100 years ago, 1913
James McNelson, a workman at the new Bates weave shed, Lewiston, had his after dinner smoke as usual, Saturday, but the pipe was somewhat damp, for McNelson just before the noon hour had dived into the canal, coming to the surface with his pipe that he had dropped. Just a few minutes before twelve as the men were quitting, McNelson, whose work took him along the narrow path between the shed and the canal, was filling the pipe, when he stumbled and in saving himself from falling lost the smoke tube. For a second he hesitated, then pulled off his shoes and dove head first. He cam up a few moments later, wet but happy. He swam nearly to the first cross canal before he found a place to climb out. The pipe was an old-time friend of McNelson. He says he would rather have lost his pay envelope than the pipe.

50 years ago, 1963
Several local women were among area winners of ribbons and cash awards in the 1963 National Wool Needlework Contest Thursday at the Maine State Fair, the designated Sweepstakes fair for this general area. Mrs. Geneva Bridges of Auburn place first in the crocheting division, and her afghan also was judged “Best of Fair.” In the same division, Zephine Thibodeau of Lewiston won with a three-piece baby set, and in the knitting classification a first was won by Ruby Bouffard of Lewiston. Other local winners were Virginia Jones of Auburn, Louise Masson of Lewiston and Mrs. Murray Gallupe of Auburn.

25 years ago, 1988
Lewiston city councilors dropped a potential $2 million bombshell in less than minutes Tuesday, agreeing to spend up to $165,000 to study problems at the 1-year-old Main Street pumping station and the Webber Avenue reservoir. The study will determine the cause of two water main breaks in 1987, one of which left some Lewiston residents without water for nearly two days.

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