Bananas have been rather a scarce article in Lewiston and Auburn owing to the wreck of a banana vessel off Jamaica. Butter still remains high, creamery bringing from twenty-four to twenty-eight cents while dairy costs from twenty-two to twenty-five cents. “It’s funny,” said a local dealer, “but all last winter butter was low and the demand was not nearly so large as now.”

It was a pleasant sight to see about a dozen rosy-cheeked boys, be-capped and be-mittened, all in a row, with one or two older ones to supervise them, as they shoveled off the snow from the Lisbon street side-walks with all the ardor of boys who have a day out of school.

50 Years Ago, 1955

Twenty-four skating days and 4,302 people. That’s what Auburn Recreation Director Donald S. Belcher reported. He was referring to the December skating report for Pettingill Park. Belcher said there were only 24 “good” skating days during the month, and a total of 4,302 people donned the blades.

Speeding on Court St., in the Goff Hill section cost an Auburn motorist $10.70 in Auburn Municipal Court. George Binnette, 29, of Washington St., pleaded guilty to driving 45 m.p.h. in a 25 m.p.h. zone. He paid a $5 fine and costs of $5.70.

25 Years Ago, 1980

The skyrocketing price of gold has been good news to holders of that precious metal’s poorer relation, silver. This winter’s “gold rush”, during which the price of the precious metal broke the $600/ounce barrier, also saw a dramatic jump in the price of $1-worth of silver, according to Lewiston-Auburn coin dealers. While the price of a dollar’s worth of silver is nowhere near that of an ounce of gold, it has soared very high, and some coin dealers say it is now just beginning to peak. The market value of one dollar’s worth of silver – for example – four silver U.S. quarters, was listed Friday at $20.


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