100 years ago, 1912
(Headline to article by Sam E. Connor) Lewiston Journal Has the First Maine Newspaper Man to Fly in the Sky. It was a wee bit after 5 o’clock Monday afternoon when Harry Atwood, world-famous aviator, beckoned to the writer to come up to the big Burgess-Wright aeroplane on the lawn of the Poland Spring House. A great experience it was, yet it was nothing like what I had expected. There was no sensational dipping, no sense of dizziness, no sudden shock or sense of falling. There was no danger. Atwood had the machine under control. Flying is splendid, something to make one want more. One flight explained to my satisfaction why men, and women, too, become infatuated with the sport of flying.

50 years ago, 1962
Members of the Lewiston Junior High School Building Committee toured the new Montello Junior High School located off East Avenue for an inspection of the new building with Philip Gatz of the Alonzo J.. Harriman architectural firm of Auburn, looking for possible construction deficiencies. Superintendent of Schools J. Weldon Russell said that only a few minor “deficiencies” were found by the group following the tour of the $1.5 million school. The “deficiencies,” he said, consisted of a little paint missing in some areas and one or two safety features which the group felt should be added.

25 years ago, 1987
A fast-moving fire of undetermined origin, fanned by high winds, destroyed Bickford’s sawmill on Route 125 in Lisbon Falls Wednesday afternoon. Water was shuttled to the scene and firemen laid lines to a brook about 3,000 feet away for additional water. About 50 firefighters from Lisbon, Lisbon Falls, Sabattus and Bowdoinham fire departments battled the three-and-one-half hour blaze. Deputy Fire Chief Jim Kelley unofficially estimated loss to be in excess of $100,000.