100 years ago, 1917
Rev. H. P. Woodin of the High Street Congregational church, Auburn, told his parishioners in an exceptionally effective sermon what he believes are some of the abuses that exist in Auburn, and some of the remedies that should be applied. He held up the need of an adequate city building and a Y.M.C.A.; of parks and playgrounds; of a simpler political system; of less slovenly finances; of better quarters for the poor. The city has been spared a great fire tragedy, he declared, only by a miracle; and of more adequate methods of dealing with juvenile crime. Yet he is proud of Auburn, its prosperous industries, its natural beauties and attractions, and its high type of citizenship.

50 years ago, 1967
A dozen Maine communities will be represented in Sunday’s state finals of the Maine Jaycee annual “Teen-Age Roadeo” which is slated to be held in Auburn. Richard L. Dupre of Lewiston, program chairman, reported Friday that about 22 contestants will participate in the activities. The program will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday at the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport. Awards will be presented at a banquet slated for 4 p.m. at Mario’s Restaurant in Lewiston. The project is held to stimulate safe driving habits in young motorists.

25 years ago, 1992
Eighteen Bates College students are currently engaged in a two-and-one-half-week campaign to bring a bit of the community’s ethnic heritage to local schoolchildren. “Swing La Baquaise,” a 40-minute program of French Canadian folk dancing, is being presented at a dozen different area schools by the group from Bates. Before each performance, the dancers visit individual classrooms in pairs to teach the children — who range from kindergarten to eighth grade — some of the basic moves used in the quadrilles and other traditional Quebecois dances. “These are the same dances that were danced in Quebec by the great-grandparents of many of these children,” points out Bates dance director, Marcy Plavin.

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