75 years ago, 1943

For the first time in memory, the Lafayette Artillery Company called off its annual Washington’s Birthday Celebration held in Lyndeborough. Ernest Howe, captain of the Artillery unit founded in 1804, said most of the company men were in the service or working in war plants, there was no gas to travel, no sugar for coffee, no ice cream for dessert, and no spare ammunition for the company’s rifles. The Lafayette Artillery had guarded the fort at Portsmouth during the Civil War.

The Tremont Theatre in Nashua was showing “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” with Allan Jones and Jane Frazee, plus “Pardon My Gun.” The Town Hall Theatre in Wilton was showing “My Sister Eileen” with Rosalind Russell and Brian Ahearn.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Perry presented movies to the Wilton High School student body at the Town Hall. Films included submarine warfare tactics and the rudiments of “boot” training.

Arthur Brunelle of Wilton was a Marine Corps sergeant stationed somewhere in the Pacific.

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55 years ago, 1963

After winding up in 14th place in Class M, Milford High School’s boys basketball team was set to play Charlestown in the first round of the state tournament. Wilton High, which finished fourth in Class M, was to play Bristol.

The Harley-Sanford VFW Post in Milford was getting ready for its annual Masquerade Ball and asked people to “come in costume for a good time.”

The Souhegan Barracks of World War I veterans was to elect officers for the year at a meeting in Milford.

The Monadnock Citizens Band Radio Association met in Wilton Town Hall and saw a film on Tel-Star with the projector operated by Stanley Abbot and refreshments served by Mr. and Mrs. Roger Tuttle.

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30 years ago, 1988

The preliminary budget for the Milford School District came in at $21.2 million.

The Cabinet endorsed a plan to move the Milford Police Department out of its Town Hall space and into the “more efficient and spacious quarters in what is called the ‘old motel’ on Elm Street.

Republican presidential hopeful Pat Robertson spoke to about 200 people at Wilkins School in Amherst.

The Town Hall Theatre in Wilton was showing “Broadcast News” and “Jean De Florette.”

The head of a committee planning a memorial for Christa McAuliffe, the New Hampshire teacher who died in the Challenger disaster in 1986, discussed the project with the Milford Rotary Club.

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10 years ago, 2008

The Cabinet was named the George A. Speers Newspaper of the Year in the weekly category by the New England Press Association. It was one of seven awards won by the paper, including two other first place honors: Former reporter Susan Childress for a human interest feature (one of six prizes she won), and she and Editor Michal Cleveland shared first place in arts and entertainment.

Former Lyndeborough P:olice Chief James Basinas sued the town to get his job back, charging that a special town meeting that eliminated the chief’s position was a violation of state law.

Seventh-graders at Amherst Middle School, under the direction of tech ed teachers Leo Levasseur and Steve Opre, raised more than $9,000 for charity during a four-year span. The students built Adirondack chairs, sold them to the public, and then donated $50 from the sale to a charity of the buyer’s choice.