100 years ago, 1918
Operators of the Lewiston exchange of the New England Telephone company have never demanded the wage scale which is the basis of a strike vote to be taken Thursday in more than twenty New England cities. They are not demanding it now. They received on Dec. 23 a substantial increase, in common with outside exchanges, or those not included in the Metropolitan district, and are now receiving satisfactory pay, present conditions considered. Moreover, the local union has thought over carefully the consequences of such it step as is now pending. As one member said, “Think what such a strike would mean to the public just now!” Accordingly, it is not anticipated that the local union will vote in favor of a strike. But whether or not one is called depends upon a majority of the ballots cast in all of the cities affected, and the Lewiston operators will, presumably, bow to the will of the majority.

50 years ago, 1968
About 400 Lewiston public school students have embarked on a project to promote international understanding, in connection with the program of the Maine Partners of the Alliance. Fourth, fifth and sixth grade students at Frye and Pettingill Schools are busy preparing letters to be mailed to youngsters in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The letters tell about life at school and at home and endeavor to reflect the enthusiasm of the children and their parents for the project.

25 years ago, 1993
Paul Godin, territory manager for Sure Winner Foods, is flanked by William Blodgett III, assistant director of the Good Shepherd Food Bank, and Business Manager Betty Perreault, inside the freezer at the facility. The food bank received a large donation of frozen foods from the state’s largest wholesale ice cream distributor in celebration of National Frozen Food Month, recognized during the month of March. Sure Winner Foods regularly makes donations to the food bank.

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