100 years ago, 1916

The secretary of the Maine State Checker Association writes that everything is progressing favorably for the fourth annual tournament which is to be held at the Lewiston Checker Club quarters, 163 Main street, over the First National Bank, commencing Wednesday, January 17 and continuing until two games all around have been completed, providing that style of play governs this tourney us it has in the past. As was to be expected, Bailey Foster of Lisbon Falls was the first to announce his intention of competing in the meeting, but he was closely followed by C. C. Nelson of Lisbon.

50 years ago, 1966
The Auburn Highway Department gave notice Tuesday to Auburn police and firemen that two roads in South Auburn have been closed for the winter and that neither will be plowed for the remainder of the season. Roads closed are the Brown’s Crossing Road and the Old Maid’s Road. Brown’s Crossing Road runs from the Trapp Road to the Old Danville Road, and the Old Maid’s Road runs from the Danville Corner Road back into Danville. There is one farmhouse on the Brown’s Crossing Road but AHD Supt. Roland Saucier said this set of buildings is not occupied during the winter months. Closing the two roads would thus not affect anyone of attempting to get to and from their home. Saucier said both roads are hard to plow, both being narrow and one of them has a hazardous condition at a railroad crossing.

25 years ago, 1991
The recession didn’t stop Christmas cold, but the slow economy did put a drag on local retailers in the Farmington area this year. They reported that area Christmas shoppers did more shopping locally but spent less money, shopped for bargains and bought mostly practical gifts. Store managers said shoppers waited until the last minute and then packed area stores on the last two days before Christmas. But that didn’t make up for lagging sales throughout the month, some said.

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