100 years ago, 1917
The attention of the office of Sheriff Stevens was called last night to the fact that Sheriff Graham of Cumberland county, had placed a ban on Jamaica ginger as an intoxicant and was making many seizures of this popular remedy, including seizures at a wholesale flavoring extract establishment. Sheriff Stevens declined to go into detail regarding his ginger campaign. The sheriff said: “Your paper is damn nasty and I won’t tell you anything. You can write anything you want to.” Just prior to this sudden burst of information on the part of the sheriff, he admitted that some empty Jamaica ginger bottles had been found and that some full bottles of the stuff had been seized by his deputies. There seems to be less secrecy about Sheriff Graham’s plan of enforcement in Cumberland county.

50 years ago, 1967
(Advertisement) Talent Audition For WMTW-TV’s “Talent Spotlight”
Program Will Be Held Tuesday, October 17 at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Auditorium, Congress Street, Rumford, Maine. Open to all types of performers, professional and amateur. Provide your own props and accompanist. Your chance to appear on Channel 8’s top-rated variety show. GEORGE OUELLETTE, Talent Coordinator.

25 years ago, 1992
A Red Lobster restaurant should open between Arby’s and the Auburndale Plaza on Center Street, Auburn, sometime next spring, after receiving Planning Board approval Tuesday night. Despite concerns about an easement for traffic to and from Arby’s restaurant cutting through the Red Lobster parking lot, the board approved a special exception by a 6-0 vote. Arby’s patrons leaving the restaurant to head north must exit through the Auburndale Plaza’s north entrance and can enter there also. Red Lobster will not have its own Center Street entrance, but will use the traffic signal at the north entrance to Auburndale Plaza.

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