LISBON – A hot fire that practically destroyed Central Hall Block in the center of the business section kept the firemen busy Sunday forenoon and by desperate work the adjoining buildings were saved. The block is owned by Leila Tibbetts of Auburn and was valued at about $5,000, insured for $1,200. Bernier’s pool room and A. Martin’s grocery store, located in the block, were badly damaged. At one time the entire village was threatened with destruction and help was summoned from Lewiston.

50 years ago, 1959

Three-shift operation at the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department now seems almost certain with approval of the county budget estimates by the county legislative delegation.

Two shifts have been traditional with the sheriff’s department, with the night shift being permitted to sleep in the office from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. Only two men have worked this shift with the other deputies and the sheriff being on the day shift.

Sheriff Robert W. Bonenfant feels that the three shifts will give the department more efficiency. Two men will be on duty in the office at all times and there will be four men, including the sheriff, chief deputy and two other civil deputies on call at all times.

25 years ago, 1984

Smoke from an undetermined source forced Androscoggin County sheriff’s deputies to evacuate inmates from their jail cells for about 45 minutes Monday afternoon.

The 18 inmates housed in the lower section of the County Jail in Auburn were moved to a secure area in the jail until firefighters contained the smoke. Other inmates housed upstairs were not affected by the smoke and were not moved, a sheriff’s department spokesman said.

Sheriff’s deputies began moving inmates back into their cells once the smoke had disappeared, at about 5:20 p.m.

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