Our Maine Street's Aroostook Issue 16 : Spring 2013 | Page 64

Falling in Love
with the Caribou Area
All Over Again
By William J. Tasker
I started my love affair with the Caribou area soon after
I moved here in July of 1990. Though I initially moved
to Perham, Caribou was where we shopped and during
one of my first English classes at the University of Maine
in Presque Isle, I needed to write a report on anything of
my own choosing. I decided to write about the history of
Caribou. I can’t even remember why I chose the topic.
But I am sure glad I did. I soon discovered that I loved
research and the history I found was amazing to me.

started making books and developed the Pioneer Homes
series that looked at the old houses in our local cities and
towns. Of course, Caribou was my first one. I ended up
writing seven and another book on the old road to Bangor.
The books were successful. The business was not.

Knowing in my heart that my little publishing engine was
not going to climb up the big hill, I kept my eyes open
for the right opportunity. For four years, it did not come.
It did not seem that the area had much need for a longI had never considered that the history here started as haired, overfed, management type. I started to lose hope
a pioneer life no less than those who trekked off to the and considered moving out of the area and I really did not
west via the Oregon Trail. I marveled at the ingenuity, want that.
perseverance and vision the early pioneers of this area
needed to carve a community out of virgin forests. My Then I saw the ad for the Director position at the Caribou
little opus still can be found in the UMPI library. A love Area Chamber of Commerce. Perfect! The job fit me like
a glove and I was hired. And I am having a blast at doing
affair was in full bloom.
this. The new job has rekindled my long love affair with
Then, in 1993, came my career at ATX, the little software the area, and I once again have an opportunity to make a
company that could. And did. It was a pioneer venture difference for an area I love.
so much like the beginnings of the Caribou area. We
carved a niche and developed the place into a $40 million The job and this love affair are not without its obstacles.
company. I saw it all and, in my humble opinion, was a There is a less-than-silent minority of our folks that are
big part in making it happen.
pessimistic and I understand. After all, I went through
four years of lean times. There are also those who think
I was proud to see the people I hired buying homes and of growth as a problem. For example, when ATX was at
spending their solid paychecks in the area to the benefit its peak, the only thing we heard from the community
of all. I was happy to be a part of something so successful was that we were taking up too many parking spots. Say
what!?
in an area that needed that kind of success story.
It reminds me of a time when I was a member of a fastgrowing and exciting church. At one function, a woman
had a haggard look on her face. I asked her if something
was wrong. She said, “I liked it better when I knew
everybody. I don’t know half of these people. I wish we
were still small.” I looked at her