100 years ago, 1915
Several nights ago a beautiful palm, a plant especially choice to the owner because she had watched its growth for ten years, was stolen from the rear porch of a Pine street Lewiston home. The theft, it is believed, was committed after nine o’clock in the evening and presumably by someone who knew that the palm had been left out of doors for it stood in an out-of-the-way place. This is not the first time lately that plants have been stolen in this vicinity and there is reason to believe that certain persons, whose identity is known, are making the raids. If no further trouble of this sort occurs and the plant is returned, nothing will be said, but otherwise the thieves are apt to find themselves in hot water.

50 years ago, 1965
Capt. Gail N. Liberty of Auburn, representing the U.S. Air Force, is currently competing in the 1965 International Shooting Championships now in progress at the U.S. Infantry Center, Ft. Benning, Ga. She was promoted to her present rank last week while participating in the event, which began May 19. The competition consists of six matches including pistol and rifle fire, center fire pistol, small bore rifle (three position), rapid fire pistol and small bore rifle prone. She is the daughter of Mrs. Margaret Liberty of 26 Linden St., Auburn, and the late Frederick Liberty and is presently stationed at Lackland AFB, Texas.

25 years ago, 1990
About 100 shoe workers have been laid off from their jobs at Etonic-Tretorn Inc. at 101 Merrow Road. David Ryder, human relations director, said the layoffs, which occurred Friday, resulted from a phase-out of the cutting and stitching room and a reorganization of the plant from a total production facility to a finishing shop. He blamed the layoffs on rising costs of health care and workers compensation, which “forced our hand in this issue. Workers compensation had escalated beyond our control.”

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