DEAR SUN SPOTS: Along with the options mentioned in Monday’s column, three other local agencies offer bus tours to see the Rex Sox. They are Alpine Tours (786-7600), Dube Travel (784-2916) and Mainline Tours (799-8527). Please include them in your column. — No Name, Lewiston

ANSWER: Sun Spots never intentionally leaves a local business out of the column. She regrets the oversight.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I am responding to the Sept. 11 inquiry about Nick’s Mowers and Blowers. I am Nick, and my phone number is 577-1816.

I run a small-engine repair business that goes to people’s homes in the Lewiston-Auburn area and repair snowblowers, lawn mowers, string trimmers, rototillers, etc. at their homes, or I will pick the machines up and service and return them.

I checked with my phone carrier, and there does not seem to be a problem with the phone number I have or any dropped calls or voice mails. Also, I have not dealt with anyone in the Wilton or Farmington area recently. I am sorry if you tried to reach me but were not able to get through. — Nicholas Lagassee, nicksmownblow@hotmail.com

DEAR SUN SPOTS: I’ve lived in Lewiston and worked in Greene for some time now. Occasionally I take the Old Greene Road on my trip to and from work. I was wondering why the Old Greene Road is named in that way? Is there a newer road that replaced it as a prime travel route at some point?

I can picture Route 202 or College Road as possible replacements, but have never heard either of them referred to as the New Greene Road. Perhaps there is some other reason why it got its name? Do you have any insight? Thanks. — Tim via e-mail

ANSWER: In the early days of Maine, roads were not so much planned and designed as “sprouted” from early paths and trails. Travel was difficult, and people didn’t often go far, perhaps just to the next town to buy goods. So roads sprung up with those destinations in mind and were thus named. Even as the road was improved and expanded, the old name stuck.

But when new larger roads or highways are built they are intended to serve many more towns than the original destination. For example, Route 202 goes to Greene, but also to Lewiston and Augusta and so on. It would not make sense to name it the New Greene Road, hence the numerical destination.

If you check out a Maine Gazetteer, you’ll see many other “old” roads that were once the main route and now are alternatives to larger roads.

Answering this question reminded Sun Spots of the first cross-country highway, Route 50, which was designated in the 1920s, running from Ocean City, Md., to Sacramento, Calif. Part of that route was replaced by an interstate highway in 1972, but Route 50 still winds across the country.

Some of Route 50 was cobbled together from various other smaller roads and includes land that was originally surveyed by George Washington in the 1760s. See Wikipedia.com and www.route50.org for more on that highway’s history.

DEAR SUN SPOTS: The United New Auburn Association will have its last Cruiz-Nite of the season on Friday, Sept. 17, at Rolly’s Diner in New Auburn.

We want to thank the many sponsors, volunteers and attendees that made this series of events over the last several months both possible and highly successful. We will be starting up again in the spring when the weather allows. Thank you all. — Stephen J. Martelli, vice chairman, sjmartelli@myfairpoint.net

This column is for you, our readers. It is for your questions and comments. There are only two rules: You must write to the column and sign your name (we won’t use it if you ask us not to). Please include your phone number. Letters will not be returned or answered by mail, and telephone calls will not be accepted. Your letters will appear as quickly as space allows. Address them to Sun Spots, P.O. Box 4400, Lewiston, ME 04243-4400. Inquiries can also be e-mailed to sunspots@sunjournal.com.

Copy the Story Link