of a Police Department. The traffic situation in Bangor has been handled in a more satisfactory and efficient manner than ever before due to improvements in operating the Traffic Division to changes in the personnel and to modern equipment. The Bangor Police Department is now making a thorough check-up of all public automobiles and trucks as regards proper lights, brakes, etc. and requires defective equipment to be placed in proper condition before these cars are allowed on the highway. In order to make streets safe, this department is carrying on a determined war against speeders, reckless drivers and drunken drivers, in a firm, courteous but impartial manner."[...Bangor Centennial 1934 marked Bangor's one hundredth year as a corporation. Fitting exercises including Firemen's Muster, Races, etc., were held in June. CWA and ERA. Many worth while projects were undertaken and carried out with CWA and ERA Funds. To enumerate all these projects would make this abstract too lengthy. The Water Works Park--a veritable fairyland--has been a wonderful addition to the park system of this City. Another really worth while project has been the Bass Park Municipal Playground, with tennis courts occupied last summer from daylight to dark--its baseball diamonds--football field, and children's playgrounds...]
December 31, 1933 not only marked the end of the second year of the Council-Manager Form of Government in Bangor, under the new charter adopted by the people in September, 1931, but also the end of what has proven to be one of the most difficult in the history of the City. The year 1933 was a trying year, a year when depression and employment were at their lowest ebb, a year of great bank failures, but yet with all it was a year in which Bangor advanced definitely. It was a year in which this City faced the same problems of falling revenues and decreased business activities that have harassed all municipalities, but all in all, Bangor came through 1933 with an exceptionally good record as compared to most other cities. [From the Foreword]
Features photographs and descriptions of crews working on working on and installing power lines, including laying a submarine 3,000 volt cable from Great Cranberry Isle to Manset.
Lists some of the accidents involving Bangor Hydro-Electric Company employees in from January 1939 to September 1940. Including: "Newcomb F. Clark. Meter Reader, Bangor. March 11, 1940. Reading meters, slipped on the steps and fell, injuring his ankle. Accident not officially reported until March 20th, and he returned to work which did not require walking or standing on his fee. He lost 7 days."
Features many photos of employees and employees' family members at the company's annual outing at Lucerne-in-Maine. Competitions were held in a variety of sports such as softball, archery, swimming, horseshoes, three-legged races, egg races, and peanut races.
Sample paragraphs: Electric car service to Hampden should not become history without some word on the impromptu, farewell party accorded car No. 10 on the last trip Saturday night, July 27th [1940]. During the day there bad been casual conversations around the Hydro, "Are you going to see the last car off for Hampden?" "Do you realize that it was nearly forty-three years ago that Charlie Johnson ran the first street car to Hampden and that Charlie is going to take the last car down to Hampden tonight?" But, there were few that said they'd surely be at the waiting room on Post Office Sq. 11 P.M. on Saturday night. An early arrival however saw two good-looking gentlemen in earnest conversation in the waiting room. None other than Charlie Smith, now retired, in conversation with Edwin Carvell, also retired. Mr. Carvell joined the Hydro as motorman on April 7th 1894, and Mr. Smith was conductor on the first car to Hampden on Dec. 1st, 1897, with Charlie Johnson ae motorman.
This issue focuses on the office workers for Bangor Hydro-Electric Company, including front office secretaries, and the sales, maintenance, home demonstration, promotion, and marketing departments.
Many photographs show hydraulic equipment used in the late 1930s, early 1940s by the company as well as on-location photos at Treworgy Dam at Ellsworth Falls, Veazie, and in Milford. "It may be of interest to our readers to know that the duties of the Hydraulic Maintenance crew carry them, occasionally, to the more remote sections of our territory where we maintain and operate storage dams. One of Mr. [Fred] Murphy's duties is to make a periodic trip to three remote storage dams on the Piscataquis River namely, Schoodic, Seboois, and Endless Dams. There are no travelled ways to these dams and he makes the trip on foot, carrying with him a pack and camping out in the woods over night. These trips take anywhere from three days to a week, depending on the work required and weather conditions."
Highlights operations and innovations of the electrical department staff and engineers. Pages 6-7 show a legend indicating all of the generating stations, substations, division offices, and retail stores of Bangor Hydro-Electric Company.
Covers the major engineering activities of the company for 1938-1939, enriched by photographs of the Ellsworth and Veazie stations, as well as many photographs from "the field."
Many photos of the offices at various Bangor Hydro locations adorned in holiday decorations. Also several photos of the children of employees attending Christmas parties at the company offices, including over a dozen at the Bangor Hydro office at the corner of State and Exchange Street in Bangor.
Dozens of photographs of the University of Maine, Orono, campus from 1939. Also, photographs of men's and women's athetics at the university, including a team photo of the 1939 football team, action scenes of the Bates-U-Maine football game, and pictures of women's field hockey and tennis action. In a separate section, a Bangor electrical crew installs underground cables in downtown Bangor.
This issue covers in depth the undertaking of bringing electricity of the town of Cutler, Maine. The history of Cutler and profiiles about residents of the town at the time are also detailed.
Features many photos of employees and employees' family members at the company's annual outing at Lucerne-in-Maine. Competitions were held in a variety of sports such as softball, archery, swimming, horseshoes, golf, and more.
Features photographs of coastal Maine east of Ellsworth, including images from Sullivan, Winter Harbor, Frenchman's Bay, and Franklin. Includes stories about Fred Crane, "Builder of Boats and Models," the Austin castle in Franklin, and the granite quarries in Sullivan and Franklin.
Highlights the opening of a branch office of Bangor Hydro-Electric Company at East Corinth, providing service also to Kenduskeag, Glenburn, Bradford, Charleston, Garland, and Exeter. Includes a story and photos about the Hall Brothers Poultry Farm in Garland, a photo of an H.C. Baxter & Brothers Canning Plant, and street scenes in Charleston.
Provides a detailed and photographic history of the origins of the Bangor Street Railway from the original meetings in 1887 of city government to pursue the railway, to the 1889 introduction of the railway (the second such street railway in the U.S.), to expansion in the 1890s.
Walks the reader through the process the purchasing department undergoes to order 3,000 pounds of wire. Also includes a feature about the Quarter Century Club for Bangor Hydro employees with over twenty-five years of service to the company.
Covers the operations of the collection department, including the process for disconnection of electric service. $2.00 would be charged for reconnection of electricitiy. Issue also includes a safety program in Millinocket, a photo array of Milford employees from the late 19th century, the grand opening of an office in Bar Harbor, and more.
