The committee on parks has decided to have the fence around the city park, removed, with the exception of the section on the Spruce street side. Other improvements are being made on the park, including repairs to the band stand, and the resetting of the fence and curbing around the soldier’s monument. Eli Roy has charge of the mason work; Joseph Croteau the painting and U. Ray the carpenter work.

50 Years Ago, 1955

Next spring finally has been set as the time for construction of the estimated one and one-half million dollar new St. Mary’s General Hospital, according to an announcement made last night by Sister St. Benjamin, Mother Superior of the hospital operated on Sabattus Street by the Sisters of Charity. She also said the original size of the proposed hospital is being reduced from a 225-bed unit to 175 beds, and a five-storied building instead of seven. Auburn Architect Stanley S. Merrill already is making the necessary changes in the building plans which were prepared a few years ago.

25 Years ago, 1980

A threatened strike by major league baseball players was averted Friday as the Players Association and the 26 club owners reached a tentative four-year agreement. The two sides agreed to set up a four-man committee to work out a new free-agent system, a key issue in the bargaining. The current system will remain in effect this year. The agreement, which still must be ratified by the players, was announced at 5 a.m. EDT, five hours after a strike deadline had passed.

At the movies: Gorp (R) and Hollywood Knights (R) at Northwood Plaza Twin Cinema; Friday the 13th (R) and The Gong Show Movie (R) at Lewiston Promenade Mall Twin Cinema; Lady and the Tramp (G) and Unidentified Flying Oddball (G) at Lewiston Drive-In; Don’t Answer the Phone (R) and Terror (R) at Auburn Drive-In; The Hollywood Hillside Strangler (R) and Mark of the Devil Part II (R) at Lisbon Drive-In Theatre.