What proved to be an exciting event on Maple Hill, Auburn, began Sunday, when Leroy Leavitt was sitting by his front window and observed a dark object, evidently some kind of large animal, coming down the road. The strange thing turned into the yard and sat down on the bulk head at the house.

Mr. Leavitt then telephoned to his neighbor, E. F. Osgood, to come down to the house quick with his rifle as there was a bear in his yard. Armed to the teeth, Mr. Osgood accompanied by Frank Dingley and Frank Smith, hurried down. After three shots Mr. Dingley succeeded in bringing him down, the game which proved to be a hedgehog, tipped the scales at 40 pounds.

50 years ago, 1957

• The routine Saturday opening of the Lewiston Board of Registration of Voters, a practice in effect since before the turn of the century, will come to a close, with some exceptions, after this weekend. Aime N. Asselin, chairman of the board, said yesterday a new law going into effect Aug. 28 stipulates that the board will not remain open on Saturdays in most cases.

• Mrs. Gerald Gardiner of Houlton happily instructs her butcher, Bill Riley, to cut the steak “so thick” while townspeople who are sporting beards and clothes of days gone by are inviting everyone to join them in celebrating Houlton’s 150th anniversary Aug. 23-24. As a special event for the two days only, prices of goods along Main street will return to what they were some 150 years ago.

25 years ago, 1982

• While Lewiston has opted to purchase vehicle immobilizing devices to persuade drivers with unpaid parking tickets to pay up, Auburn officials seem satisfied that towing and court summonses are effective enforcement mechanisms in that city.

• Wall Street celebrated the dramatic decline of interest rates Wednesday with the busiest day – and some of the wildest activity – in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. By the close, it stood at 829.43, down 1.81 from Tuesday.