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Mildred Bentley Celebrates 105!! February 24th, 1898 A party hosted by the city was thrown for Mildred Bentley who is a life-long resident and business owner in Fairbank. Mildred still lives independently in her Fairbank home. The following is the speech read by Mayor Welsh at Mildred's party. We are gathered here today to wish a happy birthday to a very special member of our community. A long time resident and former business owner, Mildred is celebrating her 105th birthday. What does it mean to be 105 years old? For Mildred, it means living through the terms of 19 presidents, six wars and a couple of skirmishes. The U.S.S. Maine was sunk in Havana Harbor on Feb. 15th the year Mildred was born, starting the Spanish-American War. She has lived through the Square Deal, the New Deal, the Fair Deal, the New Frontier, Trickle Down and Voodoo Economics. Through Prohibition, the Depression, the Cold War and the Nuclear Age. Through the Waltz, the Fox Trot, the Two Step, Jazz, Swing, Rock and Rap. From Silent movies to TV's and DVD's. From The Bentley Telephone Exchange [which she and her husband owned and operated until 1933] to the internet. From segregation to human rights. From Henry Ford's first car to the interstate highways and SUV's. From Kitty Hawk to Outer Space. From slate boards to computers. From five grocery stores in Fairbank to one in town and only four in the whole county. She has probably seen more change in her lifetime than in any other comparable time in history. Mildred and her husband contributed greatly to the beauty of Fairbank and the quality of life of it's residents when they donated their mill property to the city to be used as a park. Three or four times a week I deliver meals to Mildred and she brings me up to date on the latest happening and world affairs. She is a remarkable lady and I am proud to be here today to help her celebrate. -Mayor Maurice Welsh Wilma Welsh contributed to the Mayor's speech.
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Bentley Mill before it was destroyed by a suspected arsonist in 1944.
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