Civil Engineer Still Active On 80th Birthday
WASHBURN -- A. H. Rhielander of Washburn celebrated his 80th year Friday quietly at his home on Hines Street with his family who came from different parts of the country.
Rhielander, who is a civil engineer and is still working actively from his business at his residence was born at Williamstown, Mass., November 27, 1882. He came to Maine in 1918 and came to Washburn in 1940. For 42 years he worked as a civil engineer for the International Paper Company, retiring from that position a few years ago. He began as a superintendent for the American Realty Company, a subsidiary of the International Paper Company and then worked as an engineer and woodland manager for the company.
He was purchasing agent in charge of surveying for the Grand Falls Dam when it was built by the company. He also headed the building of two mills in Canada.
Five years ago Rhielander was given a life membership in the Maine Association of Engineers.
When Rhielander was asked what college he attended he said that he hadn't attended a college, he had received his civil engineering degree from correspondence schools.
Rhielander still finds time from his business to pursue his hobbies of hunting and fishing.
Rhielander has two sons, John Rhielander of Lincoln, who is division superintendent of the St. Regis Paper Company at Bucksport, and Dr. Harold Rhielander, Chief of Thoracic at the New England Center Hospital at Boston and professor of surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. He has two daughters, Mrs. Ann Hilt of Portsmouth, Ohio and Mrs. Margaret Chapman of Washburn. All the family arrived for the birthday celebration. He also has eight grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Rhielander is a past master of the Masonic Lodge of Washburn, a member of the Annah Temple of Bangor, Aroostook Council of Presque Isle, Garfield Chapter in Caribou and the St. Aldemar Commandery Houlton.