100 years ago, 1916
It is said two or three Auburn men are seriously considering going after the Auburn postmastership, now held by Alfred T. Hicks. It is generally agreed that Postmaster Hicks has given an efficient administration of his office, but there are others who feel that he has had his share and that a good thing like a postmaster’s job should be passed around among the good men who in years past “have come to the rescue of their party.”

50 years ago, 1966
When your place of business is needed to bring progress to your city, what do you do? If you are Bernard Cohen and you are manager of the Bell Shops, you move across the street. The site of the current Bell Shops at 80 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, will be utilized as a pedestrian walkway from Park to Lisbon street. This morning the Bell Shops opened in new quarters at 65 Lisbon Street. The facade of the building has been completely remodeled and catches the eye. The store interior has a modern decor and some 3,500 feet of floor space are available for clothing displays.

25 years ago, 1991
It was almost a Christmas without music — Christmas music, that is. When Auburn Community Band Director Milt Simon in early October reached into the “cubby hole” where the seasonal music is stored at Webster School, he came up empty-handed. Ten years’ worth of sheet music had mysteriously disappeared. When the nursing homes heard about Simon’s dilemma, the residents and staff at each of the facilities pooled their money to help replace the missing music. “Each place called back to say they wanted to help and between them raised $290,” Simon noted. “The Dunlap Corporation, a sponsor of the band, also gave $100 to make up the difference. We were able to replace every piece.”

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