100 years ago, 1912
Books, modern and ancient, were represented Thursday evening in the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church, Auburn, when the Epworth League gave its book social under the management of Miss Ethel Brown, Miss Aurie Duplin and Miss Jean Congdon. Thirty-six titles were represented by the costumes of those who attended and half an hour was devoted to guessing the names of the books, after which G. Edlon Jones read the correct titles and the lists were corrected. Mildred Stevens had the nearest to a correct list and was given a diary, while Frank Corey received the boobie prize.

50 years ago, 1962
The Bates Mfg. Co. is continuing its efforts to inform its workers and the general public of the fact that the big Maine textile firm pays a substantial sum of money to the City of Lewiston each year in taxes. The latest issue of the Bates News carries full details of a speech given here recently by Bates President A. Phillip Goldsmith before a joint meeting of service clubs. At that time he commented on the large amount of taxes paid by Bates and said that “sometimes people and businesses can be taxed to death.” The latest issue of the Bates news carried headlines which cry out, “More than $1,000 a day in taxes in City of Lewiston.”

25 years ago, 1987
Ann Ward, director of Androscoggin County’s Head Start and Childhood Enrichment programs, will retire from the position in December after 21 years. While Head Start began with 40 children, the program started in 1974 now takes care of 350 children from low-income families. “Day care is not a frill. It’s a necessity in a working community like ours. There’s a need for day care and it’s not going to go away,” she said. “If employers want people to work for them, then they’re going to have to help with it, just like many do with health insurance.”