100 years ago, 1916
President Wilson, thru Congressman McGillicuddy, has been invited to speak, July 4, in Lewiston, at which time a monster Preparedness Parade will feature the day’s celebration, it was announced from Mayor Brann’s office Saturday. All Maine will be invited to participate in the parade, local organizations will be asked to assist, and a program which will include every sort of sport and entertainment will he arranged. Gov. Curtis and staff will be invited to review the parade. Mayor Brann plans to ask the cooperation of the chamber of commerce, and the companies of Coast Artillery in Lewiston and Auburn.

50 years ago, 1966
Stirring airs of martial music will ring through the streets of the Twin Cities Saturday afternoon as the annual Maine Dairy Day parade marches through Lewiston and Auburn. Thirteen bands and musical units, and close to 30 floats, will be included in the line of march, which also will be highlighted by the appearance of Gov. John H. Reed. Twenty-three girls from throughout the state will add beauty to the parade. A large number of mounted units also are included in the parade, which is scheduled to start in Auburn at 2 p m. and end at Lewiston Memorial Armory.

25 years ago, 1991
Despite union ads that tout Snorkel 1’s primary duty as lifesaving and claim that sidelining that truck “could cost LIVES!” Lewiston firefighters who were interviewed can’t name a time the truck’s platform reached into a burning building and plucked out a trapped resident. Asked about a sampling of major fires over the last two decades, they are more likely to point to the snorkel’s work in protecting buildings from the spread of fire. Fire Chief Richard Mailhot is proposing to eliminate $120,000 in overtime pay from his budget by parking the snorkel, one of the city’s two pieces of aerial equipment, about half the days of the year. The union recently ran ads in the Sun-Journal asking residents to “Save Our Snorkel.”

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