I found the story (May 20) concerning the potential “marriage” of Lewiston and Auburn well done, including the comparisons in Maine and elsewhere. However, we had a merger locally that is part of the history and is instructive.

In 1857, it was proposed that the three towns of Auburn, Danville, and Lewiston merge in order to unite the urban area that was growing rapidly near the falls on both sides. Lewiston seemed not to be interested and went on to incorporate as a city in 1863.

In their Danville chapter, Gail E. Fickett and Elizabeth K. Young tell the story of the merger of Auburn and Danville in a recent history of Androscoggin County published by the Androscoggin Historical Society. At the urging of Auburn interests, the Legislature transferred the piece of Danville north of the Little Androscoggin River to Auburn in 1859. The Legislature voted to merge all of Auburn and Danville in 1867.

This was done without the consent of Danville, and in town votes it appears that a strong majority opposed the merger. It was more like a “kidnapping” by Auburn than a “marriage.” This may help to explain resentments in Danville that apparently exist to this day!

Douglas Hodgkin, Lewiston