• Though the Little Androscoggin plant of the Lewiston and Auburn Electric Light Co. burned to the ground Wednesday forenoon, totally destroying all of the valuable machinery, there is enough power at the Deer Rips dam so that the general public will not notice any difference in the service.

50 Years Ago, 1956

• The Federal Trade Commission accused the Singer Sewing Machine Co. today of “deceiving the public” by selling used sewing machines as new. The commission got out a complaint, which said repossessed machines, floor samples, demonstrators and trade-ins are sold as new machines, frequently at the same or approximately the same price as new ones.

• The American public overwhelmingly endorses a proposal put forth by traffic experts that all drivers be made to take a physical examination every three years. The plan, which leading experts on traffic safety see as working hand-in-hand with vehicle inspections to eliminate unsafe drivers as well as unsafe cars, is approved by 84 per cent of all persons questioned in the latest survey by the Institute.

25 Years Ago, 1981

In 1981, Lewiston saw more than 500 jobs lost due to the closing of operations with more than 40 employees, and a gain of only about 120.