Milford H. Blackstone Milford H. Blackstone
WASHBURN -- Milford H. Blackstone, Town Manager of Washburn has submitted his resignation as Town Manager to the Town Council members to become effective March 20 [1973].
He became manager May, 1945 and has held this position consecutively for 27 years.
Some of the highlights during his term of office was the building of a new town garage; new high school building; school administrative district was organized with Perham, Wade and Washburn and known as School Administrative District No. 45; community swimming Pool and play ground was built; the town celebrated their 100th anniversary in 1961 a new highway bridge was constructed over the Aroostook River, replacing the seventy-one-year-old bridge.
This fall the Washburn Potato Company building on Main Street was purchased for a municipal building, the town office and fire department and equipment now operating at the location.
He is a graduate of Washburn High School and Gray's Business College, Portland.
He married the former Miss Reubena Long, of Caribou, who died Jan. 15, 1970. He has one daughter, Barbara (Mrs. Norton Demsey) and one grandson, David Demsey, Winchester. Mass.
He is past president of the Washburn Rotary Club, The Aroostook County City and Town Manager's Association and the State City and Town Manager's Association, and Past Master of the Washburn Masonic Lodge.
WASHBURN -- The Washburn Rotary Club and the members of the Washburn Town Council honored Milford H. Blackstone, retiring town manager, at a public banquet end party at the Grade School cafeteria.
Master of Ceremonies was Rotarian Malcolm R. Holts, who welcomed the guests and introduced Blackstone's family, his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. end Mrs. Norton (Barbara) Demsey and grandson, David Demsey, of Winchester. Mass; and his brothers, Rev. Read Blackstone and Carroll Blackstone. A third brother, Hartson, was in Calfornia and was unable to attend.
The master of ceremonies gave a brief life history of the honored guest, who was born in Perham, attended the public schools there end went to Washburn High School, graduating in 1917. He continued his education at Gray's Business College in Portland.
The town manager was a clerk in a grocery store owned by Mitton, Poland & Bishop in Caribou for two years, after which farmed in Perham with his brother, Carroll, for six years. He gave up farming and came to Washburn to become a partner with Herman P. Sell in construction work under the name of Sell & Blackstone.
He became town manager of Washburn in 1946, holding the position for 27 years, the record for this position in any one town.
The Blackstone's presented a musical program. A selection was sung by Read, Carroll, Clayton, Hartson, Jr., Lloyd and Wendell. They were accompanied by Mrs. Sylvia Blackstone Fox at the piano.
David Demsey played two saxophone solos, accompanied by his mother, Mrs. Barbara Blackstone Demsey. A solo was sung by Mrs. Nancy Blackstone with Mrs. Fox as her accompanist.
Speakers were Matthew W. McManus, former town councilman; Carleton Barnes, school superintendent; Laurel W. Thompson, Ed Gagnon, town manager of Mapleton and president of the Town and City Managers Association.
Town managers attending were Roger Foster of Limestone and Charles Sylvester of Eagle Lake.
Members of the present Town Council introduced were Richard Porter, Bert Turner, Richard Sperry, Thomas Brewer and Milford Libby.
The master of ceremonies read letters of congratulation from Mr. and Mrs. Otis Russell of Lundonderry, N.H. and Chester Grant of Belfast, former residents of Washburn; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford G. McIntire of Washington, D. C., and John Sailsbury, executive secretary of the Maine Municipal Ass'n.
Rotary Club President Sheldon Richardson presented the guest of honor with a plaque from the club and other gifts.
The party was attended by approximately 160 persons.
[April 1973]