100 years ago, 1913
A 90-year-old man jumped onto the tracks at the upper Maine Central station, Tuesday morning, as a train pulled in. Certain death was avoided by the prompt action of Thomas Nelligan, a patrolman on the Lewiston department, who got him off the tracks and had but little time to regain the platform himself. The elderly man with his $50 legacy from his brother-in-law, had gone to the station to take up a journey to Italy. When told that the money was insufficient, he attempted to end his life under the wheels of the train. He was taken to police headquarters and, after the attack of melancholia had passed, was turned over to the care of fellow countrymen in this city.

50 years ago, 1963
Lewiston police impounded the ballot boxes last night after businessman Roland L. Marcotte slugged out a 5,327 to 4,893 mayoralty runoff election victory over Ward Four Alderman Joseph T. Poulin. The ballot boxes were placed under police guard after Poulin, the apparent loser by 434 votes in one of the closest mayoralty contests seen here, charged there were discrepancies in the returns. Poulin captured seven of the city’s 13 voting precincts, but Marcotte polled the biggest vote as 10,371 persons turned out at the polls on a day of rain and snow.

25 years ago, 1988
The thief took Rudolph, Santa riding in a sleigh and John Becker’s Christmas spirit. John Becker, 657 Court St., Auburn, said, “When they come and steal my Santa Claus like that, now everything’s coming down.” After investing more than $700 in lights, fixtures and yards of extension cords, he doesn’t want to risk another theft. “I got to be known as the guy on Court Street who’s got his house lit up,” says Becker. “Now that Santa Claus was stolen it’s got me thinking it’s not worth it. It’s a shame you have to hide your Christmas feeling,” Becker said. “I’m just infuriated. It’s taken away my little bit of Christmas spirit.”