100 years ago, 1912
George M. Roak, one of Auburn’s best-known citizens and that city’s pioneer florist, passed away at his house on High Street Sunday afternoon at six o’clock. He was a native of Auburn and was born January 19, 1848. He was the son of Jacob and Ellen H. Roak.  What is now a flourishing hot-house business was established by him in 1874. In that same year, he was married to Emma Dyer. Though a man who had been active all his life, George M. Roak was of reserved character and not inclined toward publicity. His friends, and they were without number, need not be told what he in life accomplished. It was among his last wishes that little be said.

50 years ago, 1962
The Sunday opening of The Fantastic Fair department store in Auburn has resulted in a fair amount of confusion. Apparently no one was any better informed about the situation today than they were last Saturday, when the store declared that it would be open Sunday afternoon. This was despite the recent vote in Auburn against the referendum question, passage of which would have permitted more extensive opening of stores on Sunday in that city. Business was reported good during the Sunday opening, but there are many people disturbed about it.

25 years ago, 1987
The first visible evidence of Lewiston’s new Comprehensive Land Use Plan may well be landscaping — trees and shrubs carefully concealing parking lots and apartment complexes. That’s if city councilors agree to include proposed site plan review regulations in the zoning ordinance that will become part of the plan. The council is expected to adopt the land-use policy guide, as well as a proposed zoning map, in November.