100 years ago, 1917
No flag among the many hundreds which fly from Lewiston and Auburn homes today, represents a truer patriotism and more genuine spirit of sacrifice than do the stars and stripes which fly from the Lewiston Home for Aged Women. Out of the widow’s mite which each of the inmates of the home had possessed, a precious bit was taken until these aged women had collected enough to purchase a flag. A miniature flag-raising was held. Most noteworthy of all was a patriotic poem written by Miss Mary A. Richards. Miss Richards, who is an inmate of the home, is 82 years old, but the patriotic fervor which must have moved her way back in the Civil War days, came to life in a thrilling little poem of 1917 patriotism.

50 years ago, 1967
A new industry which will eventually employ 50 men has recently moved into the former Androscoggin Mill in Lewiston, it was announced today
by Mayor William Rocheleau Jr. and Lewiston Economic Development Director Louis C. Sarelas. Known as the Independent Bumper Corporation, the firm will remold and re-plate auto bumpers and marine equipment. It is expected that full operations will start by the middle of June at which time the company will employ 10 men.

25 years ago, 1992
With phones ringing and operators taking bids, standing up, yelling “Down in front,” the scene in the Lewiston studio of WCBB-10 resembled a trading day on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. The frenzied atmosphere at the Lewiston studio is common fare once a year when the public television station hosts its annual TV auction fundraiser. Some 1,400 volunteers will stream in and out of the studio during the course of the next 10 days, when the station hopes to raise $365,000 by auctioning off 6,000 items.

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