100 years ago, 1915
Wild foxes abound in large numbers not so very far from Lewiston, according to A. G. Dill, Ferry road. Dill reported at the city clerk’s office, Tuesday morning, that red foxes had robbed his chicken farm since early last summer. Of 285 chickens there are but 75 left and 100 hens have been taken. For some time, Dill was in doubt regarding the way the poultry was taken but he has seen evidence that the foxes have been the robbers of his coops. Dill called at the city clerk’s office to see whether he had any redress in the eyes of the law or the city ordinances.

50 years ago, 1965
Melville Tinkham of Auburn, New England checker champion, battled “Mr. Checkers” (Thomas Wiswell) to a draw as the checker champ participated Wednesday night. Dr. Arthur Werner of Auburn, playing chess, battled Wiswell to a draw in the two and a half hour play in which Wiswell played 12 simultaneous games of checkers and chess.

25 years ago, 1990
The time when the age-old excuse — “The dog ate my paper” — is replaced by “The computer ate my floppy disk,” may still be a way off, but a computer fair at Auburn Middle School might have brought that a little closer to reality Thursday. “We’re seeing a tremendous increase in the use of computers,” said Penny Cummings, Auburn’s director of certification and the fair’s organizer. “It’s almost as common-place as television.” Formerly head of coordinating computer use in city schools, Cummings said the fair featuring displays of computers and software was organized to give parents and teachers a chance to see how the latest technology can work in education.

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