The local merchants report a splendid holiday trade this season – the largest in years. Of course the meeting of the State Grange in Lewiston the week before Christmas meant a great deal to the Lewiston traders., as nearly all of the out-of-town people who came here to attend the State Grange meeting, improved the opportunity to do their Christmas shopping. Said a local merchant to The Sun: “The people seem to have plenty of money and have spent it freely.”

50 Years Ago, 1954

Oxford Paper Company of Rumford, now in its 55th years, has filed an application to list its common and preferred stock on the New York Stock Exchange. There are 200,000 shares of authorized $5 preference stock, no par value, of which 101,434 are outstanding, and 800,000 shares of authorized $15 par value common stock, of which 761,470 shares are outstanding. The stock, heretofore, has been traded over the counter. Oxford, whose main plant is at Rumford, is one of the nation’s largest producers of book, commercial and printing papers used in leading magazines, books, catalogues, envelopes, business forms, labels, box wraps and general printing papers.

25 Years ago, 1979

Noted Maine author Stephen King will deliver a lecture next week at Bates College in Lewiston, and a film based on one of his novels will be shown. Both events are open to the public. The film “Carrie” will be presented Jan. 8 at 7 and 9 p.m. in the Filene Room of Pettigrew Hall. Starring Cissy Spacek and John Travolta, the movie is based upon King’s best-seller. Admission will be charged. King’s lecture, on “The Modern Horror Story: Its Implications to Our Society,” is scheduled for Jan. 9 in Bates’ Chase Hall Lounge. There will be no admission charge. Currently teaching at the University of Maine, King is internationally known as the author of such books as “Salem’s Lot,” “The Shining,” “The Stand” and, most recently, “The Dead Zone.”