100 years ago, 1914
An unhesitating acceptance of responsibility and a strong arm, made stronger perhaps by the demands of the occasion, saved Samuel B. Towle from drowning in the icy waters of Lake Auburn Sunday afternoon. The arm belonged to his son and it was this 18-year-old son, Everett, who displayed the “greatest love.” The Towle father and son started to walk across the ice to East Auburn from their Cottage on Pine point. When but a few yards from the shore the ice suddenly broke beneath the elder of the two and he disappeared beneath the waters. The son had no stick or rope with him. He reached out his hand and caught his parent and managed to drag him out and to the shore.

50 years ago, 1964
Fun and frolic reigned supreme Saturday evening at the Lewiston Memorial Armory as the Lewiston-Auburn Rotary Club and Rotary Anns held the third annual Mardi Gras Ball. Ranging from ex-convicts to angels, from cave men to the elite of royally, from the lovely old-fashioned gowns to the tight-fitting attire of a beatnik, the costuming was imaginative and in many cases most unique. Dr. and Mrs. Irenee Marcotte, in beautiful Oriental outfits exemplifying the ball theme ‘Oriental Fantasy’, and Miss Anita Mil-ler in a long white old-fashioned gown, and her escort Peter Hardwick, the exchange teacher from England, dressed in a black tuxedo trimmed with sequins, won the first prizes.

25 years ago, 1989
Two Auburn city councilors, Councilor Joseph Deschenes and Ward 4 Councilor Alvin Gilbert, angered at a council practice of informal breakfast meetings in local restaurants, pushed this week for an end to the sessions and said they will boycott any future gatherings at eateries. Deschenes said the meetings make public participation awkward and fuel speculation among some residents that city government is largely conducted behind closed doors. Two breakfast sessions have been held so far, at No Tomatoes and Sim’s, restaurants in the city but on private property outside of the City Building. Mayor Harry W. Woodard Jr. defends the restaurant meetings. The sessions give officials and councilors the chance to “get away from the atmosphere of the City Building,” he said.