100 years ago, 1915
W. C. Wing, president of the Maine Federation of Labor, was present, at a meeting of the local Loomfixers Union held at their hall yesterday. Mr. Wing was called to Lewiston to investigate the strike of loomfixers at the Bates Mill which has been in progress since June 26. Alden Flagg of Auburn, a member of the State Arbitration Board, attempted to settle the strike but could do nothing.

50 years ago, 1965
An emergency meeting at the site of the old DeWitt Hotel today resulted in work crews and heavy equipment being moved in at mid-afternoon to remove all existing walls and thus complete the demolition of the building, on orders of city officials. City Building Inspector Charles A. Buteau called the meeting of persons involved in the project, along with public safety personnel, after a personal inspection revealed that the Park Street exterior wall was a menace to persons in the area.

25 years ago, 1990
Auburn Charter Commission members on Monday stood by their proposal to add two members to the City Council but decided against a plan to lengthen School Committee terms by two years and stagger them. The sparsely attended meeting was the commission’s 15th and last public hearing before city councilors on Wednesday before its final report on suggested revisions to the municipal charter. After a brief discussion, the commission stood by one of its most controversial proposals, to enlarge the size of the City Council from five to seven members, with two members being elected at large. Ward 4 Councilor Alvin Gilbert, in attendance at Monday’s meeting, argued that to enlarge the City Council “would increase the size of government when the general population wants less government.”

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