100 years ago, 1918
Mechanic Falls horsemen and scores of visitors from the surrounding country took part in the Washington’s Birthday carnival under auspices of the local reinsmen today. Many of them had entries on the snowpath, and many others were interested spectators. In the feature race, Dictator showed too much speed, winning handily from Fickett’s mare.

50 years ago, 1968
Tom Kendall continued a tradition that has been established by ELHS ski stars over the years when he emerged as the skimeister winner in the New England Ski Tourney at Hanover, N.H. this past weekend. Kendall succeeded his brother. John, who prior to graduation from EL last June had won the skimeister award for two years in the New Englands. The top four performers in the race for skimeister awards in the 1968 New Englands were all State of Maine representatives. The trio of State of Mainers just behind Kendall in the point gathering were Major Lefebvre and John Manson of Rumford, and Bruce Cunningham, Mexico.

25 years ago, 1993
Looking more like settlers than students, sophomores and juniors from Edward Little High School in Auburn moved fallen trees and cleared brush from the snow-covered walking trails (known as “snake trails”) Thursday preparing the site for the spring when they hope to begin work on the Franklin Woods project. “It’s cold out here, but this is really great. Everybody wants to be part of it,” Jessica Lavoie, a junior in Brian Flynn’s English class, said Thursday. “The whole thing won’t be done by the time a lot of us graduate, but we want to make a start and pass it on to the classes coming up.” If approved by the School Committee and Council, the students’ Franklin Woods project proposal would see the snake trails, an undeveloped wilderness area behind the high school, completely revitalized within three years.

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