100 years ago, 1909

The annual spring exodus of hoboes and other members of the army of the unemployed is now in full swing and large numbers of these wanderers pass through the city daily, some of them also stopping off for a night. Their favorite mode of travel is on the freight trains, and scarcely a freight passes going west that has not its quota of hoboes on board. They ride on the bumpers, in empty box cars, and also on the cars loaded with lumber, finding a snug place at the ends of the piles of plank.

50 years ago, 1959

Auburn’s new fire truck hasn’t arrived yet.

The $12,000 vehicle was due to be driven to Auburn Wednesday but a transmission breakdown on the delivery ride to Auburn canceled that possibility.

At the time Farrar factory representatives told Fire Chief J. Coleman Miller by telephone that the firm was awaiting delivery of a part from Boston and that they expected to have the truck here yesterday.

Miller said yesterday afternoon he has heard nothing further from the Massachusetts firm.

25 years ago, 1984

A task force appointed to solve problems on Lower Lisbon Street took its first steps toward that goal Monday.

The Lower Lisbon Street Task Force, composed of city officials and property owners, met for two hours to identify both short- and long-term remedies for the troubled section of the city.

Mayor Alfred A. Plourde formed the task force March 15 in an attempt to improve the lower end – environmentally and socially – and with it, the image of Lewiston.

At Monday’s meeting, task force members discussed some of the problems of Lower Lisbon Street, including prostitution, drugs, deteriorating buildings, crime and a concentration of drinking establishments.