Chronological Timeline of Caribou's History

1820. Territory of Massachusetts became State of Maine.
1830 Treaty Lot Settlers took up lots in Eaton grant. Cochran mill established on Caribou Stream.
1839 Aroostook War over disputed boundary between ME and NB. Military road grubbed out.
1842 Webster-Ashburton Treaty Settled dispute. Treaty Lot Settlers granted their lots.
1843 Ivory Hardison settled family in Letter H (Lyndon) followed by Hall, Vance, Adams, etc.
1844 Collins & Vaughan established mills on Caribou Stream (Vaughan came & Went in 1829.
1845 Bridge built over Caribou Stream.
1848 Letter H Pit. organized April 24 in WInslow Hall's barn.
1852 First school built on land of Winslow Hal, teacher Mary Fowler.
1857 Schoolhouse built in town consisting of two rooms.
1859 Letter H inc. as Town of Lyndon; population 297. First town meeting held in District No. 1 schoolhouse.
1863 Covered bridge built over Aroostook River.
1865 The County Road grubbed out (later Sweden St.), a rough corduroy road over cedar swamp known as Vaughan's pasture. First Lawyer, Lauriston King, arrived.
1867 Sweden St began building up. First church, Union Meeting House, built at corner of Maine & Grove Street.
1868. First "Dr." (Sawin) practiced medicine & dentistry having had two years at Harvard.
1869 Addition of Letter I (Forrestville), Sheridan, & Eaton Grant added to Lyndon. Lyndon named Caribou February 26. Caribou renamed Lyndon March 9. Population 1,410.
1870 Swedes arrived, moved on to New Sweden.
1872 C. B. Roberts, second lawyer arrived. Rev. W. T. Sleeper started newspaper, North Star.
1873 Dr. Charles F. Thomas, first Graduate physician, set up practice. "Drs." Sawin, Parsons, Hardy, & Hatch preceded him.
1874 Schoolhouse on Main Street built; two stories, little ones downstairs, larger students upstairs. Boys attended in Winter; girls in Summer. School term three moths.
1876 First library in Lowell Hardison's bookstore on Main St. New Brunswick Railroad (NBR)  began operation (in planning several years).
1877 Lyndon renamed Caribou February 8. Dr. Jefferson Cary arrived.
1878 Baptists first to withdraw from Union Meeting House; established a church on High Street.
1880 First permanent newspaper, The Aroostook Republican, est. by S. W. Matthews.
1886 First High School held in Grante Store.
1887 First Electric Light Co. organized; supplied businesses from dam on Caribou Stream. First lending library organized.
1889 Aroostook River dam built; supplied water & electricity to homes. First bnak (Arootook Trust Co.) est., opened January 1, 1890
1890 New arrives: E. P. Grimes from Lowell, MA; J. H. Glenn from Hampden; A. A. Garden (later town clerk from 1930-1945). Population 4,087.
1891 Covered bridge over Aroostook River burned; ferry service reinstated First High School built on High Street.
1982 Iron Bridge constructed over Aroostook River off Water Street.
1893 Telephone service installed mainly to businesses.
1895 Court House constructed on Sweden Street (citizens objected; too far out of town). Boston & Aroostook Railroad (B&ARR) commenced operation.
1901 First automobile appeared in Caribou-public nuisance!
1908 First High School burned while under construction.
1911 Caribou Public Library organized (A Carnegie Library).
1912 Gem Theater & Aroostook Valley Railroad (AVRR) built.
1916 Powers Theater built; speed limit for autos set at 15 mph and 25 mph in country.
1919 Aroostook Federation of Farmers established.
1920 Population of Caribou 6,010
1923 Cary Memorial Hospital built and opened in 1924.
1926 Caribou Chamber of Commerce organized; J. C. Penney store opened.
1927 Caribou High School built on Glenn Street.
1928 Post Office build on Sweden Street.
1929 Caribou Municipal Airport constructed. Stock market crashed.
1931 Caribou Junior High School wing added to HS on Glenn St. (later Middle School).
1933 Caribou Armory completed on Glenn Street.
1947 Construction started on Loring Air Force Base.
1948 Parking meters installed in Caribou.
1953 Construction of concrete bridge over Aroostook River at Fort St.
1954 Vaughan House Burned on New Years Day.
1956 Hotel Caribou replaced Vaughan House.
1957 New JH8 building erected at Teague Park (later grammar school) TV reception from WAGM on channel 8.
1958 General Carter Memorial Armory dedicated on Access Rd. (later Bennett Dr.)
1959 Caribou held 100th birthday party on April 5.
1960 U. S. Weather Bureau established at Caribou Municipal Airport.
1961 Caribou Shopping Center started on Access Rd. (later Bennett Drive).
1964 New High School on Sweden St voted: Post Office remodeled and expanded.
1967 Caribou voted to become a City as of January 1, 1968.
1968 Parking meters removed from City streets.
1970 Caribou Urban Renewal Authority began renovation of Sweden St.
1971 By-pass competed.
1972 Caribou Golf Course opened (9-hole course on new Sweden Rd.)
1973 Aroostook Federation of Farmers closed after 54 years.
1974 Caribou Historical Society was formed October 7.
1975 B&ARR station closed afer 85 years. Main Street became one-way northbound between Water St. & Herschel Streets. Caribou Vocational School & Court House additions opened.
1976 New Cary Medical Center started on Van Buren Road.
1980 Farmers dumped potatoes objecting to Canadian imports. County infested with ten caterpillars, "army worms.".
1981 August 17 Caribou experience flash flooding & considerable damage.
1982 County experience first earthquake in over 100 years measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale.
1984 Caribou celebrated 125 years (1859-1985).

1986 Dedication of Caribou Historical Society's new Log Home, September 17.

1987 First meeting of Caribou Historical Society in new building, February 17. Grand opening of new Log Home, August 8 and 9.

1993 Dedication of Lyndon Center School, June 15.

2000 Four Bay Garage arrives at Caribou Historical Society, August 15.
During 2020, the CHC&WM was closed during the pandemic with specific protocols in place for visitors to the museum. Dennis Harris, our office manager/curator, continued to diligently work to keep the museum and community connected. Sadly, in March of 2021, Dennis Harris passed away suddenly, which left us not only saddened and lost. Dennis Harris, who worked hard to monitor the campus buildings and kept the board posted on any issues while maintaining our collections—all during 2020 lockdowns—was gone. Continued lockdown exacerbated our situation, along with being unable to find someone to replace Dennis Harris (remember those big shoes). The loss of members and volunteers left us struggling to find that stable foothold Dennis created. Everything was placed on hold for some time. 

In March of 2022, Christina Kane-Gibson, President of CHS&WM, was asked to step in and help out from a marketing perspective, along with former CHS&WM vice-president & collections director (2018-2020), Anastasia S. Weigle, to return. There were many layers of things that needed to happen before we could begin promoting. With the tremendous help of Christina's father, Tom Kane, and our all-volunteer board - Christina Kane-Gibson, Anastasia Weigle, Kirk Tibbetts, Stephanie Madore, Donna Murchison, and Dennis Koch, we are able to start opening up on Saturdays. However, it is best to call in advance to make sure we have a volunteer docent.

Thank you for all your support during these challenging times.
Our Museum Address
Our Mailing Address
Visiting Hours
Phone
1033 Presque Isle Road Caribou, Maine 04736
P.O. Box 861
Caribou, ME 04736
By appointment
only.
(207) 498-2556