100 years ago, 1915
Here is an incident which illustrates how ready people are to meet a need when that need is made known. The story was told a week ago of the family suffering for many things because the father was in jail, a little girl was in the hospital, and the two young people the only support of the family had been out of work. They needed a stove. The stove and a dollar to move it with had been given to Auburn’s police matron within a few hours after the story was published. She has also received clothing, food, etc., for the family. Almost next mail, Mrs. Rogers, the police matron, received a dollar from a man who said it might help the family in need. When she took it to the landlord for the rent, he said the week’s rent was $1.50, but he was glad to take the dollar and he gave a receipt for the full rent.

50 years ago, 1965
Lewiston residents with abandoned vehicles may have to find a new method of disposing of them, instead of during the annual city wide clean up week campaign. A decision is expected to be made prior to the 1965 fall drive later this month. Public Works Director William Adams Jr., and most board members are not too fond if the idea of continuing to provide the car removal service. Director Adams explained, “It’s a problem and it’s expensive.”

25 years ago, 1990
Telling people that hydro power on the Androscoggin River is oblivious to Iraqi tanks, Central Maine Power Co.’s president praised the clean energy source following a dedication breakfast for the Charles E. Monty Station in Lewiston Friday morning. Joe Collier Jr., CMP’s president and chief executive officer, asked the audience what could be more fitting than to dedicate a new hydroelectric facility during a fossil-fuel crisis — “a crisis that is already draining dollars from the U.S. economy, and may yet draw blood.” Collier continued by telling the audience that the new facility will eliminate the need for burning about 210,000 barrels of oil annually.

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