The workmen who have been engaged in taking down the old St. Peter’s church reached the corner stone yesterday. Underneath the corner stone was the copper box, 6 by 19 inches in size, which was buried under the stone when the church was built, Sept. 29, 1872. The box contained a complete program of the ceremonies held at the laying of the corner stone. This was written in Latin, and well preserved.

Paris – The prospects of peace between Russia and Japan has assumed a more definite and almost a tangible aspect today, as a result of the announcement of the resumption of negotiations for a Russian loan.

50 Years Ago, 1955

Damage caused by a record-breaking spring cold wave in the “sunny South” soared to at least 48 million dollars Sunday night. The peach crop was virtually wiped out in seven Southern states. Early vegetables, fruits and nuts were ruined in many sections.

Niagara Falls, N.Y. – Men stood seemingly helpless and at least temporarily defeated today before the destructive onslaught of glacier-like ice creeping down the Niagara River, carrying waterfront homes and buildings with it. The river level was 38 feet above in some places as it ground along a six-mile stretch from Lewiston to Youngstown, at the mouth of Lake Ontario.

25 Years Ago, 1980

March 15 marked the 160th year of Maine joining the Union as the 23rd state. That anniversary is being observed jointly by the Farmington Public Library and the SAD 9 Central Library located in the Ingalls School. Both libraries are initiating an Appreciation of Maine month with bulletin boards, posters and displays of Maine books with special emphasis on Maine authors of children’s books.

The first steps in Auburn’s downtown improvement project will be taken Wednesday when excavation work begins on the reconstruction of the Court Street sidewalk, cutting off one lane of eastbound traffic heading toward Lewiston.