100 years ago, 1916
Allegations that the Lewiston fire department contained many members unsuited for duty, as well as some who were guilty of shirking and other breaches of the rules, did not meet denial when made at last evening’s meeting of the Lewiston Fire Commissioners. That a shake-up will result was evident from the initial steps taken to correct admittedly evil conditions extant. The matter was brought before the board by the mention of a specific case in which a hoseman is said to have deserted his post of duty and left a comrade to handle a line alone, by the proposal to have members delinquent in attendance appear before the board, and by allegations that politics were entering into the affairs of the department.

50 years ago, 1966
Bates Manufacturing Co. retained its first place position again this year, leading all other Lewiston taxpayers with a bill totaling nearly a quarter million dollars. The textile firm is assessed $230,612.41 in personal property taxes and $4,078.80 in real estate taxes for a total of $234,691.21. Lewiston’s second largest taxpayer again is Central Maine Power Co. with a tax of $228,033.10. This includes a real estate tax of $216,595.03 and a personal property tax of $11,438.07.

25 years ago, 1991
Lewiston High School teacher Richard F. Derrah is the recipient of the 1991 Outstanding Biology Teacher Award, presented by the National Association of Biology Teachers, in conjunction with Prentice Hall. Derrah is an advanced placement biology and advanced anatomy and physiology teacher who was nominated for the award because of his long-standing mastery of encouraging students to be active learners in the educational process, and because of his serious involvement and direct participation in science, according to Robert Guyette, state director of the Outstanding Biology Teacher Award.

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