100 years ago, 1910

Today work will be started on the erection of the new theater for the Union Musical Club of New Auburn and work must be completed by December at the latest. The contract was awarded Saturday evening to Ovid Chevalier of Lewiston. The exercises of the laying of the cornerstone will coincide with the observance of St. John’s Day. The plans were drawn up by Evane Deschardins, a young French-Canadian architect of Lewiston. The cost of the building complete is to be about $40,000.

50 years ago, 1960

RUMFORD — Nick Puiia, president and treasurer of Puiia’s Builders Center, Rumford, can easily be called a one-man Chamber of Commerce. In nine short years, he has built a lumber, paint and hardware business that has no equal in Maine. From the remnants of an old garage, he has molded one of the finest, most modern buildings in Oxford County and with it has served the people of this area so well that he has gained their faith and good will.

25 years ago, 1985

One man was hospitalized and two others injured when an industrial damper exploded during testing Friday afternoon at Bachmann Industries in Lewiston.

At about 3 p.m., workers were using two propane torches to heat the air inside of a pollution control damper during a routine test for air leaks, according to Lewiston Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Lalonde.

When one of the torches accidentally extinguished, propane gas went directly into the sealed damper chamber and was ignited by the remaining torch, “blowing the damper chamber wide open,” said Lalonde.


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