100 years ago, 1915
The so-called sucker games, games of chance, spindles, wheels, jack-knife games and the like, with as smooth a bunch of workers as State fair has known for some time, have been playing by day around the Fair grounds, chiefly outside, and flocking by light of night to the Carnival show at Lee Park. This has been going on in plain view of the public, and with their apparent knowledge. A. certain laxness is expected during these fairs. “Con” games have been booming either on the quiet or in the open as the conditions at all fairs, ever since the world began. Such games become an ineffaceable part of the fair atmosphere. But playing outside and on the streets and at the Carnival and at night is a different proposition in the minds of many rather indifferent minded persons who don’t care to draw lines too tightly.

50 years ago, 1965
Auburn Schools Supt. Lewis E. Webber reported that a recent study of tuition costs of 22 Maine cities revealed that Auburn ranks twentieth. The highest tuition rate, he reported, was $650.18 while the lowest was $344.10. Auburn’s is $411.43

25 years ago, 1990
Lewiston’s Finance Committee Monday authorized Solid Waste Superintendent Eileen Sylvan Johnson to select markets for recyclable waste for a year. The city will sell newspaper, corrugated cardboard, glass, tin cans and high-density plastic to various companies around Maine. Johnson recommended that newspaper be sold to Keyes Fiber of Waterville, corrugated cardboard to Great Northern Recycling of Lewiston, glass to Maine Recycling of Lisbon, tin cans to Maine Metal Recycling of Auburn and plastic to Northeastern Plastics of Lisbon.

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