Looking Back on April 26

100 years ago, 1917
Following a conference between Major Mayo of the Second Maine Regiment and Mayor Burnham of Auburn, it was announced that the Dover Company of the Second Maine, one hundred strong, is to be sent to Lewiston and Auburn and will arrive on Monday. The company will be quartered in the unoccupied Webster Grammar school building, Auburn. It was at first proposed to have its members sleep in tents, but Mayor Burnham offered the use of the building. Major Mayo stated to the Journal that 67 of these militiamen will be assigned to duty in Lewiston and Auburn, the remainder being sent to Mechanic Falls and other nearby towns. Guards now on duty at the Maine Central bridge (for whose services the city pays, altho later it will be reimbursed by the Maine Central Railroad Co.) are to be relieved by the militiamen. They will also guard the Grand Trunk bridge, where there are no watchers at present.

50 years ago, 1967
(Photo Caption) Poland Spring Job Corps Center for Women celebrated its first birthday Wednesday night with a gala party for 30 of the original 110 girls to arrive at the Center a year ago. Center Director Col. Sol Ernst prepares to cut the birthday cake with the assistance of Corpswomen from the original group as part of the anniversary celebration.

25 years ago, 1992
Over the next decade, implementation of a master plan for school buildings would change the face of education in Auburn. A new 800-student school housing kindergarten through fifth or sixth grades would be built somewhere east of Court Street and north of Center Street. Only two of Auburn’s existing elementary schools would remain open and probably be expanded. Six others, along with two buildings that now house secondary alternative programs, would close. Edward Little High School would gain an addition and incorporate ninth-graders in its student body. The system might have two facilities for grades six to eight, or add a wing to Auburn Middle School.

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