100 years ago, 1917
Henry W. Oakes of Auburn has been nominated to be the first Judge of the newly created Androscoggin superior court. The appointment is for seven years, and the new tribunal, which come legally into existence Saturday, is practically the same in its jurisdiction and in its offices as the superior court at Cumberland county. Henry Walter Oakes was born in Auburn April 26, 1857 and consequently is 60 years of age. He was educated in the public schools and Edward Little high school, and graduated from Bath college in 1877.

50 years ago, 1967
(Photo Caption) Detective Captain Laurier Norm, left, and Detective John J. O’Connell are seen pouring beer, hard liquor, and mixers, confiscated by the Lewiston Police Department during the last two terms of district court, down the drain. No immediate estimate of the value of the beverages disposed of was immediately available. The beverages, which by law could have been claimed by the owners after court action, were poured down the drain in the LPD garage.

25 years ago, 1992
Edith S. Dolan, a weekly columnist for the Sun-Journal, died Saturday at a Boston hospital from a very rare fungus disease. Dolan, a resident of Mechanic Falls, started working as a social reporter for the Lewiston Evening Journal in the 1950s and later wrote a column based on her memories and anecdotes about her life for the Journal’s magazine section. Her column began running in the Sun-Journal after the merger of The Lewiston Journal and The Lewiston Daily Sun in 1989. Dolan also was a freelance writer for books and magazines, including “Maine: A Guide Down East,” “Auburn, 100 Years a City,” “Maine Life,” “Down East” and “Parents Magazine.” She was born on Lincoln’s birthday and died on the Fourth of July.

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