-A bird student has been fortunate in seeing the cardinal in an orchard at Gorham on five different dates. It has been seen at such intervals and in such numbers as to indicate that it may remain in this locality during the nesting season. Only two records have before been made of this bird in Maine.

-It is expected that within a few days the collection of portraits of the distinguished men of maine which adorn the walls of the rotunda at the Capitol will be increased by the addition of a portrait of the late Hon. Thomas Brackett Reed. The portrait, which has just been completed at Boston, is the gift of Mrs. Reed. A portrait of Mr. Reed has long been desired, and will be a welcome addition to the large number already hung in the rotunda.

50 Years Ago, 1956

PORTLAND – Shades of Moby Dick and the New Bedford whalemen! The City of Portland is going to burn 40 gallons of sperm oil in construction flares to save money on kerosene. The oil is a gift from a wholesale hardware firm that couldn’t find a buyer in 17 years, although sperm still is used industrially to lubricate certain types of delicate machinery. The city has no such use for it, however.

25 Years Ago, 1981

After more than a year of negotiations, Lewiston’s two hospitals have decided to merge Allied and ALERT ambulance services into one cooperatively managed operation, United Ambulance Services (UAS).

Allied has been affiliated with Central Maine Medical Center, while ALERT has been owned and managed by St. Mary’s General Hospital.

When UAS begins operations under it’s new name on July 1, it will make response to area emergency calls more efficient and streamlined.

Dr. Shelby Brammer, SMGH emergency services director, said Monday night that the merger is “the most significant step for cooperation between the two hospitals” since he began work in the Twin Cities 1½ years ago.