Looking Back on March 21

100 years ago, 1918

Mayor Ralph F. Burnham of Auburn was considerably astonished Friday morning when he learned from a Lewiston Journal reporter that a rumor of his candidacy for the sheriff’s job had been printed. He denied the rumor wholly and absolutely. He said that he had neither the ambition to become sheriff, nor the time if he had the ambition. He added, “At no time have I ever considered being a candidate for sheriff, and I am not one.”

50 years ago, 1968

Auburn city officials today officially acknowledge and hailed designation of the community as an All-America city, with brief flag-raising ceremonies on the front lawn of the city building. Municipal department heads along with several interested citizens gathered around the City Hall flagpole as the blue and white flag making it known that Auburn is one of 11 All-America cities was hoisted aloft to fly for the coming year beneath the nation’s flag. Trees on either side of the front walk sported bright red, white and blue shields which also served to indicate to anyone approaching that the community has something worth bragging about,

25 years ago, 1993

The Lisbon Street Neighbors for Responsible Development met Friday to map their strategy for Tuesday’s Lewiston City Council meeting, calling it their “last best hope for in-put” on a proposed street reconstruction project. The group announced later they will ask the council to consider alternatives that could eliminate the need for widening Lisbon between East Avenue and Pleasant Street. In a prepared statement, the group said that “stepping up traffic enforcement and improving traffic signals and signage could go a long way toward easing” pedestrian safety problems along Lisbon Street. They noted that Alfred Plourde Parkway, which was intended to divert truck traffic off Lisbon Street near Maine Turnpike Exit 13, “has been complete for some time, but signs informing truckers to use the route were never erected.” Spokesman Peter Poulin said the group envisions a series of projects that, if completed “in the proper order,” would reduce Lisbon Street’s traffic volume while preserving its “unique identity.”