100 years ago, 1915
John Emerson is profoundly interested in the new story that is being added to the storehouse near the pumping station in this city. He says that it is to be used as a custom house when the Androscoggin is dredged for ships to come up from the sea and Lewiston becomes a port of entry. He has made application to be appointed as the collector of customs. One room will be reserved to receive his friends when they call to while away the passing hours. He proposes to have as one feature, a floating cage in the canal under his office where he can scoop the deep-sea fish that he will take as they come up from the ocean. John will dress in full uniform as the customs officer.

50 years ago, 1965
Dogs chasing deer in this section of Maine are causing quite a problem for the game warden service and lack of public cooperation in notifying law enforcement bodies until some time after such an event is noticed makes the problem of tracking down the offenders all the more difficult. Game Warden Donis R. Wheaton of Hebron said Friday night that the deer now are starting to move out of their winter quarters in the black-growth sections of the woods and are coming out into the open. Packs of dogs seem aware of this and Wheaton said he has received complaints from several different areas about this. It does not seem to be confined to any specific area.

25 years ago, 1990
A Danville resident who parlayed one idea into a national company with offices in 17 states has been named Maine’s Small Business Person of the Year. “I look back, truthfully, and can say I’m happy with the progress,” said Thomas N. Hackett, chairman of Advantage Business Services Inc. of Auburn. “The goal was to be a national company and I’m extremely happy that our work could be recognized.” Advantage writes payroll checks and cares for related payroll tax matters for small businesses with fewer than 100 employees in rural America, Hackett explained.

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