Lewiston’s great Labor Day celebration was a success in every way, everything working finely for its success. The weather during the forenoon and most of the afternoon was perfect for the event; the crowds were even larger than expected while everything moved off smoothly. A big crowd came from all of the surrounding towns while Lewiston and Auburn people turned out in large numbers. The parade was a dandy, every union in the two cities being represented by a large delegation of its members. It was a long parade, too, one of the best of its kind ever having been seen in these two cities.

50 Years Ago, 1954

A weather balloon, glowing brightly in the twilight sky, last night caused numerous telephone callers to give flying saucer reports to the Brunswick Naval Air Station. The object was identified by a Navy jet pilot who made a fast trip aloft to investigate. The balloon, spotted by at least two residents of the Twin Cities and personnel on duty at the Goff Hill post of the Ground Observer Corps, was reported to be “about the size of a grapefruit and brighter than the moon.” The Civil Aeronautics Administration at Augusta said the balloon was released at Grenier Air Force Base, Manchester, N.H.

25 Years Ago, 1979

The Civil War statue located in Kennedy Park, near Bates Street, has taken on a new appearance, and Lewiston Public Works Director Roger Pruneau has said he is hopeful of continued improvement. He was speaking about possibly sandblasting the statue atop the granite monument to bring it back to a fine bronze appearance. Pruneau said he could do nothing about the sword that the Civil War soldier carried in one hand in the original statue, as vandals broke this some years ago and he could not match materials. However, he said he felt that sandblasting would greatly improve the tall statue.