100 years ago, 1917
A careless individual and a cigarette caused a fire Saturday morning in a house on Mill street, New Auburn. The fire originated in a carpet beneath a bureau where a cigarette stub had been thrown. Frank W. Jackson, assistant engineer, was overcome by smoke during the fighting Saturday morning and had to be carried from the building. Upon regaining consciousness, he again went into the building and was again carried out. The smoke was intense, but those who know Mr. Jackson and his fire fighting ability expressed no wonder at his courage and determination.

50 years ago, 1967
The Warehouse of Hope sponsored by the Lewiston-Auburn United Fund is moving to a new location. It has been located above Liggett’s drugstore at 14 Lisbon Street, Lewiston, and will soon be doing business at 28 North Main Street, Auburn — the old Elms Hardware building — according to Alton E. Savage, former Auburn police chief who is director of the warehouse. “The new location is on the ground floor and basement, which is much more convenient for persons who want to donate to the organization,” Savage said.

25 years ago, 1992
An inflatable universe in a school cafeteria? It’s true. John Meader and his inflatable traveling planetarium will spend this week at Pettingill School in Lewiston and take students on a voyage through space and time in programs designed for teaching different aspects of astronomy and space science. “My ultimate goal is to have them leave feeling excited to learn more,” Meader said. And this, he added pointing to his “star theater,” is just a “big motivating tool.” 

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