The statistics of the French Canadians in this State as compiled by Dr. J. L. Fortier of Waterville, are of interest to the French people in Lewiston and Auburn as well as the other cities in the State. According to his statistics the first French parish founded in Maine was founded at Van Buren in 1838. In 1871 the French parish was founded in Lewiston. Today there are French Canadian parishes in 69 cities, towns and villages. Supplying these are 63 priests of whom 33 are Canadians, 24 are Irish, four are French, one a Hollander, and one a Belgian. At the time of the founding of these parishes, there were 16,222 parishioners. Today there are 75,999 parishioners, 54 parochial schools, 8,400 scholars, 148 nuns, eleven schools, colleges and hospitals; with property belonging to the parish to the value of $1,285,500. The biggest parish is at Lewiston and Auburn, where the census shows a total French Canadian population of 13,351.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Strange sights were reportedly seen last night in the sky over Lewiston-Auburn.

A Dawn Avenue housewife called The Sun to say that four reddish round lights were scooting about the heavens. She said they would move for awhile, then stop, only to move on again. At last reports they were moving in a northerly direction.

Later another person called to report “a green mist” in the north-east part of the sky. He said the mist was illuminated.

Flying saucers? Northern lights was a common guess.

25 Years Ago, 1981

TURNER – Residents here are concerned right now over the low water in two major fill-up stations used by fire trucks in the north end of town.

Both Martin Stream, at North Turner village and Bear Pond on Route 219 are as low as long time residents can recall and are not currently adequate for fire protection.

Two distinct situations cause the problems, it is said, though the lack of rain and run-off has also been a definite factor for both.