100 years ago, 1918
Special training for war-time housekeeping has been arranged by the Auburn Board of Education. The courses are to be offered on Monday and Wednesday evenings at the Webster school from 7 to 9 beginning next Monday evening. Miss Helen B. Hamlin, supervisor of the domestic arts, is at the head of the work, which is divided into two classes, cooking and sewing. In the sewing classes will be taught plain hand and machine work, garment making and repair work, use and modification of patterns and remodeling garments. Under the cooking courses special emphasis is given to war-time receipts and wheat, egg, sugar and fat substitutes.

50 years ago, 1968
Members of the Lewiston Police Athletic League acted Tuesday night to approve the purchase of a boxing ring “to promote the sport on an amateur and professional basis in Lewiston,” according to Adrien Laverdiere, public relations officer for the organization. PAL members felt it was time to revive interest in boxing in this area. He noted that PAL sponsored an active boxing program for many years in the city, discontinuing the program three years ago.

25 years ago, 1993
Lewiston’s goal of revitalizing its extensive mill and canal system will be boosted this year by a $6,400 federal grant. The grant will enable the city to conduct an intensive survey of its 150-acre mill and canal sys-tem; and consequently seek approval for inclusion of a Lewiston Mill System District on the National Register of Historic Districts. Because it offers tax incentives for preservation efforts, the “historic” designation could be a financial boon to the century-old mills that once employed thousands but now stand underutilized. The project area extends from the Cowan and Libbey mills and the main gate house of the Upper Canal on the north side of Main and Canal streets, to the Bleachery and Androscoggin mills and Lower Canal at Lisbon and Willow streets. Within those boundaries lie the Hill, Continental, Lewiston and city-owned Bates mills,

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