The Fourth of July and Old Home week might well be celebrated together by many people of our New England towns. People are waking up to the need of a safe and sane observance of the Fourth. Heretofore, its fireworks, gun and pistol shooting, and reckless doings with explosives, by those ignorant of such things, has caused more deaths, wounds and losses of property by fire, than resulted from some of the greatest battles. Yet we all want gloriously to celebrate the glorious Fourth.

A new idea is for each rural community to have a barbecue or picnic, with speaking and reports, followed by an evening entertainment and dance. Let all the exercises be in some pleasant place, outdoors if possible.

50 Years Ago, 1956

Dr. Walter A. Lawrence, Bates College professor and court-appointed rivermaster, will begin today to take final water tests in preparation for adding sodium nitrate to the Androscoggin River.

The crew and Dr. Lawrence have been working continually since June 15 on the river taking the tests, but today they will launch their boat and begin the final tests to determine the amount of nitrate to be added to the water.

The nitrate is used to provide a source of oxygen for the river. It is part of the pollution control program that was started in 1948 by order of the court.

25 Years Ago, 1981

A South Paris firm on Thursday delivered the first shipment of coal for the modernized heating systems in two buildings at the Auburn Housing Authority’s Family Development Center.

The AHA has converted two buildings at the family project from oil-fired to coal-fired furnaces, a move that is expected to save $7,000 annually in fuel costs. The conversion work was done by Reliable Oil and Heating Co. of Lewiston.