100 years ago, 1917
As yet there is no sign of Christmas shopping in the grocery stores, except that in a very few places the holly or other wreaths have appeared. Still, the merry scramble for sugar goes on. If someone is seen sprinting for all he is worth along the business streets, it is ten chances to one that he is trying to locate one pound of sugar. Modest offerings here and there are rapidly disposed of. One of the scarcest articles to find is a strictly fresh egg. There are plenty of storage eggs of varying quality and age which sell high enough.

50 years ago, 1967
The origin of the Auburn Fire Department as the Lewiston Falls Village Corporation in 1849 and its changes since that date was told by Clarence Penley, Auburn, to the members of the Androscoggin Firefighters Association Wednesday evening. Penley described how a group of businessmen formed the Lewiston Falls Village Corporation in 1849 for fire protection purposes and purchased two hand tub pumpers. The Androscoggin No. 1 was located near Peck’s Store in Lewiston and the Excelsior No. 2 was located near Higgins sports Shop in Auburn. In 1856 the Auburn Village Corporation was formed for fire protection services on the west side of the Androscoggin River.

25 years ago, 1992
About 80 W.S. Libbey Co. employees who lost their jobs when the plant relocated to South Carolina are eligible for severance pay, according to a decision handed down recently in Androscoggin County Superior Court. “This is a very substantial victory. The case isn’t over yet, but it’s a big step forward,” said attorney Peter Garcia, who represented the employees. “Just about everybody I expected to be qualified, the court said was qualified” for severance pay.

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

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