100 years ago, 1915
These cities are growing by leaps and bounds and the time is near when the North bridge will mark the boundaries of the two most progressive and most prosperous cities in Maine. The largest operation of recent months has just been completed in Auburn and the new factory of the Manufacturers Box company is now in full operation on Minot Avenue. It is a big industry. The company will employ 25 men and 75 girls. The company as now fitted up can make all the boxes needed by the shoe firms in Auburn. In the old days it was the custom to dump the shoes all together in a big box. Now each pair of shoes has a neat box into which they are placed before going into a case.

50 years ago, 1965
An in-plant fire department at the Knapp Bros. Shoe Co. plant on Hammond St., Lewiston. early this morning was credited with containing a blower system fire until the Lewiston Fire Dept. could take over and get the blaze under control. An official of the plant said damage in the smoky fire was “slight,” but the smoke forced an end to the day’s operations. The fire was discovered at 8:15 a.m. by Lewiston Police Officer Anthony Cimato, who was stationed at the intersection of Bates and Main Streets. He rang the fire alarm at the corner and the 700 Knapp Bros. workers were immediately evacuated from the large brick building.

25 years ago, 1990
United Parcel Service won approval from the Auburn Planning Board Tuesday for a 56,000-square-foot freight distribution center slated for land at the Auburn-Lewiston Industrial Airpark. The first phase of the project and an expansion would increase the size of the building to 83,000 square feet. UPS plans to use the complex as a distribution center for freight shipments through central Maine. The project is expected to cost just under $5 million and will employ about 240 people.

The material in Looking Back is reproduced exactly as it originally appeared, although misspellings and errors made at that time may be edited.