100 years ago, 1909

An Auburn man who is “up with the birds” every morning says that within the past few days that he has seen the English sparrows feeding on the many brown tail moths which have just arrived in the two cities. “Who knows but what these same sparrows which have so long been condemned will free us of this new pest?” he said.

50 years ago, 1959

The Lewiston branch office of the New England Tel. & Tel. Co. reports that less than 100 of its 16,000 subscribers have unlisted telephone numbers. The percentage of unlisted numbers is much greater in some other parts of the country. Telephone companies try to discourage the use of unlisted numbers as callers tie up lines trying to persuade operators to reveal an individual’s number, resulting in a costly, time-consuming problem. Some companies charge more for an unlisted number but there is no charge made by New England Tel. & Tel. Co.

25 years ago, 1984

AUGUSTA — The capital’s first French-American festival wound down Sunday with a parade through the hot streets of Augusta, where thousands of Mainers of French descent have gathered during the weekend to celebrate their heritage.

The parade featured bands, floats and Miss Calumet of Le Club Calumet, a private group dedicated to the preservation of French culture in Maine and friendship with its non-French people.

The three-day Festival de la Bastille, marking one of the biggest holidays in France, drew Franco-Americans from all over the state to the outdoor grounds of Le Club Calumet, said its president, Richard “Blackie” Bechard.


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.