100 years ago, 1909

Many are the peculiar shapes in which potatoes grow. Yesterday, Supt. Labranche of the city farm was showing a big potato grown in the shape of a calf’s head, with ears, eyesm etc…, nearly perfect. The city farm has a big crop of nice potatoes this year as well as the usual variety of other produce.

50 years ago, 1959

Julius E. Muller, secretary of the Auburn Shoe Manufacturers Association, said yesterday he expects a majority of Auburn and Lewiston shoe factories will exhibit their new spring styles at the semi-annual Parker House Shoe Shop at Boston, starting Nov. 8.

A total of 160 shoe manufacturers, an all-time high for the event, will exhibit the styles in men, women and children’s footwear for spring and summer 1960.

25 years ago, 1984

A year ago, the idea of entering a road race was the furthest thing from the mind of Larry Gilbert, captain of detectives with the Lewiston Police Department. A former four-pack-a-day smoker, Gilbert was 50 pounds overweight, taking high blood pressure medication and “feeling lousy.”

Next Saturday, Capt. Gilbert will be among those lining at the medical building on Campus Avenue for the start of the 5.1 mile road race sponsored by St. Mary’s General Hospital’s Life Cycle Program in observance of National Running and Fitness Day.

His goal for Saturday’s race, a fairly flat course with a few challenging upgrades, including the infamous Montello Hill, will be simply to finish, he says.