Few wholesale grocers realize the importance and extent of the paper-bag industry, or the large amount of capital invested in the production of this absolute necessity to the retail grocer, says the American Grocer. There are consumed in the United States alone grocers’ paper bags to the value of nearly twelve million dollars annually.

When it is remembered that fifty years ago there was not a paper bag factory in the entire country, and at the present time there are single corporations whose invested capital exceeds twenty-five millions of dollars, giving employment to over five thousand people and producing some five billions of paper bags annually.

50 years ago, 1958

• Lewiston and Auburn householders will soon be getting a free recipe with their milk bottles. The recipe, attached to milk containers is for a “tasty” corn chowder, says the Maine Department of Agriculture. The purpose of the educational campaign being waged by the Department, the Maine Milk Program and the Maine Corn Canners Committee, is to increase the sale of Maine canned cream-style corn due to large dealer inventories of the product.

• Construction of the new central Maine Youth Center arena is expected to begin in a few days. The Corporation of the Dominican Fathers of Lewiston announced last night that it has voted to accept the bid of the Paul B. McLellan Construction Co. of Portland on the arena.

25 years ago, 1983

• Taking a cue from a group of enthusiastic high school students, the Lewiston School Committee Tuesday voted to support a proposal to bond for $150,000 worth of computer equipment for the schools. Ward 4 City Councilor Larry K. Coultrap said that at least 100 top-line computers with video screens and disc drives could be bought if his proposal is approved.

• Maine Department of Transportation officials have announced that Greyhound Bus Lines will not be allowed to cut services between Portland and Lewiston, on a route which includes New Gloucester and Gray.

Copy the Story Link