100 years ago, 1913
At 12:30 o’clock this morning an alarm was pulled in from Box 24, corner Middle and Lowell street, Lewiston, for a fire in the story and a half wooden house at 40 Middle street. The fire was confined to the upper tenement occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrin. Mrs. Lawrin was awakened by the dense smoke and escaped with difficulty. She had left a lamp burning and she believes the lamp exploded and set fire to the room. She alarmed the people downstairs and they hurried out of the house without saving any of their clothing or furnishings. The fire department responded promptly and soon had the blaze under control.

50 years ago, 1963
Raytheon Company announced yesterday it is closing out its semiconductor operations at its sprawling $2,000,000 Lewiston plant and city officials, shocked at the news, started looking for a substitute industry. The electronics firm currently employs more than 800 persons and said its decision to halt semiconductor production here “is irrevocable.” Lewiston Mayor Donia J. Girard said, “We are in hopes that the company will bring some of their other manufacturing operations here to employ at least some of the people or lease the space to some other firm.”

25 years ago, 1988
Three Twin Cities businessmen, two of whom are partners in the renovation of the former Peck’s building into a telecommunications center for L.L. Bean, have purchased the Pizza Pan at 33 Lisbon St. The three, who do business as B. & B. Ltd., are Bill Johnson, Pat Maiorino and Stephan Myers. Johnson and Maiorino also are partners in PJM Realty, which is developing the building where L.L. Bean will open its second telephone-order center this summer.

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