Ray Normandeau shows off his 1933-34 Ford coupe at the Sanford Speedway.
Photo: Foster’s Daily Democrat
By Lawrence Furbish
Plans were announced for the opening of the 1951 season at the Sanford Speedway under new management. A minimum of 50 cars were expected to be entered in the Sunday event. Sanford drivers included Harold Evans, Speed Desruisseaux, and Richard Gordon driving cars owned by others, and “driving their own jalopies” Larry Vachon, Mac McDonald, Cleve Jellison, and Howard Curit. The speedway was located on Route 109 in South Sanford near the High Pine and Wells border. It was closed in 1953 because of too many accidents. A fascinating history of the speedway ran in Foster’s Daily Democrat in 2008.
A 13-year-old youth was being held by police as a “suspect” in a string of attacks. The police acted swiftly when the latest victim in a 10-day unsolved series of attacks on Sanford women and girls knew her assailant. The girl was tackled by the legs and thrown to the ground Sunday evening near Island Avenue. Her father revealed the boy’s identity to police. The suspect, who was unnamed, was to be charged in Juvenile Court before Judge Ralph Rodgers.
In another public safety issue, vandalism was reported at the Edison School. Sometime Sunday afternoon or evening, BB guns were fired and rocks thrown, breaking 14 windows and causing damage inside the school.
The Sanford-Springvale Fish & Game Protective Association announced the second annual Sportsman’s Show. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife had a large exhibit along with over 50 private exhibitors. A special attraction was Cecil A. “Mush” Moore and his famous huskies and pups. The Sanford Fish and Game Association was formed in 1938.
Maine Gov. Frederick Payne was promoting Maine Clean-Up Week to prepare for hundreds of summer visitors. Designating the week as “Clean-Up, Paint-Up, and Fix-Up,” he was looking for cooperation from local chambers of commerce to clean up winter debris. The State Highway Commission was also making a concerted effort to pick up accumulated rubbish along state highways.
A cabaret was being held at the Town Club for “members and their ladies” on Friday night. Music was to be provided by Stan Johnson and his orchestra with dancing from 9 pm to 1 am. A buffet was also to be served.
A jar of Hellman’s mayo was 51 cents, horseradish mustard 9 cents, and a pint of Brookside ice cream, 21 cents at the First National Store.
At Folsom Bros., you could get a 17-inch Philco TV for $279.95.
For sale – a four-room Mousam Lake cottage with TV, refrigerator, stove, washing machine, three boats, one outboard, a float, inside and outside fireplaces, and a sandy beach – $4,000
Lawrence Furbish is president of the Sanford-Springvale Historical Society. The Historical Society Museum in Springvale has many resources regarding Sanford’s history. It is open Thursday and Saturday, 10 am-2 pm and Friday 10 am-4 pm.
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