100 years ago, 1910

WAYNE — The dam or bulkhead of the electric lighting plant gave way with a loud crash this morning at about 8 o’clock, carrying away a portion of the stone foundation of the building and a portion of the lower street bridge. The building is in danger of being undermined. This is a great disaster as Wayne and Winthrop will be in darkness, as all the public buildings, cottages and many of the houses are lighted with electric lights as well as the streets, and the power comes from this dam.

50 years ago, 1960

An estimated 60 are scheduled to compete in the Northern New England Water Ski Championships to be held Aug. 6-7 at Taylor Pond. The affair is being jointly sponsored by the Auburn Exchange Club and the Auburn Teen-Age Council.

25 years ago 1985

Calling this year’s Franco-American Festival “extremely successful,” festival coordinator Connie Cote closed the weeklong event Sunday evening in a ceremony before  a crowd of more that 5,000 people.

“I’m very, very pleased, I didn’t think we could top last year’s festival, but we’ve done it, and I think everyone’s had a great time.” Mrs. Cote said after congratulating her fellow organizers inside the Cafe C’est Si Bon, the festival’s entertainment tent.

Lewiston Mayor Alfred A. Plourde made a brief appearance to lead festival-goers in song at the closing ceremonies.