• Forty-one years devoted to the invention of a language by which the “ships that pass in the night” might communicate – that is the record of Captain Joseph Wall, master of the Philadelphia liner “Crown Point,” who next month will complete his 51st year of service on the seas. When his liner pulled out of her berth at Port Richmond, filled with cattle and grain to help feed the Old World, the captain began his 601st trip across the Atlantic.

• The “first snow storm of the season” yesterday forenoon was of short duration and the flakes melted as fast as they struck the ground. “It was just a reminder of the approach of winter,” remarked a Lewiston man last night.

50 years ago, 1957

• A $12 million dollar dam is being planned across the Androscoggin River at Errol, N.H. Plans for the project, which have been worked on for about five years, were announced last night by William F. Wyman of Augusta, president of the Central Maine Power Co. and the Union Water Power Co.

The dam will expand Umbagog Lake to twice its present 11,000 acres and will raise the water level about 28 feet.

• HOLLYWOOD – Errol Flynn, frolicking at a big ball that counted few sober frolickers, was jailed on a plain drunk booking last night after he allegedly stole an off-duty policeman’s badge – and a kiss from the plainclothesman’s French wife.

25 years ago, 1982

• Except for some cleanup, land grading and minor work under the bridge, the reconstruction work on Lewiston-Auburn’s North Bridge is complete – and about half a year ahead of schedule, according to the superintendent of the project.

• Pine Tree Legal Assistance Inc. may be forced to close two of its six offices in the state because of a lack of money, according to Director David Kennedy. The Pine Tree Legal officials are projecting a budget deficit of about $200,000 for 1983; and “unless we receive some new funding from some other source, either services are going to be reduced or we’re going to have to close some offices,” Kennedy said.