100 years ago, 1915
The instruction car now sidetracked at the Upper Maine Central Station, Lewiston, is attracting attention among people whose business brings them into that locality. On the outside the car is very similar to the ordinary passenger coach but the mysterious pieces of machinery which show somewhat obscurely from the windows, suggest that the car is not “ordinary.” This instruction car is fully equipped with full braking system, ready for practical demonstration of train machinery. The object of the car is to give opportunity for the trainmen, engineers and firemen, and yard men as well to educate themselves in train operation. The car is taken from place to place along the Maine Central lines, especially junction towns.

50 years ago, 1965
Even the mayor doesn’t get away with a parking violation. This was proven Thursday night when Lewiston Mayor Robert L. Couturier hurriedly parked in front of the city building on his way to a public hearing on the proposed urban renewal program. Mayor Couturier unintentionally parked his vehicle in front of the building in an area too near the corner of Park Street Alley. After the meeting, he rushed back to his vehicle, picked up the tag and went to police headquarters to pay the traffic ticket.

25 years ago, 1990
Third-graders from Poland Community School will be planning for the future when they plant 120 balsam fir trees Friday. The trees, two years old and only a foot or so high, will become Christmas tree size in nine years. That’s when they will be harvested and sold for the holiday season, with proceeds to be used for scholarships. By that time, in the year 1990, the 60 children who plant trees this week will be graduating from high school. They will then be eligible to apply for the college scholarships made possible by the trees they are planting as third-graders. At today’s prices of $25 a tree, this will mean a scholarship fund of $3,000.

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