100 years ago, 1915
Another blow has been dealt to the horse … maybe! Up on the State fair ground is a band of gypsies who have substituted gasoline for horse flesh as a means of transportation. The band consists of a dozen men, women and children and they are traveling about in two autos. The machines aren’t so much the worse for wear as might be expected. The mica windows have been punched out front and side, but that is good for ventilation, you know. At the fair ground they are telling fortunes in the usual gypsy way at so much a fortune. The fortunes are invariably good.

50 years ago, 1965
An Auburn apple grower today informed police that vandals are apparently again at work. Otto Wallingford, proprietor of the B. H. Wallingford Orchards located on the Perkins Ridge Road, reported to police this morning that a group of young motorcyclists last night rode through his orchard, tipping over several boxes of fruit.

25 years ago, 1990
The fate of a short stretch of street in New Auburn has placed Ward 5 Councilor Norm McKeone and one of his constituents on opposing sides. At issue is the portion of Pulsifer Street between Fifth and South Main streets, a steep incline with decaying pavement that has seen more patches than a bed quilt. Romeo Lavoie, who lives on the corner at 26 Fifth St., likes things just the way they are, with cars able to travel at will. McKeone says the street is a hazard and should be closed to vehicle traffic, and he plans to ask the City Council to do just that when it meets on Sept. 17.

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