100 years ago, 1915
How much was your farm worth before the fire? About $1600. How much after the fire? Between $500 and $600. The fire in question was on the land of Chas. Blanchette in that part of Auburn known as Lewiston Junction, May 27, of this year. Alleging that the fire was set by a spark from a passing locomotive, Blanchette brings suit in the Androscoggin supreme court, against the Maine Central Railroad Co., for $1000. The loss, Blanchette claims, was in standing wood and timber, the greater part of grey birch, white and Norway pine, which stood on 20 acres of land, being spoiled if not destroyed.

50 years ago, 1965
Lewiston Mayor Robert L. Couturier today announced the names of members of a special commission organized to study the feasibility of a Public Health Nursing Service in this city. The mayor, in a statement to the Journal this afternoon, said that if such a program were in effect here, many persons who now remain in hospitals for the purpose of receiving specialized medication could receive the same treatment at home from a visiting nurse, at greatly reduced cost.

25 years ago, 1990
Banners, yellow balloons and American flags greeted members of the 619th Transportation Company of the U.S. Army Reserves as they left for Fort Devens Sunday morning. Under cloudy skies and a quiet drizzle, more than 70 family members and friends watched as 75 military vehicles and a specially reserved tour bus carrying reservists drove from the company’s Minot Avenue headquarters to the entrance of the Maine Turnpike. The send-off continued from the overpasses of Kitty Hawk Avenue and Route 122, as well-wishers waved and cheered from above. The 186 men and women were traveling to Massachusetts to begin two weeks of training in preparation for deployment to Saudi Arabia, where they will support operation Desert Shield.

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