Page 15 - Fall Winter 2023 FINAL FILE FOR WEBSITE USE
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Around Town
By Paula Woodworth ‘70
Did You Know? hanging out with your friends in the balcony and eating
some theatre popcorn and candy. Be sure to get out and
Beautiful Clock is Completed… support the Temple so we can keep it open for many
years to come.
Our beautiful new clock is here. A
gift to the town of Houlton from Ricker College Remembered…
the Odd Fellows Rockabema Lodge
#78, it was installed in May. The When Ricker College alum
Houlton Canopy Crew planted a Pat Cunningham returned to
colorful garden around the base Houlton seven years ago, he
and laid some pavers so people could gather for photos. found that a lot of people he
A dedication ceremony was held just before the start of met did not remember Ricker.
Midnight Madness on June 30. He wanted to bring something
to town that would be a memento of Ricker and remind
The clock is located on the corner of Main Street and people of the financial and social contributions that the
Broadway near the library and is a welcome addition to college made to Houlton.
our Downtown. Be sure to stop by and take a look and
a photo when you are in town. Thank you to the Odd He initially wanted to place a bench on the sidewalk
Fellows for this gift that we will enjoy for many years to Downtown, but he was told there would be too much
come. damage done to it by snowplows in the winter. Nancy
Ketch suggested placing the bench in front of the
Temple Theater Rescued… Chamber building. Pat met with the staff at Aroostook
Monument, and they designed a granite bench etched
The Temple Theatre continues! with the four stages of Ricker that were verified by Leigh
Thanks to a last-minute rescue Cummings, HHS ‘71.
by Fred Grant, who took over the
management of the theatre, a Word of mouth fundraising helped fund the bench and
tradition of over 100 years will then Debbie Clark funded a second bench in memory
remain in operation. A sigh of of her husband Mike, HHS ‘57. And now a third bench
relief was heard around town has been funded by the Kappa Beta fraternity brothers
when we realized we would still be (1962-78) and placed in Monument Park to honor Ricker
going to the movies in Downtown Houlton. veterans.
Fred and his crew have been hard at work installing Once again, the Houlton Canopy Crew has taken on
new equipment and refurbishing the interior. And with the project of landscaping around the benches at the
the new equipment comes opportunities for expanded Chamber Building. Everything should be in place for the
programming such as streaming concerts and sports Ricker reunion at the end of September. There are over
events. There are plans for some comfy new seating in one hundred former students and family members who
the balcony areas. Renovations to the stage area will will be returning to Houlton to remember their years
make it possible for other entertainment like comedy here. It says a lot that after so many years the Ricker
shows and concerts to come to the theatre. community has such fond memories of living in Houlton.
And now the gift of these benches to the people of
There is a renewed excitement in town about all the Houlton will help to remind us of the contribution the
possibilities for entertainment that are in store. We know students and faculty of Ricker made to our town. Be sure
people like to stay home and stream movies with all the to stop by the Chamber and Monument Park to see these
options available now, but there is nothing better than beautiful benches.
www.houltonalumni.com 15
