100 years ago, 1913
Trespassing upon the tracks of a railroad is an offense against the statutes of Maine, yet hundreds of law-abiding citizens of Lewiston and Auburn do it every day of their lives. Many of them, between 50 and 100, not only commit the offense, but take the risk of losing their lives. These are the ones who use the Maine Central railroad bridge as a public thorofare during the noon hour. For the most part these people are employees of the Auburn shoe factories. By crossing on the bridge it saves them a considerable distance of travel. There isn’t a day, but what, at least, a score of persons have to do a lively sprint to get to the Lewiston side before the noon express from Portland reaches them. This has been going on for years. No one has been injured but that is because of the great caution of the engineers. People also make a thorofare of the yards of both the Maine Central and the Grand Trunk in each of the two cities. They wander along them for a Sunday afternoon stroll and as a matter of convenience on other days.

50 years ago, 1963
Lewiston-Auburn’s economy will get a $957,403.50 shot in the arm starting today. This is the amount of the annual Christmas Club checks, which now are being mailed, and the figure represents a healthy hike of $33,040 over the total a year ago. The checks will go to 12,790 individuals and will average $75.38 per person.

25 years ago, 1988
Taylor Pond might be used as a trial area for a protection measure that could guard water quality by preventing new developments from releasing untreated rainwater runoff, officials said Monday. Roland Miller, community development director, said the city is trying to have the state Department of Environmental Protection use the watershed as an experimental zone for the anti-pollution model now being developed.