Mrs. Fannie Braley of Middle Street, Lewiston, has been called to Litchfield by the serious illness of her father, George Plimpton. Mr. Plimpton is one of the best known men of the town and for many years was associated with his brother Warren in the management of the Plimpton Hoe Factory. For many years this factory, which has been idle for the past 15 years, did a thriving business.

50 years ago, 1959

The groundhog is back in the ground and the winter is here to stay.

In theory if the groundhog sees his shadow when he noses out of his burrow on Groundhog Day, he will be frightened, run back in and cold weather will be around for at least another 40 days.

And that’s just what happened yesterday, according to the official report of the Lewiston-Auburn Groundhog Observers Association who had every burrow in Pettingill Park closely watched at sunrise yesterday.

However, reliable sources close to the president of the association reported that the first groundhog out clawed his way over the ice-coated entrance to his burrow and peered nearsightedly at his thermometer.

At the time the thermometer, in the bright sunshine, read 10 degrees below zero.

Without glancing at his shadow, the groundhog muttered something about asking his congressman to move Groundhog Day into March and slid back into his warm burrow.

25 years ago, 1984

The Lewiston Fire Department will find itself the proud owner of a new aerial ladder truck in 1984, thanks to the City Council approving a $100,000 appropriation toward the estimated $225,000 cost of the truck.

The new ladder will replace LFD’s present aerial, a 1958 Mack-Maxim. The council also approved $25,000 for repair work to Engines 3 and 4, both 1973 Ward-LaFrance pumpers.

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