100 years ago, 1912
Without any ceremony in “turning the first sod,” the actual digging for the foundation walls for the new weave shed of the Bates Manufacturing Company began Tuesday morning. It is the biggest proposition which Lewiston people have witnessed in the building line for years. The structure will be of reinforced concrete and much steel will be used in its construction. The walls will contain numerous windows of ample size and these will be supplemented with light from the saw-tooth windows on the roof. Enough glass will be used to cover half of the Lewiston city park.

50 years ago, 1962
Lewiston Fire Chief Roland G. Dumais today stated that the department is looking into an “entirely new concept in firefighting.” The fire chief stated that the department has been discussing the possibility of fighting fire with foam. Deputy Fire Chief Thomas O. Mower and Capt. Louis Jones saw a demonstration of the foam early last month at New Haven, Conn. The foam making equipment is mounted on the rear of a small truck.

25 years ago, 1987
Thousands of people are pouring into Maine to celebrate the Fourth of July weekend, with a number of them coming to the Twin Cities area. A spokesman for the Maine Turnpike Authority said 33,385 cars passed through the York toll plaza between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., most of them headed into the state. At the Auburn exit of the turnpike, traffic was “about normal” at 9 p.m., but had been busier than usual earlier in the day. The turnpike spokesman said similar traffic volumes are expected Saturday and Sunday. “They’ve all got to get home again, don’t they?” he said.