100 years ago, 1917
Harry Bumpus and Oscar Jones of Auburn are still at odds over the respective merits of their witch cats. Harry persists in claiming that his black cat is a direct product of the Salem affair and that the black one owned by Mr. Jones is a rank imposter. On the other hand, Jones firmly declares that Harry’s cat shows no signs of occult origin unless sitting on his tail and eating meat may be called such. The friends of the two gentlemen are taking sides and the controversy is waxing warm. Wallace Maxfield declines to act as judge in the matter and thus everything Is hanging fire.

50 years ago, 1967
The 22nd annual New England Interscholastic Track and Field meet, the first in Lewiston-Auburn in 42 years, got underway at noon today at Bates College’s Garcelon field in partially overcast skies with humid 82-plus degree weather. A total of 332 standouts of schoolboy track and field from the six New England states invaded Lewiston, some by bus and others by automobiles, to compete in their specialized events. All the athletes are first place finishers or among the top four in their respective events.

25 years ago, 1992
An Auburn counselor for at-risk high school students and seven teachers can tear up the pink slips they received two weeks ago. The School Committee on Wednesday voted to reinstate their positions, along with a retiring teacher’s job, all of which had been eliminated earlier from the 1992-93 education budget. Those rehired represent about half the School Department personnel who received the layoff notices. A total of 25.8 positions, including layoffs, retirements and a single resignation, had been chopped from the budget last month. The move to rehire personnel was made possible by cuts the committee made in nearly two dozen other funding areas, coupled with a last-minute grant allocation.

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