Something to be envied by vegetarians, a 200 lb. squash, will be on exhibit at the Maine State Fair. It is a wonder and a world record breaker, as there is not on record any species of the vegetable kingdom that has grown to such proportions relative to its natural size. The owner of the mammoth squash is R. A. Burnell of West Baldwin, Maine.

50 Years Ago, 1954

The state of New York choked off a Canadian oil stock scheme which it said defrauded American investors of five million dollars. It declared only a small fraction of the money went into drilling. The state attorney general’s office called it “the largest fraud case in 15 years.” Atty. Gen. Nathaniel L. Goldstein said the promoters watered their stock and boosted its value up to 600 percent by picturing oil resources in Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula as fabulous as the world-famed Iranian field. More than 10,000 investors were suckered into the deal, Goldstein claimed. The missions they invested, the attorney general said, mainly went to further the private ventures of Paul Payette of Montreal, chief promoter of the stock deal. In the end, his Gaspe Oil Ventures Ltd., showed assets of only $1,300, despite the stream of American investment capital.

25 Years Ago, 1979

Uncommon is a better word to describe the Common Ground Fair that steps up considerably the pace of life in the sleepy farm village of Litchfield for three colorful fall days. In a way it’s easier to say what this celebration of the harvest season isn’t than is. It isn’t sleazy midways, but rather craft displays and alternative energy demonstrations. It isn’t girly shows, but it is puppeteers and mime actors. It isn’t greasy doughboys and cotton candy. It is honey-dipped bananas wrapped in dough blankets and other natural food delights.