100 years ago, 1916
Though Clarence Speakman of Auburn, now with the British expeditionary force in France, has been through three battles, he has come out of each without a scratch. The following letter has been received by his sister, Miss Ruth Speakman, of 135 Third St., Auburn: My Dear Sister: I am writing this to let you know that I am still alive and well. I went through Hell the month of July, but I am out of it now. I never received even a scratch and I was in three big attacks. I was buried and blown up several times but I am none the worse for it now. I must be on the right side. I can’t describe in words what it is to be in an attack — it’s beyond description.

50 years ago, 1966
The fall camporee for all Abnaki District Boy Scout troops will be held this weekend at Camp Gustin in Sabattus. Troops will start setting up campsites at 4 p.m. Friday and will break camp on Sunday afternoon. The scouts will spend the weekend completing a number of courses set up in the camp area. These include first aid, rope yard, ax yard, fun games, fire building, natural obstacle course, measuring, compass and leaf printing.

25 years ago, 1991
Contaminants that are supposed to be filtered from the Lisbon town water supply have been detected at the Moody Road well, according to test results received this week. Water Commission Chairman David Hale confirmed Tuesday that the two large carbon filters at the Moody Road well may not be filtering out contaminants. A routine test of the water taken Sept. 16 showed 0.56 parts per billion of 1.1 dichloroethane. The solvent is one of four contaminants found in the water supply last year. Up until now, “we had been getting 100 percent readings” showing no contamination, Hale said.

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