100 years ago, 1909

Master Willie Heald, who is singing at the Nickel, has received an offer to sing at Paragon Park, Coney Island. Jerome K. Remick, the well-known song publisher, heard of the Lewiston boy through a vaudeville team which came to the Empire and at once wrote Master Heald, offering him $50 a week for a two weeks engagement as a starter.

50 years ago, 1959

Three Lewiston skin divers escaped a watery death Tuesday afternoon when they managed to swim about a mile in storm-tossed waters after their boat sunk off the coast near Cape Elizabeth. The boat, all their skin diving equipment, a valuable camera and other gear were lost to the ocean.

Winning this battle against the sea were Harold D. Brosious, 27, of 4 Mertens Blvd., a popular Lewiston police officer. Maurice Pelletier, 18, of 264 Blake St. and Wilfred Therriault, 19 of 237 Pine St. They are members of the Lewiston-Auburn Skin Divers Association.

25 years ago, 1984

Communities around the country are experimenting with how computers can be used to improve municipal services, ranging from fire protection to welfare records. Lewiston Administrative Assistant Michael C. Wing traveled to Washington, D.C., a few weeks ago to attend the 1984 Technology Exchange Conference. The conference focused on how local government can use computer technology to increase efficiency while lowering costs.